Expressive Arts

The Expressive Arts Curriculum

In KS3 students will study Art (including Photography), Drama and Music. In Years 7 & 8 students will have 2 hours per subject a fortnight. In Year 9 students will have 2 hours a fortnight in Art and Music and 1 hour a fortnight in Drama.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

The Art Curriculum

 

Music Curriculum

Drama Curriculum

KS4 Curriculum

There are currently four GCSE options you can take in KS4: GCSE Art (Edexcel), GCSE Drama (AQA), GCSE Music (Eduqas) and GCSE Photography (Edexcel). Students have five hours a fortnight for a subject at KS4.

GCSE Art & Photography

Qualification: GCSE Art and GCSE Photography

(Examination Board Edexcel – www.qualifications.pearson.com) 

The Art GCSE & Photography courses are aimed at students who enjoy developing their creativity through experimenting with different materials and exploring ways of communicating their views and ideas through art. Students are encouraged to take a personalised approach to their studies and should become increasingly independent as artists and photographers over the course.  Students are taught to:

•  their ideas through investigations of artists’ work
•  their work as it progresses
•  their thoughts, views, feelings through drawing, painting, print-making, sculpture, photography, digital imaging and working in mixed medias.
•  finished pieces of work that have been planned and show their understanding of a topic.

How will I be assessed?

Component 1– Coursework (60%)

– A portfolio of work developed throughout y10 and 11.

Component 2: Exam (40%)

– A sketchbook and final piece based on a theme set by the exam board.  This incorporates a 10 hour final exam.

What skills do I need?

Basic art skills are required – class work in Key Stage 3 will aid this. The ability to be able to work independently and take on feedback from your teachers is essential to the development of your skills.

What can I progress on to?

Many students who study GCSE Art or Photography progress on to study Art or Photography at A Level. You could also study further BTEC courses.

Students then progress on to Art Foundation courses at college and then specialise in a degree of their chosen discipline.

GCSE Drama

Qualification: GCSE Drama (AQA Examination Board – www.aqa.org.uk) (External link)

Drama is an exciting, fun, creative and challenging course and has been designed by AQA to help students meet those challenges. The balance between the practical acting tasks and the written examination gives students the best opportunity to succeed.

Students will be given the opportunity to develop their interest in acting and live theatre through contact with professional actors and theatre productions. Students will become independent learners as well as developing the skills essential for effective team co-operation.

How will I be assessed?

Unit 1 – Understanding Drama – 1 hour 45 minutes written paper – 80 marks – 40% of overall marks

Section A: students will answer four multiple-choice questions about professional theatre maker roles and/or terminology (4 marks)

Section B: students will answer four questions on a given extract from a set play chosen (46 marks)

Section C: students will answer one two part question (from a choice) on the work of theatre makers in a single live theatre production they have seen during the course (30 marks)

Unit 2 – Devising Drama – Practical Work – 80 marks – 40% of overall marks

Process of creating devised drama:

• Performance of devised drama
• Analysis and evaluation of own work (through a log book)

Unit 3 – Texts in Practise – Practical Work – 50 marks – 20% of overall marks

Performance of two extracts from one play. Free choice of play but it must contrast with the set play chosen for Unit 1

What skills do I need?

Experience from drama lessons at KS3 are a good starting point to study drama at GCSE level.  Students need to be confident, committed and well organised as well as being open to learn new things and try out new ideas.

What can I progress on to?

Many students who study GCSE Drama progress on to study BTEC Performing Arts at The John of Gaunt School.

GCSE Music

Qualification: GCSE Music (Examination Board Eduqas – www.eduqas.co.uk) (External link)

What will I study?

Students work in the three areas of listening, performing and composing.  Performing and composing (which builds on the improvisation and chord work of Years 8 and 9) are completed as coursework and submitted as recordings which are assessed at the end of the course.  The use of recorded work not only gives opportunities for the specialist musician to excel, but also students who, up to now, have not considered themselves as music readers and writers to present coursework to a high standard.

Successful students have to develop music-reading skills, be confident in the use of musical terminology, enjoy making music and listening to many styles. Music at examination level offers those with an interest, the opportunity to turn what could just be a hobby into a highly academic and worthwhile qualification.

How will I be assessed?

• Component 1: Performing Music – coursework (30%)
• – Performance 1: Solo performance
• – Performance 2: Ensemble performance

Performances can be on any instrument and/or voice and in any style/genre. Both pieces must last a minimum of 4 minutes.

• Component 2: Composing Music – practical work (30%)
• Composition 1: Composition to an exam board brief
• Composition 2: Free composition in a style of choice
• Component 3: Appraising – written exam (40%)
• – 1 hour 15 minutes listening exam
• – Eight questions in total, two on each of the four areas of study. Area of study 1: Musical Forms and Devices Area of study 2: Music for Ensemble Area of study 3: Film Music Area of study 4: Popular Music

What skills do I need?

Basic keyboard skills are required – class work in KS3 will aid this. The ability to be able to work both individually and as part of an ensemble is key.  Finally having a willingness to learn new skills such as how to use notation software like Sibelius is important.

What can I progress on to?

Many students who study GCSE Music progress on to study Music at A Level. You could also study AS and A2 Music Technology or BTEC Music Performance and Music Production.

KS5 Curriculum

There are currently three course options you can take at KS5: A Level Fine Art (Edexcel), BTEC Performing Arts (Pearson) and Music (Eduqas). Students have ten hours a fortnight for a subject at KS5. There is the view to start A Level Photography in the not too distant future.

Please see the links to the sixth form website for further information about these courses. You can also contact members of the faculty for further information.