This years’ concert celebrates our 70th Birthday and will showcase dance, music and drama from the last 7 decades. Tickets will be available from Monday 16th June until Friday 4th July from ParentPay and they are priced at £5 each.
The Music Department are always keen to hear of the success of former students and were delighted this week to receive an email from Louisa who was a student with us from 2008 – 2013.
Louisa will be joining Opera National du Rhin, Strasbourg for their 2025/2026 season.
Louisa will make several role debuts, including the title role of a new production of Poulenc’s Les Mamelles de Tiresias. She will also appear as the Sandman and Dew Fairy in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretal over the Christmas period and will make her musical theatre debut as Young Heidi in Sondheim’s Follies. In this, she will be performing along side Dame Felicity Lott.
In addition, Louisa will also be working with Opera National de Nancy-Lorraine, singing Olympia in Carrousel, a new children’s opera inspired by the works of Offenbach.
This is a very exciting time for Louisa and is a culmination of her hard work and determination. Many congratulations, Louisa! We are so proud of you!
Mrs Cattanach
Associate Assistant Headteacher
On the last day of half term, we had some fantastic performances from students for our final Open Mic for Year 11. There was a really lovely atmosphere in the Quad, the sun was shining and everyone was singing. Special mention to Olivia T (Year 11) who sang the aptly titled ‘Nice to Meet You’, whilst Sophie S (Year 11) sang ‘I’ll be Somewhere’ and Rosie Y and Ruby W (Year 11) sang ‘Thank you for the Music’. We wish all our Year 11 performers well for the rest of their exams and thank them for their musical contributions to the Open Mic sessions throughout their time with us; they have brought such joy to many throughout their performances in both the sunshine and the cold and I am sure everyone will look back on these with many fond memories. Well done to everyone who took part; you were all fabulous!
Mrs Cattanach
Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for Music
To commemorate Founders Day we held an Open Mic in the quad featuring songs from the 50s; the decade in which the school opened. As always, it was a brilliant event to pull the whole school community together. We featured students from Years 7-11, including hits such as ‘Yakety-Yak’ and ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ to name just a few. Along with traditional food such as cottage pie and semolina from the canteen, everyone had a great time.
Mrs Cattanach
Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for Music
Following a rigorous application process, the Music Department here at Penwortham Girls’ High School has been appointed as a Lead School for the Lancashire Music Hub. As a department, we are excited to play a leading role in the development of music provision in the local area and ensure our students continue to have the best possible musical opportunities available to them. I am sure you will hear more about these in future newsletters.
Mrs Cattanach,
Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for Music
We are delighted to announce that the 20 students who entered for the Grade 3 Speaking Verse and Prose exam all passed with Merit or Distinction! A fabulous achievement for each and every one of our students. Students in Year 8 all study the LAMDA course as part of the technology rotation. Students learn to stand with the correct posture, speak with clear diction, appropriate pace and projection. In the exam, students are asked to recite a poem set by the exam board and deliver some prose from a chosen book they have read; all from memory. Students are also encouraged to add some actions in order to communicate the story of the text they are delivering.
We are incredibly proud of each and every one of our students and look forward to the next entry in July. Well done, everyone!
Mrs Cattanach
Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for Music
We recently received the news that the final cohort of Year 7 students from 2023-24 all passed their Arts Award Bronze. The Arts Award is delivered as part of the technology rotation and encourages all students to take part in learning a new skill, attend an Arts Event and write about their experience, research into an Arts Inspiration and finally share an Arts skill with a friend. The students produce a portfolio in a scrapbook style which is then moderated by Trinity College. We are currently awaiting their certificates. Well done, everyone!
Mrs Cattanach
Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for Music
Students are currently working towards the Music and Verse Concert to be held in the School on Tuesday 25th February at 6pm. Tickets are available to purchase on ParentPay. Students in Year 10 are working on a solo performance, whilst students in Year 11 are working on performing as part of an ensemble in preparation for their upcoming GCSE recording of this. Students in Year 8 are also working towards the LAMDA Grade 3 Speaking Verse and Prose exam and will be performing either their Verse or Prose to the audience. The evening promises to be a great success; we hope to see you there!
Mrs Cattanach,
Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for Music
Last term, we had a fantastic celebration assembly in school where Year 7 students were treated to a fabulous concert by our Woodwind and Brass Groups. Students were introduced to all the instruments and listened to a variety of music. All performed fantastically well. If your child has been inspired to take up music lessons as a result, please complete the sign up form using the link below:
Mrs Cattanach
Associate Assistant Headteacher
On Wednesday 18th December we held our annual Christmas Celebration in the hall to a sell-out audience. With over 100 students involved it was a fantastic start to Christmas here at Penwortham Girls’. With performances of lyrical contemporary dance contrasted with acrobatic cheer, the dances were simply amazing. Students from Drama Club performed a poignant version of ‘A Christmas Carol’ which was excellent; we certainly have some talented actresses. The music was also fantastic with performances from the Orchestra, Brass, Woodwind and Ukulele groups as well as the school choir who performed a beautiful rendeition of ‘Glow’ by Eric Whitacre. The GCSE Music Y10 class performed ‘Step into Christmas’ whilst Y11 aptly performed ‘Last Christmas’. The finale combined all the students together to perform ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ and ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’ leaving the audience shouting for more. It has been a pleasure to work with the students in the extra-curricular groups this term and we would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to provide these experiences for our students. Merry Christmas Everyone.
Mrs Alison Cattanach
Associate Assistant Headteacher
