Performing Arts

• Ms Burgess – Assistant Curriculum Leader (Music & Drama)
• Miss Twigg – Teacher of Drama 

Key Stage 3

The Music Curriculum

In KS2 students have learnt to sing and play musically with increasing confidence and control as a soloist and in an ensemble. They have developed an understanding of musical composition and musical notation and are able to reproduce sounds from aural memory. They can appreciate and understand a wide range of music from different traditions and from great composers and musicians.

In KS3 Music, students will study a range of instruments and great composers and learn to appreciate music from a broad range of countries, cultures and historical periods.

High-impact teaching enables all students to reach their potential, regardless of age, ability, gender or socio-economic status. Instruments covered in KS3:

• Ukulele/guitar
• Keyboard
• Drums
• Vocals 

KS3 Curriculum Aims:

Aim 1: The vast majority of students are at least “competent” composers, listeners and performers* to prepare them for the three main components of GCSE Music in KS4 to enable them to continue to appreciate music in their future.  

Aim 2: There is a strong uptake in our extensive programme of extra-curricular clubs, instrumental lessons and performance opportunities for students to develop their musical talents and interests. 

Aim 3: Students will be exposed to a wide range of musical styles, great composers & musicians from different cultural backgrounds and historical periods.

Aim 4: Students will develop critical listening skills through a do now activity in every KS3 lesson which will develop retrieval skills of key words. 

Aim 5: students will become confident in the language of music including the italian terms, using this language with confidence as they compose, listen to, and appraise music. 

*see assessment page

The Drama Curriculum 

The KS3 curriculum builds skills, knowledge and understanding to enable all students to succeed in GCSE Drama, develop character, and continue to study Drama or pursue a career in Performing Arts. Students will develop a drama toolkit of skills, apply these in performance, re-enact and shape their own ideas and analyse and evaluate their own and others performances.  Each year of KS3 is split into 3 key units:

•  Unit 1 – Exploring the work of a key theatre practitioner

• Unit 2 – Exploring a text through performance (applying the skills from Unit 1)

• Unit 3 – Create an original piece of work with inspiration from one or more social, historical or cultural topics (applying learning from Units 1 and 2)This structure allows students to return to key concepts throughout the key stage and to progressively build on them to advance their knowledge further as the years progress. 

A range of extra-curricular activities are used to embed key theatrical components needed to develop their own dramatic style.

KS3 Curriculum Aims

Aim 1: All students will reach their potential. The vast majority of students will be “competent”* performers in a range of skills and techniques. Many students will exceed this level. 

Aim 2: Performance skills (both vocal and physical) are explicitly taught and used by students as part of their directed and independent rehearsal and the character development process. These will be specifically chosen for each performance task and learners are encouraged to use these cumulatively over their course of study. 

Aim 3: Performance techniques are explicitly taught and used by students as part of their directed and independent rehearsal and the character development process. These are specific to and learners are encouraged to use these cumulatively over their course of study.

Aim 4: A variety of explorative strategies are used (both vocal and physical) are explicitly taught and used by students as part of their directed and independent rehearsal and character development. These will be specifically chosen for each performance task and learners are encouraged to use these cumulatively over their course of study. 

Aim 5: Elements of Performance (including semiotics, lighting/sound, and costume design) and performance roles and responsibilities (such as that of an actor, director, and designer) are interleaved into. These will be specifically chosen for each performance task and learners are encouraged to use these cumulatively over their course of study. 

Aim 6: There is a keen focus on theatre practitioners and styles of theatre throughout the curriculum. These are explicitly taught each year and used to structure the course of study. 

*see assessment page 

GCSE Music

Students study the Educas Specification which includes units on:

• Component 1  – Performing – Students will perform on their chosen instrument as a soloist and in an ensemble. (40%)
• Component 2 – Composing – Students will create two pieces of music. One of these will be linked to brief and one is a free choice piece. (40%)
• Component 3 – Appraising – Students will learn about the elements of music and pick out key features in different styles of music. These include;  Area of study 1: Musical Forms and Devices Area of study 2: Music for Ensemble Area of study 3: Film Music Area of study 4: Popular Music (30%)

GCSE Drama

In GCSE Drama, students’ complete three components; Devising Drama, Presenting and Performing a Playtext and an Analysis of a Playtext through Live Theatre Performance. Students are able to select a performing or lighting designer route from the start of the two year course.

Performers learn about; acting, use of voice and movement skills. Lighting Designers will learn about; rigging, programming and operation of lights, creating a lighting plot, cue sheet and lantern schedules, in addition to developing a design concept for the stage.
At KS4 there is an expectations of live theatre visits as well as additional rehearsals in the run up to performances. During Year 10 the focus is on devising theatre and in Year 11 on play texts.

Each year there will be a performance showcase or school production in which KS4 students will be encouraged to audition for.

The students will cover four components which include:

The course is graded using 1-9 assessment.