--- title: "Performing Arts" url: "https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/key-stage-4/performing-arts" school: "Knutsford Academy" --- # Performing Arts - Dance GCSE - Drama GCSE - Music GCSE - Curriculum Maps #### Dance offers the opportunity to develop students’ physical activity, artistic expressions, and social interaction. At Knutsford Academy we aim to broaden students’ experience of performance choreography and appreciation. Our curriculum encompasses a range of styles and techniques helping students develop their dance technique, co-ordination, creativity, and self-expression. We study the AQA GCSE Dance specification. This is separated into two components: Component One: Performance and Choreography Students will learn how to perform as a solo dancer and as part of a duet/trio dance. Students must be able to demonstrate application of: - physical skills and attributes safely during performance - technical skills accurately and safely during performance - expressive skills - mental skills and attributes during performance. Students will learn how to respond creatively to an externally set stimulus, to choreograph their own complete dance by the end of the unit. To create their own dance, students will study, understand and be able to apply the following, as appropriate to their choreography: - Action, spatial, dynamic and relationship content - Choreographic processes - Choreographic devices - Structural devices - Choice of aural and physical setting - Response to a variety of stimuli Component Two: Dance Appreciation Through written communication and use of appropriate terminology, students will critically analyse, interpret and evaluate their own work in performance and choreography. They will furthermore demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of professional practice in the six set works in the GCSE Dance Anthology. #### Enrichment In KS4 pupils are offered the following to support and enhance their GCSE studies:​ - GCSE tutorial support​ - Musical Theatre Dance Club​ - Short Back and Sides Dance Company​ - Ignition Dance Company (Auditioned)​ - External Community Performance Platforms - Dance Theatre trips and residentials #### Careers - Professional Dance/Musical Theatre Performer - Choreographer - Freelance Community Practitioner - Dance Teacher/Educator - Dance Journalist - Dance Physiotherapy - Dance Historian - Stage Management #### Drama is the study of a range of performer skills blended with written analysis to provide a rich study of watching, performing, and writing about theatre. Students from KS3 develop the fundamental performance skills needed to access scripts, develop characters, and understand specific drama techniques. At Knutsford Academy we aim to develop our students’ opportunities by exposing them to a range of scripted opportunities, developing their knowledge of becoming confident actors and being able to justify their artistic decisions. #### Course Summary We study the AQA GCSE Drama specification. **COMPONENT 1 – Understanding Drama - EXTERNAL** SECTION A – Understanding Roles in theatre. SECTION B – Blood Brothers. SECTION C – Live Theatre. **COMPONENT 2 – Devising - NEA** PERFORMANCE – Devised Performance LOGBOOK – 3 Section logbook of the development of your performance piece. **COMPONENT 3 – Texts in Practice - EXTERNAL** A performance of 2 scripts from the same play. #### Assessment KS4 Drama Assessment 183 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/knutsford-academy/files/documents/KS4_Drama_Assessment_.pdf) This qualification is assessed via external exams and NEA . Written Exam – 1hr 45 minutes. Devised Performance – NEA Devising Logbook – NEA Scripted Performance – Externally Marked. #### Enrichment GCSE Drama Revision. After school rehearsal opportunities each day. Participation in school productions Careers Actor, producer, lighting designer, costume designer, director, stage manager. #### Contact Mrs H Mayne: hme@knutsfordacademy.org.uk ### Music GCSE #### Course Summary Music GCSE is a practical course. Students who enjoy playing an instrument or singing in any style, including classical, pop, rock, jazz, music theatre and many more and would like to perform, compose and learn more about music will find this course suitable for them. An ability to read music is not essential. **Throughout the course students will:** - develop a greater understanding of different styles of music - perform as a soloist and in ensembles, ranging from duets to bands, pieces of music and songs of their own choice on an instrument or voice of their choice, which will be recorded onto CD - compose a piece of music or song in a style of their own choice, using instruments and voices of their own choice, which will be recorded onto CD compose a piece of music or song to a set brief, which will be recorded onto CD #### Assessment The course consists of three units: - Performing (30%) - Composing (30%) - Listening (40%) The first three units are assessed practically, while the listening unit is also assessed by examination. ### KS4 Performing Arts Curriculum Maps KS4 Drama Curriculum Map 181 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/knutsford-academy/files/documents/KS4_Drama_Curriculum_Map_Sept_2025_-_Copy_(1).pdf) Music 207 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/knutsford-academy/files/documents/KS4_Music_Curriculum_Map(1).pdf) Dance 164 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/knutsford-academy/files/documents/KS4_Dance_Curriculum_Map_.pdf) ### Curriculum - [Curriculum Statement](https://www.knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum) - [Key Stage 3](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/key-stage-3) - [Key Stage 4](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/key-stage-4) - [Art & Design](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/key-stage-4/art-design) - [English](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/key-stage-4/english) - [Humanities](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/key-stage-4/humanities-social-science) - [Languages](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/key-stage-4/languages) - [Mathematics & Computer Science](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/key-stage-4/mathematics) - [Performing Arts](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/key-stage-4/performing-arts) - [Science](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/key-stage-4/science-it) - [PE](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/key-stage-4/sports) - [Social Science](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/key-stage-4/social-science) - [Key Stage 5 (Sixth Form)](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/sixth-form-curriculum) - [Literacy](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/reading-and-oracy) - [Teaching and Learning](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/teaching-and-learning) - [Homework](https://knutsfordacademy.org.uk/curriculum/homework) [![](https://files.schudio.com/knutsford-academy/images/logo/KA_Logo_stacked-02_white.png)](https://tlptrust.com/) **Knutsford Academy** Bexton Road Knutsford WA16 0EA contact@knutsfordacademy.org.uk 01565 633294 ![](https://files.schudio.com/knutsford-academy/images/logo/TLP_logo_for_footer_(2).png) The Learning Partnership is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. 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