Best Schools for Performing Arts, Abu Dhabi, Dubai

British School Al Khubairat (BSAK), Abu Dhabi

The Drama and Music programmes at BSAK encompass a variety of activities to challenge and engage all students.

Both subjects are taught as part of the core curriculum in Secondary School (from years 7-9) and Music is taught to all students from FS1 to year 9. Students have the option to study both subjects at GCSE and GCE A Level.  Class sizes are typically small, allowing for a great deal of individual attention and assistance as required. A wide range of facilities, including a Theatre and Drama studio, specialist music rooms and 10 music practice rooms ensure the infrastructure is in place to support the Performing Arts programmes.

In Drama, students explore practitioners who have shaped theatre, study substantial and influential play texts and perform and direct live theatre experiences. Practical activities include rehearsing, devising, performing scripts, exploring play texts, application of a huge variety of styles, genres, practitioner methodology of drama and theatre.

The department aims to showcase original writing and productions which have been created for the school, sometimes sidestepping obvious choices for material which challenges and provides more of a learning journey. Older students often share the responsibility for directing or managing productions, assisting one or more of the specialist teaching staff at BSAK.

In addition to the core curriculum, a range of drama clubs run through the school year for students who want to be more involved with Drama, but do not want to compromise sporting or other cultural and academic activities.
The school encourages an ensemble approach and values every role, ‘large’ or otherwise. This philosophy works for many students who just want to be involved regardless of the profile of the part.

Students who have committed to examination drama and theatre often find that their subject ‘bleeds’ into the co-curricular life of the school, partly because examination productions are high profile events and also because the students want to achieve their best and arrange rehearsals after lesson times. Students can also opt to be involved in technical theatre, costume and front of house roles. BSAK claims an impressive Drama/Theatre alumni and a healthy quota of former students working professionally or studying at major drama schools internationally.

The Music Department  includes 4 full-time academic music teachers who deliver a broad curriculum across the Primary and Secondary schools up to and including A Level. In addition, unlike many schools, BSAK does not outsource its peripatetic instruction but instead employs a team of 10 full-time and 3 part-time teachers who deliver over 450 instrumental lessons on a weekly basis.  Instruments include piano, violin, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, electric and classical guitar, trumpet, French horn, euphonium, trombone, ukulele, recorder and drum.  Voice lessons are also part of the broad offering for which students pay an additional fee.

 

The BSAK Scholars Programme – which does not attract monetary benefit but offers, effectively a Gifted and Talented programme, exists to support and enhance the education of the most gifted, but also so that scholars may enrich the learning environment at BSAK for the benefit of others.  For a Music scholar this might mean taking a leading role in a number of school ensembles or setting a good example of attitude and enthusiasm to other musicians and showing commitment to instrumental practice and self-improvement.

The benefits of being a Music Scholar at BSAK include Tuition and guidance from some of the best instrumental teachers in the Middle East, free tuition in one or two instruments, access to a wide range of extra-curricular ensembles, a tailored programme of enrichment and development, a dedicated music mentor to oversee each individual’s progress and commitments and opportunities to perform at a range of venues across the city

With such a focus, not surprisingly,  Leavers regularly go on to study Music at specialist music schools in the UK or read Music at top universities and Music Colleges across the globe.

Around 40 ensembles rehearse each week culminating in a wide variety of performance opportunities; from informal soloists’ concerts to more formal events featuring the larger bands and orchestras. Concerts take place across the school, in the Auditorium or Primary Hall as well as in the Theatre and other suitable venues and happen at different times of day; first thing in the morning, over lunchtime, after school or in the evening.

The school also runs a Community Choir and Orchestra which are attended by staff, parents and friends of the school. The school is a Centre for both ABRSM and Trinity Rock & pop and Classical exams and over 300 exams take place every year – this includes students from other Abu Dhabi schools.  Students at BSAK regularly score distinctions and merits in these exams and the average mark achieved is substantially above the UK average.

The Drama and Music departments regularly collaborate to produce whole-school Musical Productions and a very close working relationships exists between both teams of staff and students.  Students take part in Choirfest and the BSME Young Musicians of the Gulf competitions and plans are in discussion to take part in the COBIS Music Festival in 2018-19.

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