KS3 Curriculum

At Key stage 3, we believe that it is important that our projects allow pupils to experiment with a range of different materials and techniques and we also feel that it is important to provide a historical and contemporary context to the projects and discuss the ideas and issues behind the work of other artists that are relevant. Key stage Three groups will rotate across the department covering both 2D and 3D projects. Processes include drawing, painting, print-making, ceramics, photography and mixed-media.  Students will actively take part in both self-assessment and peer assessment and are regularly given feedback both verbally in lessons as well as in their sketchbooks. 

Year 7 

All year 7 pupils will cover topics based on basic drawing skills, colour theory, a basic introduction to clay, Aboriginal Art, and Mark Making 

Year 8 

Year 8 pupils will be studying the masks and face coil pots, Pop Art, Masks and fruit and veg. 

Year 9 

Year 9 pupils will be studying Marine Life, Photography using Everyday Objects and Flowers. 

Key Stage 4

Key Stage Four, pupils will be expected to develop their creative, imaginative and practical skills within the area of Art and Design through their response to projects. 

They will: 

• Experiment and explore a wide range of media 

• Develop their drawing skills 

• Be required to take an independent and enquiring approach through research and development of art ideas 

• Be required to complete a sketchbook, support work and complete a number of final outcomes which could be a painting/drawing, ceramics etc. 

• Be required to study the work of other artists and take inspiration from the world around them in order to fully develop their own original ideas. 

The exam board for GCSE Art is AQA. 

We offer three different endorsements, Fine Art. 3D Art and Design and Photography  

The course is made up of two coursework units and an Externally Set Assignment in year 11, in which students have two months to prepare for a 10-hour practical Art exam. The two coursework units are worth 60% of the marks in the final GCSE assessment; the remaining 40% of the grade comes from the Year 11 exam unit. 

Emphasis is made on drawing and annotation and students are encouraged to develop their experimentation using a range of different materials.

Key Stage 5

At KS5 we offer AQA Fine Art A Level. We expect students to be fully independent in their learning and focus in Art and Design and we have a dedicated sixth form Art Room which students are free to use at any time. 

 

KS3 Curriculum

Year 7 Music

• Music     Building Bricks 
• Rhythm and Pulse
• Keyboard skills
• Form and Structure
• Sonority City
• Folk Music

Year 8 Music 

• Hooks and Riffs
• Off Beat
•  Variations
• Jazz
• Bass
• Saharan Sounds 

Year 9 Music

• Rock n Roll
• Soundtracks
• Computer game Music
• New Directions
• Samba
• Song Writing

 

KS4 Curriculum

Year 10 and 11 students study EDEXCEL/PEARSON BTEC level 1/2 First Award in Music. 

This qualification is equivalent in size to one GCSE. It is a Technical Award designed for pre-16 students working at level 2 who want to include a study of the music industry in their broader Key Stage 4 curriculum. Students will engage with music as an industry and will develop a range of relevant practical and technical skills. 

This qualification provides students with the opportunity to explore music product development and events management, and to apply their knowledge in new and practical industry-related contexts. 

What will the student study as part of this qualification? 

The qualification consists of two mandatory units which provide the fundamental knowledge skills and understanding required for the music sector and two optional units which explore skills necessary for working in the Music industry. 

Mandatory Units 

• Unit 1 ‘The Music Industry’ provides an overview of the music industry. It covers the fundamental knowledge and understanding of music industry organisations and the roles and responsibilities of those that work within them, and at the variety of musical activity. 

This is an externally set and assessed exam 

• Unit 2 ‘Managing a Music Product’ requires students to plan, develop and deliver a music product, by undertaking basic business planning activities, research and marketing as well as the promotion and running of an event or launch of a product. 

Optional Units 

• Unit 3 ‘Introducing Live Sound’ 

• Unit 5 ‘Introducing Music Performance’ 

• Unit 7 ‘Introducing Music Sequencing’ 

• Unit 2,3 and 5 are internally assessed and externally moderated by Pearson. 

KS3 Curriculum

During PE, all Key Stage 3 students will access a unit of dance through their PE lessons. The themes are as follows: 

Year 7: Thriller 

Year 8: Swansong 

Year 9: Contact Improvisation

 

KS4 Curriculum

Students will be following the AQA GCSE Dance specification

This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams and submit all their non-exam assessment at the end of the course. 

Students must complete both assessment components. 

Component 1: Performance and choreography 

What's assessed? 

Performance 

Set phrases through a solo performance (approximately one minute in duration) 

Duet/trio performance (three  minutes in a dance which is a maximum of five minutes in duration) 

Choreography 

Solo or group choreography – a solo (two to two and a half minutes) or a group dance for two to five dancers (three to three and a half minutes) 

How it's assessed 

• Internally marked and externally moderated

• Performance 30% of GCSE 

• 40 marks 

• Choreography 

• 30% of GCSE 

• 40 marks 

Total component 60% 

Non-exam assessment (NEA) marked by the centre and moderated by AQA 

Component 2: Dance appreciation 

What's assessed? 

• Knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills 

• Critical appreciation of own work 

• Critical appreciation of professional works 

How it's assessed 

• 40% of GCSE 

• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes 

• 80 marks 

Questions 

Based on students' own practice in performance and choreography and the GCSE Dance anthology. 

KS5 Curriculum

A Level Dance follows the AQA specification. The qualification is linear, so like the GCSE, Year 12 is preparation for Year 13. 
 
Performance and Choreography (50%): 
 
Solo performance linked to a specified practitioner within an area of study 
 
Performance in a quartet 
 
Group choreography 
 
Critical Engagement (50%): 
 
Knowledge, understanding and critical appreciation of two set works. 

• One compulsory set work within the compulsory area of study (Rooster, Christopher Bruce; Rambert Dance Company) 

• One optional set work within the corresponding area of study (British Contemporary Dance; Sutra, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui)