Creativity flourishes at Plymouth College through our dynamic Music, Drama, Art and Design Technology departments. Pupils explore passions, hone talents and express themselves through a wealth of exciting opportunities, performances and practical experiences.
Creative & Performing Arts
Musical Expression & Tuition
Music is central to school life, with a strong curriculum where pupils learn to sing, play instruments like keyboards, compose digitally, improvise and listen analytically. Extensive instrumental tuition is available across all families: voice, piano (plus harpsichord/organ on request), common woodwind, all brass, strings (violin to double bass), classical/electric/bass guitar and drum kit; we will endeavour to source tutors for any instrument.
Our three choirs and school orchestra perform at major events and services, complemented by lunchtime groups like Girls’ and Boys’ Voices, string and guitar ensembles and the popular Live Lounge. Regular concerts, including instrument-specific evenings and Music Scholars’ showcases, plus two major house competitions, ensure abundant performance opportunities for all pupils.
Dynamic Drama Programme
Our Drama department offers pupils numerous opportunities to shine. They participate in local drama festivals, dedicated performance evenings and ambitious school productions, with recent successes including ‘School of Rock’ and ‘The Addams Family’.
Highly respected LAMDA (Speech and Drama) lessons are available, leading to valuable qualifications that can earn UCAS points. A highlight is the vibrant, pupil-led annual house drama competition, where teams create outstanding pieces in just 24 hours. We enrich pupils’ understanding through regular trips to cutting-edge live theatre, including Plymouth’s Theatre Royal and further afield.
Practical workshops with renowned theatre practitioners such as Frantic Assembly further encourage pupils to see drama as a valuable tool extending far beyond the classroom.
Visual Arts Exploration
Pupils explore a rich variety of techniques in Art, including textiles, photograms, darkroom skills, etching and screen printing, developing drawn and photographic images into experimental mixed-media pieces, print and fabric embroidery. Weekly life drawing sessions are offered for GCSE and A-Level Art pupils.
Our popular after-school clubs cater to diverse interests: the Model Makers Club sees pupils engage with intricate kits or our model railway, often for their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The General Art Club offers access to the department’s full range of materials for personal projects or coursework extension, while the Art/Competition Club helps pupils hone specific skills and prepare entries for various art competitions, fostering creativity across many media.
Innovative Design Technology
Our Design Technology department provides engaging after-school opportunities for all age groups, Monday to Thursday. We welcome pupils into our well-equipped facility, encouraging them to be as creative as they wish, experimenting with a wide range of materials and processes.
They design and manufacture projects of their own choice at their own pace, with an emphasis on quality before quantity. Our supportive staff work alongside pupils, challenging them to progress their skills while ensuring they achieve their desired outcomes.
We cater for diverse interests, offering experience in traditional manufacturing methods alongside modern techniques, including advanced CAD/CAM equipment. It’s an enjoyable, dynamic environment where the only limit is imagination for our pupils.
Come and See Us
We warmly invite you to visit Plymouth College Senior School to experience our environment firsthand. To arrange a visit, please contact our admissions team using the email address or phone number below. Alternatively, you can click the “Arrange a Visit” button to fill out your details and a member of our team will get in touch as soon as possible to arrange a visit.
Email: admissions@plymouthcollege.com
Telephone: 01752 505120
We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our community.
Find out more about the Senior Curriculum
See our different clubs and activities
Take the first step towards your future