Performing Arts
Performing Arts (Drama and Music) are a pivotal area of the curriculum at Park Academy West London. The goal of the Performing Arts curriculum is to ensure all students have sufficient knowledge and skills for future learning and employment. To achieve this, we consider student’s prior learning, allow our students to develop interpersonal skills, build resilience and become creative, critical thinkers. Through the Applied Transdisciplinary Learning (ATL) curriculum, students also have the opportunity to explore Performing Arts through the Shakespeare Re-designed Assignment in Year 8 (Drama) and a project on the Civil Rights Movement in Year 8 (Music). These assignments within ATL means students’ skills are practiced and honed, and their knowledge of key concepts are developed across different disciplines.
The curriculum has been developed to reflect the key skills that all students should cultivate throughout their time at school, including team work, creativity, speaking, listening, evaluation and analysis. The development of these skills enables our students to learn about themselves and the world they live in. Cultural Capital is an essential part of the Performing Arts curriculum, which strengthens student’s engagement in the subjects. For example, students are given the opportunity to take part in the annual Christmas Concert, attend extra-curricular Music clubs and experience live theatre, through trips to local venues and into London.
Throughout the curriculum, all students are actively encouraged to rehearse and perform, ensuring they develop confidence, leadership and are able to speak confidently and effectively.
In Key Stage 4, students are given the option to study Drama and Music, through the following courses:
Key Stage 4
OCR GCSE Drama
Component 1: Devising Drama – internally assessed (30%)
Component 2: Presenting and Performing Texts – visiting examiner (30%)
Component 3: Performance and Response – externally assessed exam (1 hour 30 minutes) (40%)
Pearson BTEC First Level 1/2 Award in Music
Unit 1: The Music Industry – externally assessed exam (1 hour) (25%)
Unit 2: Managing a Music Product – internally assessed (25%)
Unit 5: Introducing Music Performance – internally assessed (25%)
Unit 6: Introducing Music Recording – internally assessed (25%)