The Poling Family Page
Benjamin Poling
MY PERSONAL STATEMENT
To be written in Year 8 (2024-25)
Benjamin Poling - Year 8, November 2024
MUSIC OVERVIEW
(Personal statement relating to music)
Qualifications
Piano, Grade 1 (ABRSM) with Disctinction
Cello, Grade 1 (ABRSM) with Distinction
Drums, Grade 1 (Trinity) with Distinction
Music Theory, Grade 1 (ABRSM) (not yet taken)
Teacher comments and references
To be extracted from school report
Mrs Emma Crane, Music Director, West Hill Park School
To be written by piano teacher
Mrs Ruth Leech BA (Hons) music, PGCE, DBS, MISM, Fareham Flute and Piano Studio
To be written by Cello teacher
Mr Gareth Deats......
To be written by Drum teacher
Mr ............
Solo Performances
I have sung solo many times. Here is a summary of my performances:
Year 8
Venue 1
- Details of performance
Venue 2
- Details of performance
Year 7
Venue 1
- Details of performance
Venue 2
- Details of performance
Year 6
Venue 1
- Details of performance
Venue 2
- Details of performance
Year 5
Venue 1
- Details of performance
Venue 2
- Details of performance
Year 4
Venue 1
- Details of performance
Venue 2
- Details of performance
Group Performances
I have performed with many groups, with cello, drums, piano or voice, including the following:
- Junior Choir (years 3 - 4)
- Senior Choir (years 5 - 8)
- West Hill Park Community Choir (years 5 - 7)
- Colla Voce Choir (year 8)
- Tutti Flutti group (years 4 - 8)
- Scholar Music Club (year 8)
- West Hill Park Band (year 8)
- Stage Skool (2012 - 2013)
- Stagecoach (2013 - present)
- Bodyrox Production Company (2017 - 2019)
SOLO PERFORMANCE VIDEOS
Below is a selection of videos with solo performances from 2018 - 2021
Yr 8 - Concorde Club
Yr 8 - Rave in the Naive
Yr 6 - Hawthorne Court Care Home
Yr 6 - WHP Jazz Night
SPORT
Personal statement relating to sport
Vortex Throwing @ Sports Day (Yr 7)
Long Jump @ Sports Day (Yr 7)
Teacher comments and references
To be extracted from school report
Mrs Lauren Fairbairn, Sports Teacher, West Hill Park School
DRAMA & DANCE
Outside of school, I am part of a Performing Arts school, Stagecoach, and here is where I do my dancing. Being a big lover of music, I find myself getting lost in the music through dance too, and love showing and expressing my emotions and passions through dance, as I do for music. I was part of the Elements Dance Company (with West Hill Park school), an elite dance company to which access was through completion of a successful audition. I engaged with both Eastern and Western dance styles and contemporary dance. As part of the company, I completed an academic directed task and performed with the community from Taunton School's Perfoming Arts students.
I have performed in many productions run by Stagecoach, the Bodyrox Production Company and West Hill Park School, including:
Bodyrox Production Company
- VE Day 75, Southsea Common Main Stage (May 2020)
- The Greatest Show-Down, Ferneham Hall (Nov 2019)
- Summer gala, Ferneham Hall (Jul 2019)
- D-Day 75 commemorations, Southsea Common Main Stage (Jun 2019)
- The Magic of Christmas, The Berry Theatre (Dec 2017)
- Winter Wonderment, Theatre 141, Fareham College (Dec 2018)
West Hill Park School
- Grease, as "Rizzo" (Year 8)
- Mary Poppins, as "Bumble Bee" and "Kite flyer" (Year 5)
- Robin Hood, as "Robber" (Year 4)
- Mystery at Magpie Manor, as "Magpie May" (Year 3)
Stagecoach
- High School Musical, as "Taylor", video performance @ Crofton Secondary School (2021)
- Billy Elliott, as a dancer and singer, National Stagecoach Performance.St David's Hall, Cardiff (2019)
- Stepping into the Spotlight, Kings Theatre, Southsea (2018)
- Cinderella, as a mouse, Crofton Secondary School (2016)
- Starlight Express, as member of chorus line, Berry Theatre, Hedge End (2015)
- Annie, as "Annie", Whiteley Primary School (2014)
Teacher comments and references
"I am so pleased to offer a snapshot into Isabella’s many years with us at Stagecoach Fareham. It has been a pleasure watching her skills develop over the years. Isabella is a kind, thoughtful student who works hard in all she encounters.
Isabella has a flair for all 3 disciplines, but singing is her true passion. She has a natural talent in drama and takes on a character making it her own, she has taken simple directions and created pieces of a high standard. Over the years Isabella has demonstrated great strength in teamwork and leadership kills during our show terms and in class. She has performed to an audience many times and delivered her performances with strength and passion.
Isabella’s singing ability has gone from strength to strength. She has a good understanding of where her voice fits within her range and can adapt harmonies to blend with a group. She has a very good understanding of variety of genres, I feel this is also due to her musical knowledge. Isabella has performed with us at regional events and at The Berry Theatre. She worked very hard attending extra rehearsals in preparation for the show. She really is a delightful student and performer.
I am looking forward to watching her progress through her time with us at Stagecoach and beyond. Isabella has a talent that will take her far." - January 2022
Mrs Vanessa Watkins, Principal of Stagecoach Fareham and Hedge End
ACADEMICS
Teacher comments and references
"Isabella has had a good term. She seems very settled in class and has a few good friends in the year group now. She has carried out her various responsibilities efficiently and cheerfully. She should be very proud of achieving such fantastic grades. There are still a few subjects that may need a bit more effort in, but overall it is great to see her academic progress continue to grow steadily I have been most impressed with her performances on the stage! Well done." - Autumn Report 2021
Mr Alistair Gray, Year 8 Form Tutor, West Hill Park School
"Bella has taken to boarding with ease this term and she has quickly settled into the routine of the house. She can always be relied upon to help out with our younger boarders and is kind and considerate when doing so. It has been lovely having Bella over the weekends and she has shared her culinary capabilities, swam like a fish in the pool and made the most of all of the trips and experiences on offer. Bella has been really helpful on Wednesday evenings and been an extra pair of hands when we have had lots of flexi boarders join us, for this the boarding staff are very appreciative." - Autum Report 2021
Mrs E Alway, Head of Boarding, West Hill Park School
"This is really a very impressive report and Bella should feel very proud of the many positive comments from her teachers. I trust she has found the boarding experience enjoyable and has provided her with an insight to life in a boarding environment. I have enjoyed having Bella in my PSB group once again and she works with high level of independence." - Autumn Report 2021
Mr Chris Ward, Headmaster, West Hill Park School