Curriculum Rationale: Performing Arts
Our purpose and objective in the Performing Arts faculty is to nurture passionate, imaginative and inquisitive individuals, who see the world from an artistic perspective, enjoying and exploring past and present art forms generated from an array of different cultures. The Performing Arts curriculum prepares students to become independent and creative individuals. A range of topics allow students to develop an understanding and appreciation of the arts formed in a contemporary society and throughout the world. These themes are explored through a range of different creative styles, practitioners and mediums. Furthermore, the Performing Arts curriculum promotes a sense of self-worth, encourages confidence, resilience and develops relationships.
In Key Stage 3 learners are given the opportunity to secure the foundation of Performing Arts education and implement skills that are important for life long lessons. Key Stages 4 aim to allow learners to develop a deeper understanding of the Performing Arts; its culture, background and influences. These Key Stages also serve to promote leadership and independence that will support learners to further their learning Post 16 if they so desire. The curriculum also provides students with an accurate knowledge of how the Performing Arts industry operates in today’s society. Additionally, the programme of study throughout the key stages places an emphasis on written expression and literacy, supporting students to write analytically about the Performing Arts, crafting critical responses and accurately employing subject related terminology.
The subject promotes an overall appreciation of the arts both inside and outside of the classroom developing discipline, control and focus allowing them to grow into well rounded adults. Students are introduced to a range of opportunities to develop their expertise through extra-curricular activities including the school musical, Shakespeare for Schools Festival, and theatre trips both locally and nationally, allowing them to experience a wide variety of cultural capital.
We aim to ensure that all our pupils who are disadvantaged or have any special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have access to a carefully planned curriculum. Our curriculum aims to provide pupils with SEND with explicit systematic teaching and rehearsal of knowledge. We also ensure that these pupils have the time they need to study important subject content in Business Studies.
The King’s Leadership Academy Hawthornes Performing Arts curriculum has been developed to ensure that all pupils will:
Develop key skills that prove their aptitude in Performing Arts such as reproducing repertoire or responding to stimuli
Explore the processes that underpin effective ways of working in the Performing Arts, such as development of ideas, rehearsal and performance.
Develop attitudes that are considered most important in the Performing Arts, including personal management and communication.
Have a clear understanding of the knowledge that underpins effective use of skills, process and attitudes in the sector such as roles, responsibilities, performance disciplines and styles.
Key stage 3 Curriculum overview
For each curriculum overview, additional documentation is available upon request. This documentation outlines more precisely the exact subject knowledge that your child must know and remember. These documents also include the types of teaching activities that subject staff have chosen to help your child learn the curriculum here at King's Leadership Academy Hawthornes.
In order to check how well our pupils are learning the curriculum, teachers use a full range of assessment techniques. These include diagnostic questions to reveal your child’s preconceptions and common misunderstandings about Performing Arts, questioning and end of topic/learning cycle assessments.