PERFORMING ARTS

Teaching Staff

Mrs Green - Head of Performing Arts
Miss Bol - Drama Lead
Mr Holland
Miss Lachance
Mr Russell

KS3

Drama - Drama is a subject in which students will learn how to collaborate with one another to make and perform both scripted and original drama. This subject develops skills in creativity, communication and collaboration. Drama also supports the delivery of the wider curriculum, reinforcing and exploring the themes, topics and texts and interpreting them for a theatrical context. Drama will allow students to explore a range of scripts, characters, stimulus, themes and topics from which they rehearse, refine and perform scripted and original performances. Students develop team work, collaboration and communication skills throughout the curriculum.

These curriculum choices have been made to provide students with a board curriculum that will engage all students and introduce them to devising their own work and provide the opportunity to study and perform scripts. Links with drama and the theatre profession and industry are also touched upon in the curriculum.

Music - Music at KS3 allows young people to explore, develop and demonstrate their skills in Performance, Composition and Listening and Appraising, through the study of a variety of topics. This to develop a love of music and their talent as musicians, and so increase their self-confidence, creativity and sense of achievement. As pupils progress, they should develop a critical engagement with music, allowing them to compose, and to listen with discrimination. The topics have been chosen to allow students to gradually build on the musical skills and knowledge gained at KS2. Each module requires students to apply the previously learnt skills and knowledge to the tasks in the current unit.

KS4

GCSE Drama

The KS4 Drama curriculum covers a board range of drama, theatre and performance skills. Students study devising and work on how to respond creatively to a stimulus and performance skills to provide clear foundation for NEA devising unit of work. This develops students ability to respond creatively to a stimulus, use and apply a range of drama techniques successfully and establish effective and engaging characters. Students look at a extracts of a range of texts as this provides them with a board range of performance options and genres to explore in their scripted performance work. Students develop vocal and physical skills and learn about how to show characterisation in performance. Students experience live theatre and learn how to critically evaluate live theatre and performance work and this provides them with cultural experience and capital. This provides students with the option to evaluate key scenes, acting and design elements. Students study a set text and work on how to stage this text and key extracts as an actor, director and designer. Students learn to justify their artistic and dramatic choices. Students learn group work skills, confidence, speaking and listening skills and this all links to the GCSE specification.

GCSE Music

The study of music at KS4 encourages students to;

Develop performing skills individually and in groups to communicate musically with fluency and control of the resources used
Develop composing skills to organise musical ideas and make use of appropriate resources
Recognise links between the integrated activities of performing, composing and appraising and how this informs the development of music
Broaden musical experience and interests, develop imagination and foster creativity
Develop knowledge, understanding and skills needed to communicate effectively as musicians
Develop awareness of a variety of instruments, styles and approaches to performing and composing
Develop awareness of music technologies and their use in the creation and presentation of music
Recognise contrasting genres, styles and traditions of music, and develop some awareness of musical chronology
Develop as effective and independent learners with enquiring minds
Reflect upon and evaluate their own and others’ music
Engage with and appreciate the diverse heritage of music, in order to promote personal, social, intellectual and cultural development.

Level 1 & 2 Technical Award in Music Technology

The Level 1/2 Technical Award in Music Technology is designed for learners who want an introduction to music technology that includes a vocational and project-based element. You may be interested in this course if you wish to pursue a career in the music industry or progress onto further study.

During the course you will study the following content areas:
Content area 1: Introduction to music technology and the music business
Content area 2: The digital audio workstation (DAW)
Content area 3: Musical elements, musical style and music technology
Content area 4: Sound creation
Content area 5: Multitrack recording

How you will be assessed:
The qualification has 2 assessments externally set by NCFE: one non-exam assessment and one written examined assessment.

BTEC DANCE

BTEC Dance is an intensive and exciting practical course enabling you to explore, develop and extend your dance techniques, choreographic skills, and understanding of the professional dance industry. The course is aimed at those of you who are interested in exploring and developing your own dance skills, knowledge and understanding. You should have a reasonable level of fitness, creativity, commitment and motivation.

Units Studied:
Component 1 – Exploring the Performing Arts

Take part in practical and theory lessons exploring three professional dance works.
Assessment: 1,000-word essay or Power Point Presentation

Component 2 – Developing Skills and Techniques

Take part in practical workshops learning Contemporary, Jazz or Street Dance techniques and phrases.
Assessment: Rehearsal and performance of professional repertoire. Logbook.

Component 3 – Performing to a Brief

Take part in a series of choreographic workshops and create a piece of choreography in response to a stimulus.
Assessment: Choreographic process and final performance.

Grades: Pass, Merit, Distinction

At the end of the course, you will be awarded with a final grade of pass, merit, distinction or distinction*.

Qualifications

GCSE Drama
GCSE Music
Level 1 & 2 Technical Award in Music Technology
BTEC Dance

Please see below for Curriculum Maps for a breakdown of what is taught in each year group and by term: