Home|Curriculum|Subjects|Performing Arts

Performing Arts

Within the Performance Faculty, our intent is to engage and inspire all students to perform and hone their skills to a professional standard.

Our aim is for them to enjoy their learning with others in order to perform, believe and achieve both in and out of the classroom.

The topics studied allow students to explore and engage with a wide range of social, moral, spiritual and cultural experiences in a safe and supportive learning environment. From Year 7 right through to Sixth Form, students will start to explore skills, from confidence and self-presentation to time management and organisational skills. They will develop the ability to move beyond boundaries and experiment with different ideas and skills. They will learn to cope with constructive criticism and learn from it, which is transferable across the whole school curriculum.

Students have the opportunity to continue their development of the arts with a vast array of extra-curricular opportunities throughout the year. Every lesson gives students the opportunity to be creative and imaginative and to challenge themselves - both as a performer and a South Craven Learner.

Within Dance / Performing Arts lessons students can bring black leggings / shorts or wear their PE kit to move freely in. Students are also required to wear either white indoor trainers, dance shoes or have bare feet. Students cannot dance in socks or tights. 

What will I study?

Year 7

Drama
  • Basic acting skills
  • Challenge of character
  • Bullying
  • The Island
Dance
  • Basic dance skills
  • Motif development
  • Dance around the world
  • Story theatre
Music
  • Music elements
  • Instrumental workshops
  • Songwriting
  • Sequencing

Year 8

As well as Drama, Dance and Music, there will also be a cross-curricular Performing Arts project in Year 8.

Drama
  • Persecution
  • Theatre in education
  • Myths and storytelling
  • Evacuees
  • Holidays
Dance
  • Dancing through the decades
  • Gangs
  • Physical theatre
  • Rock Challenge competition
  • Introduction to musical theatre dance
Music
  • Blues, soul funk and reggae
  • 1960s
  • The Beatles
  • Advanced songwriting and sequencing

Year 9

Acting
  • Developing drama skills
  • Practitioners' working methods and styles
  • Acting genres
  • Devised and scripted work
Dance
  • Developing dance skills
  • Choreographers' working methods and styles
  • Dance genres e.g. jazz, contemporary and urban
  • Technical and interpretive skills
  • Dance technique workshops
Music
  • Laying the groundwork for BTEC Level 2 Music
  • Musical theory
  • Individual and ensemble instrumental skills
  • Live performance
  • Using and recording in a studio
  • Sequencing skills
  • Composition
Musical Theatre
  • Acting, dance and singing skills
  • Different styles of musicals
  • Devising work
  • Repertoire
Film and Production
  • Film genres
  • Directors and styles
  • Production and film techniques

Years 10 & 11

Acting
  • Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts (Job roles, performance and production elements)
  • Component 2: Deveoping Skills and Techniques (Characterisation, vocal expression, physical expression, interpretation)
  • Component 3: Responding to a Brief (Responding to a brief, selecting skills and evaluation)
Dance
  • Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts (Job roles, performance and production elements)
  • Component 2: Deveoping Skills and Techniques (Basic dance actions, choreographic devices, dance genres)
  • Component 3: Responding to a Brief (Responding to a brief, selecting skills and evaluation)
Music
  • Component 1: Exploring Music Products and Styles (Understand, perform, compose and record a variety of music styles)
  • Component 2: Music Skills Development (Developing a portfolio containing evidence that documents knowledge and understanding)
  • Component 3: Responding to a Commercial Music Brief (Focus on an area of the music industry and respond to a commercial brief)
Musical Theatre
  • Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts (Job roles, performance, production elements)
  • Component 2: Developing Skills and Techniques (Vocal tone, expression, characterisation, genres, workshops)
  • Component 3: Responding to a Brief (Responding to a brief, selecting skills, evaluation)

How will I be assessed?

Exam Board: Pearson
  • Practical evidence
  • Coursework
  • Externally assessed work

What else can I get involved in?

School Production

  • Every year we put on a school production at Christmas
  • Previous productions have included Grease, Our House and Fame

Dance Xplosion

  • Our annual dance showcase in the Fells Theatre
  • All year groups welcome!

National Schools Dance Competition

  • We take a group of students to compete in the National Schools Dance Championships

Clubs / Student Band

  • There are a variety of clubs and bands running throughout the week
  • Please look at the noticeboard outside the Sunshine Studio for full details

Visiting Artists Workshops

  • We have been lucky enough to have professionals from the industry come and host workshops throughout the year
  • Professionals who have come in have taken part in productions including Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Shrek the Musical and Gypsy

Peripatetic Service

  • Students can take part in external music lessons if they wish
  • This is a paid service
  • Current instruments on offer are piano, vocals, guitar, bass, drums
  • For more information, click here

External Visits

  • Theatre visits
  • College and university visits
  • West End residential trip
  • Move It! Dance event

What career could I have with a qualification in Performing Arts?

What can I study with a Performing Arts qualification?

Courses you could study at university include:
  • Dance
  • Drama and Theatre Studies
  • Media Studies
  • Music
  • Photography and Film

What career could I have with a Performing Arts qualification?

Careers which require a Performing Arts qualification include:
  • Actor
  • Community Arts Worker
  • Choreographer
  • Dancer
  • Dramatherapist
  • Music Producer
  • Music Therapist
  • Theatre Director

Within each of the spaces we have a career noticeboard specific to different areas of the arts.
Please visit our Wall of Fame outside the Fells Theatre to see pathways our ex-students have taken.

Remote Learning

When the school has to close during term time or when we have students who have ‘enforced absences’ (for example who are shielding or self-isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic), we provide work to ensure that learning continues. 

While at home you will be set work in line with your normal timetable in school.

Please check the Google Classroom for your class and access learning materials and complete any work that has been posted there. If there is no specific work for you there, then you should access the work linked below during your lessons, while at home.

Year 7

Dance
Drama
Music

Years 8 & 9

Music

Gallery