Performing Arts will ignite a creative spark and develop students confidence to perform, create and analyse meaningful and imaginative performances.
The intent of Performing Arts at Beckfoot is to nurture enjoyment and understanding of the Performing Arts through practical experience. We aim to develop subject specific and transferable skills that challenge and empower learners, building their confidence by fostering a creative approach to express themselves and their opinions on the world around them.
Confidence, creativity and communication are at the heart of every lesson. Our subject gives learners the opportunity to explore themes and issues deeply and reflect on their work – looking at and from alternative perspectives.
Enrichment
Our curriculum gives students the opportunity to explore social and cultural issues and create theatre that tackles issues within their community. Learners develop emotionally and socially through theatre trips, extra-curricular enrichment, professional workshops and deeper learning days. These experiences inspire learners to think ‘beyond Beckfoot’ and have an appreciation for the local, wider, national and international community.
Assessment
In years 7, 8 and 9, internal assessments will take place throughout each year to monitor student progress and further inform teaching and learning.
At GCSE, students will be assessed through both examinations and non-exam assessments.
KS4 Specification
Careers
Our curriculum ensures learners are prepared for life in the 21st century through developing transferable skills such as communication, oracy, analytical thinking, reflection, independent study, research and project planning. Learners develop knowledge of roles and responsibilities in the Performing Arts industry while building their confidence, creativity and resilience to fulfil their life goals and succeed in all areas of employment.
Curriculum Overview
| Year | Cycle 1 | Cycle 2 | Cycle 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | Superheroes: Students will be introduced to key physical skills and basic stagecraft and vocal skills as they work to develop their own superhero character and analyse their own performance. | Physical Theatre: Students will be introduced to stagecraft in physical theatre as they work in a group perform choral movement, shapes and balances and a physical theatre performance. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Students will develop their skills of explorative and storytelling techniques as they communicate the mood and emotions of characters in the script. | Bollywood – dance: Students will be introduced to dance performance skills as they develop performances in a larger group. They will use choreographic techniques to devise their own routine and perform the piece to an audience. |
| Year 8 | Film Trailer: Students will be introduced to working in a group to devise their own performance of a film trailer montage utilising techniques to persuade an audience. World War 1: Students will begin staging more complex devised work as they use their skills to create mood, atmosphere, and communicate more detailed characters. | Melodrama and pantomime: Students will be introduced to the techniques used in pantomime as they perform exaggerated characters in the style of slapstick and melodrama. Styles of dance: Students will develop their dance performance skills to engage and audience as they perform three dances in three different styles. | Romeo and Juliet: Student will develop their stagecraft skills through staging a Shakespearean classic text and bring together all of their performance skills, stagecraft skills, drama and dance techniques to stage a scene from the play, as they explore mood and atmosphere. |
| Year 9 | Acting techniques for realism – Stanislavski: Students will be introduced to Stanislavski’s techniques to create more realistic performances and characters. Blood Brothers – Stanislavski: Students will develop their knowledge of Stanislavski’s techniques to perform a realistic context in a scripted performance. | Noughts and crosses – Brecht: Introduces students to Brecht’s techniques to communicate a message in a script. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie: Introduces students to stagecraft skills when staging a musical theatre performance, as they work in a team to perform a scene from a musical using their vocal, physical and dance skills. | Responding to a stimulus: Students will be introduced to devising a piece from a stimulus as they work in a discipline and style of their choice to devise a performance. Brings together all skills learnt from Year 7-9. |
| Year 10 | Acting styles intro: Learners will be introduced to two acting styles as they develop their understanding of the role of the actor and director by examining practitioners work and the processes used to create a performance – Frankenstein extract, Cinderella extract, a Curious Incident of the God in the Night-Time extract, Hairspray extract | Frankenstein: Build on students knowledge of design elements and their knowledge and understanding of the stylistic qualities in Frankenstein, now adding set design Pantomime Project: Students will have the opportunity to rehearse and prepare for a performance working in a production tole, they will have first-hand experience of the production process and performing to a live audience | Hairspray: Builds on students knowledge of design elements from previous half term, now adding costume design, students will develop their understanding of stylistic qualities of musical theatre and the processes needed to create a performance Curious Incident: Builds on knowledge of design elements from Frankenstein, now adding lighting design and their understanding of the stylistic qualities of Curious Incident |