Oswestry School PAC Appeal brochure - Flipbook - Page 4
A Vision for
the Performing Arts
The arts have long been neglected in our schools and
communities, but at Oswestry School we have never forgotten
the importance of artistic expression for the wellbeing of
young people.
The Oswestry School Performing Arts Academy is an
example of our commitment. Ten years ago I set up a dance
academy for children aged 2 - 18. The Academy attracted not
only pupils from Oswestry School but children from across the
locality, too. The academy has gone from strength to strength
and we now have 115 members from 21 local schools.
In the last ten years, we outgrew our base at Oswestry Prep
(Bellan House) and moved to the Memorial Hall at Oswestry
School’s senior school. We have now outgrown this space, too.
Our talented pupils can only perform to small audiences at
any one time and their practice space is also used for multiple
school activities meaning there is no dedicated space for the
development of excellence. What’s more, we have the practical
problems of finding space for storing props and costumes, and
there being no changing rooms during performances!
We are proud of the pupils who have gone on to attend top
specialist performing arts schools and conservatories, whilst
04
also acknowledging that others have left us to attend other
schools with better facilities.
Our mission now is to raise the funds needed to turn our
plans for a new Performing Arts Centre into reality, and we
need your help.
You will read about the wonderful things the Performing
Arts programme at Oswestry School has given to our young
people, sparking off a passion for singing, dance and drama
as well as giving confidence, a sense of community and
creating special bonds of friendship that will no doubt last a
lifetime.
With your support, we can further showcase
the exceptional talent and passion for the
arts that we have already engendered in
dozens of our children, and hope to
inspire in others, too.
Claire Thompson
Director of Performing Arts
