Performing Arts Faculty
Learning Director
Mrs Lucy Townsend
Faculty Introduction
Performing Arts encompasses Dance, Drama and Music, all of which we offer at key stages 3, 4 and 5.
Students study a vast range of styles and stimuli in Performing Arts, and every lesson provides them with time to improve their skills and knowledge. There is a strong focus on creativity and performing, studying famous practitioners in all disciplines, and developing collaborative skills.
Key Stage 3
Students have Dance, Drama and Music once a week.
In Music, they have a practical lesson in a specialist music room, supplemented by a variety of rehearsal rooms. They also have a Music IT lesson where they start to explore Music Technology in a dedicated suite.
In Dance, students explore a theme accompanied by a style every term. This maybe Disco with Cars, or a trip around the globe with World Dance. Every scheme ends with a performance assessment.
In Drama, students study skills, techniques and practitioners who have influenced theatre. They devise their own work and bring scripts to life.
The schemes of work at key stage 3 are all created with key stage 4 and 5 in mind, looking at the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the courses further up the school. They are also designed to engage our students, assist their creativity and have fun in Performing Arts!
Assessment:
Students follow the Performing Arts Faculty mastery curriculum. Students are given the criteria to progress through from emerging, to developing, secure and mastered.
Enrichment Activities:
The KC Performing Arts extra-curricular offer is extensive:
Students can attend after school sessions in dance in all year groups. We also have an elite dance company, Defined, who compete in the national Udance competition. Year 9 students are offered Arts award bronze, and perform at the NMPAT festival at the Derngate every year. There is an annual dance showcase every March and we also attend Move It in London.
Musicians can attend rock band, orchestra, choir and we have peripatetic lessons in Brass, Strings, Singing, Piano, Drums, Guitar and Woodwind!
Actors focus on the whole school production in the autumn term, before the return of Drama club from January. Our elite actors compete in National Theatre Connections.
There are frequent trips in Performing Arts as well as professional visitors.
Assessment:
Students’ work is graded against the specifications.
Homework:
Homework is set regularly to support delivery of the units being studied at that time and is crucial to ensure students do not fall behind in meeting the criteria. It could be theory based to help develop knowledge and understanding of practitioners or rehearsal based.
GCSE Music 
All students will develop their key skills as performers, both solo and in small ensembles. The underpinning skills of theory and composition will be further developed, along with aural skills. Students will also learn about the history of western classical music and other genres.
PROGRESSION COURSE OUTLINE & CONTENT
This course combines practical performance with the essential skills of theory and composition, along with the skill of listening and responding to music.
ASSESSMENT
- Listening and contextual understanding – Written examination (1 hour 30 minutes) – 40% of the total examination marks.
- Performing, both solo and ensemble – internally assessed and externally moderated – 30% of the total examination marks.
- Composing – one composition to a set brief, one free choice composition, to last a minimum of 3 minutes in total – 30% of the total examination marks.
This course will act as a solid foundation for progression towards A Level Music. The skills developed of critical self-analysis and improvement will prove useful in any further study.
Btec Level 2 Drama
You will engage in a range of drama activities exploring a theme, topic or issue. This will enable you to deepen your understanding of the theme and come to appreciate how the dramatic medium can be used to communicate meaning.
ASSESSMENT
You will be assessed practically, and your work will be accompanied by written log books, online exams and presentations.
- Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts.
- Component 2: Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts.
- Component 3: Responding to a Brief.
Progression from BTEC in Drama can lead to study in further Drama and Performing Arts courses, as well as a career in the field of Drama or Performing Arts
Btec Level 2 Dance
The course will give you the opportunity to work in the studio and get hands-on experience of dancing in a number of different styles, choreographing, and developing performances for an audience.
ASSESSMENT
A BTEC in Dance is very practical and designed to prepare you for working in this sector, so you will be given real-life scenarios to focus your work on which is mainly practical and internally assessed. There are also written elements in the form of journals and assignments.
- Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts.
- Component 2: Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts.
- Component 3: Performing to a Brief.
The course prepares you perfectly to continue with the BTEC Level 3 Dance course and also links well to Musical Theatre courses to begin to prepare you for various degrees in Dance
A Level Music Technology
A level music technology can be studied with almost any other combination of subjects. The qualification if highly regarded by university admissions tutors as it demonstrates the student possesses a wide range of skills, both practical and theory. It introduces students to the world of sound recording, audio technology and production.
- Area of study 1: recording and production techniques for both corrective and creative purposes.
- Area of study 2: principles of sound and audio technology.
- Area of study 3: the development of recording and production technology.
Assessment:
Component 1: Recording (coursework: 20% of A level)
Students will use production tools and techniques to capture, edit, process and mix an audio recording.
Component 2: Technology-based composition (coursework: 20% of A level)
Students will produce a technology-based composition through creating, editing, manipulating and structuring sounds.
Component 3: Listening and analysing (exam: 25% of A level)
Students will sit a written exam in which their knowledge and understanding of recording and production techniques and principles will be tested.
Component 4: Producing and analysing (exam: 35% of A level)
Students will apply their knowledge and understanding of editing, mixing and production techniques in a practical exam.
Level 3 Btec Extended Certificate in Dance
This practical course is the equivalent of one A level. It consists of 3 mandatory units and 1 optional. It is very industry focused and really gives students the chance to explore and develop their skills and passion for dance.
Year 12:
Unit 1 Investigating Practitioners (written exam)
Unit 2 Developing skills and techniques for live performance (coursework)
Year 13:
Unit 3 Group performance (practical exam)
Unit 19 Movement in Performance (coursework)
