New Hall School

Facilities

Sport

Team spirit, physical development and good health are promoted through our emphasis on sport throughout the school. New Hall balances elite training for those with particular sporting talent with an inclusive approach that allows students of all abilities to find at least one sport that they can enjoy. Students compete at county, regional, national and international level in a wide range of sports. In recent years, there has been a significant investment in the sports facilities on campus. The first-class provision now includes: The Waltham Centre 25m 6-lane indoor swimming pool; a national standard athletics track and floodlit Astroturf; 10 floodlit tennis/netball courts; two sports halls; Parsons Hall dance studio; junior and senior cricket wickets and indoor training nets; hockey, rugby and football pitches. New Hall also has well-established links with a local riding school and a golf club.

Drama, Art, Music

The Walkfares Performing Arts Centre is the home of thriving Music, Dance and Drama Departments. Performances, from Shakespeare to modern plays and musicals, give students the opportunity to develop their confidence and creative talents. All students are encouraged to participate in the English Speaking Board (ESB) or London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) programmes. New Hall Dance School The Dance School runs lunchtime and after school classes in contemporary, modern/jazz, tap and ballet. All classes take part in an annual summer production in a public theatre. The Dance School offers students the opportunity to explore dance in an exciting and professional environment. New Hall Dance Company The Dance Company was founded in September 2003 to facilitate the increased demand from students who wanted more opportunities to train and perform. The Company has students from Year 10 upwards, who show ability for the subject and a committed working attitude. The Company has taken parts in a variety of events in and around Chelmsford and has an important role in supporting the Dance Department within the School. Drama Drama forms a vibrant part of student activity at New Hall. Each year the Senior School produces a large scale production just before Christmas during which many students experience the exhilaration of being part of this tradition. Recent productions have included ‘Daisy’, ‘Lark Rise’, ‘Rock Nativity’ and ‘West Side Story’. Other notable productions are provided by the Drama and Theatre Studies students whose productions have included Woyzeck, Waiting for Godot, Teechers, Arabian Nights and Grimm Tales. The Eaton Theatre, equipped with the latest in lighting and sound technology, provides us with a traditional performance venue whilst in Walkfares, our two well equipped, versatile studios provide the perfect environment for both teaching and for a range of performances. Drama forms part of the curriculum for all Year 7, 8 and 9 students. Drama is a popular option at GCSE, it offers a good balance of practical and text based work. GCSE Drama is not a pre-requisite for studying the subject at A level. The Drama Department is committed to offering a variety of extra-curricular activities and clubs to extend the curriculum beyond that offered in timetabled sessions. For those who choose not to follow drama at GCSE or A Level, a range of performance related opportunities exist for students to become involved in acting, designing, directing, lighting or sound. These provide opportunities to reinforce curriculum work or to undertake work not normally covered within the routine timetable. GCSE Drama students run the Drama Club, for Year 7 and 8 students. This activity, supervised by a specialist teacher, is specifically catered to the needs and wishes of the participants. They may wish to develop their skills through the use of workshop games, to devise an original piece of theatre or to present a scripted play to an audience. Music Music has a long and fine tradition at New Hall. Students take individual lessons in orchestral instruments, piano, singing, drums and electric guitars. A growing number of students take lessons on the newly restored Norman & Beard Organ in the Chapel. There is a host of performing groups, including senior and junior choirs, chamber choirs, a chapel choir, a senior orchestra, a strings academy, wind bands, a guitar ensemble, and chamber groups. Students are also encouraged to form jazz and pop bands and specialist support and facilities are available. Regular performances are given by students in assemblies, lunchtime recitals and formal concerts. Students take part in regional and national musical festivals and competitions, and groups tour regularly to perform in major venues in Europe. New Hall School Choir, Directed by Andrew Fardell, has performed at St. Peters, Rome, St. Marks, Venice, Westminster Cathedral, London as well as on BBC Television. The choir sings a wide range of music from sacred to secular, classic to modern. The choir will be touring to Venice in February 2010.

New developments

The school has an ambitious 5-year School Development Plan (5-SDP), approved by Governors. Over recent years, the school has invested £15m in developing the campus and its first class facilities. Investments have included: 25m 6-lane indoor heated swimming pool; 10 floodlit tennis/netball courts; national standard athletics track and floodlit Astroturf hockey pitch; purpose-built Performing Arts Centre; large, well-resourced library; 14-classroom block, Priory Court; fitness suite, with changing rooms; Thomas More Sixth Form Centre; playgrounds; additional boarding houses; specialist Science laboratory for the Preparatory School; Technology Centre, including cookery room. The school is working closely with English Heritage to enhance the Grade I listed building and historic setting. New Hall is the fastest growing independent school in the UK. The student roll has expanded from around 550 students in 2001 to 1,072 students in 2009, which is the greatest in the school’s history. The decision in 2005 to admit senior boys has enriched the school community. The school has developed along a diamond-model line, with girls and boys taught separately at Key Stages 3 & 4. This enables them to grow in confidence, whilst enjoying an education that is specifically tailored and recognises the different ways in which boys and girls learn. At Key Stage 5, Sixth Form students are taught in co-educational groups. The co-educational Preparatory School has a roll of 355 pupils aged 3-11. There are normally two classes in each year group.

General

The campus offers exceptional facilities including a beautiful Chapel, 25m 6-lane swimming pool, a National standard running track & floodlit Astroturf, the Walkfares performing Arts Centre. In September 2008, we opened our new Eaton Theatre and introduced LAMDA courses throughout the Senior School. In the Trinity Term 2009, we opened the Fitness Centre, which contains cardiovascular machines and a separate free-weights room. This September, we have opened a £2.5m 14-classroom block, Priory Court.