Drama and BTEC Performance (Dance & Drama)
The performance curriculum encourages students to become confident practitioners through the exploration of various styles, genres both contemporary and historical. They will develop transferable life and employability skills, boost their self confidence and collaborative skills and develop their understanding of the wider vocational performance contexts and roles. Fostering their love of the arts and its place as the stanchion of self expression, cultural preservation and social commentary.
KS3
The performing art curriculum exposes students to a wide range of styles, genres, disciplines, and classical and contemporary performance practitioners. Students will explore context, influences, meanings and intent as well as key techniques and features of the styles, techniques and genres they practically and critically explore. The curriculum is sequenced to increase the levels of demand and sophistication both in terms of the analytical and critical understanding of these contemporary practitioners or historical works, as well as the complexity of core skills acquired and applied to students’ own performances. Each key stage is sequenced to equip students with the skills and understanding needed for success at the next key stage, into further study or the world of work.
KS4
In KS4, students will develop industry and sector-specific applied knowledge and skills through realistic vocational contexts. They will develop key skills in performing arts, such as reproducing repertoire and responding to stimuli. They will undertake and develop processes that underpin effective ways of working in the performing arts, such as development of ideas, rehearsal and performance, work ethic, and personal management and communication. They will develop effective understanding and use of performance skills, processes, roles, responsibilities, performance disciplines and style in response to given vocational contexts and briefs. In year 10 students will complete Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts.
In year 11 students will complete Component 2: Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts, which are internally marked and externally moderated. They will complete the course by completing Component 3: Responding to a Brief which is externally set.
KS5
In KS5, students will extend and further develop their industry, sector specific and specialist knowledge and skills enabling entry to an apprenticeship, employment, or progression to related higher education courses. This BTEC Extended Certificate in Performing Arts level 3, covers multiple performing arts disciplines that individuals can specialise in:
• Dance
• Acting
• Musical Theatre
In year 12 students will complete Unit 1 and Unit 2.
Unit 1: Investigating Practitioners’ Work.
Students will develop industry skills and investigate the work of influential performing arts practitioners. Students will identify the contextual factors that influence the chosen practitioner's work and critically analyse key information, such as creative intentions, performance, production and repertoire in order to develop and communicate independent judgements.
In Unit 2: Developing Skills and Techniques for Live Performance.
Students will develop performing, interpretive, creative and technical performing arts skills and techniques in one or more of the performance disciplines of acting, dance, musical theatre, physical theatre and variety/popular entertainment. Students will participate in regular workshops, classes and exercises where they will acquire, practise and develop the necessary technical, practical and interpretative performance skills to succeed when performing live to an audience. Students will investigate, interpret and analyse the nature, skills and attributes of the performer’s role in their chosen discipline.
In year 13 students will work with teachers to choose an elective module based on their chosen discipline and strengths in their practice.
Exam board(s)
KS4 Pearson BTEC Tech Award in Performance (dance and drama pathways)
KS5 Pearson BTEC National Extended Certificate in Performance.
