Creative and Performance

Art

The Art curriculum focuses first on pupil mastery of the skills and techniques required to create an accurate representation from observation. Once mastered, these skills allow pupils to convey ideas to an audience using a range of different media.

From Year 7 to Year 9, pupils follow a spiral curriculum focused on mastery of direct observation and portraiture skills, increasing in challenge each cycle. Alongside this, they are introduced to key artists and movements from prehistoric to contemporary art. 

For pupils on the GCSE pathway from Year 10, pupils use the artistic vocabulary, awareness and skill-set honed in earlier years to explore and responding to a chosen starting point.  They sit the Edexcel GCSE Art and Design qualification, which offers both a Fine Art or Photography endorsement.

Year 7

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Observation skills. Pencil skills and Understanding tone.

Spring 1

Spring 2

Colour theory and Painting skills

Summer 1

Summer 2

Portraiture

Year 8

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Perspective techniques.

Spring 1

Spring 2

Still life.

Summer 1

Summer 2

Portraiture

Year 9

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Refining observation through still life and portraiture.

Spring 1

Spring 2

Responding to an artist.

Summer 1

Summer 2

Developing observation-Longer studies.

Year 10

Autumn 1

Introduction to GCSE Art and Design.

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Coursework Unit 1a: Starting points: Indulgence, Inside Outside, Distorted.

Summer 1

Summer 2

Coursework Unit 1b:

Starting points: Derelict, Cultures, In the news.

Year 11

Autumn 1

Auutmn2

Coursework Unit 1b:

Starting points: Derelict, Cultures, In the news.

Spring 1

Spring 2

Coursework Unit 2:

 Starting points: Externally set.
Summer 1 Exam
Summer 2  

Physical Education

Physical education is a cornerstone in developing healthy, academic and well-rounded young people today and for life. The PE curriculum aims to develop the full potential of every pupil through high quality physical education within academic and sporting environments. 

Between Year 7 and Year 9 pupils study a range of topics from basic health, fitness and wellbeing, through principles and methods of training, diet and nutrition to the structure and function of the skeletal, muscular and cardio-vascular systems. They will also participate in regular physical and sports activities such as football, basketball, hockey, netball and athletics.

Pupils can go on to study for Edexcel GCSE PE or OCR Cambridge National Sports studies from Year 10 onwards.

Year 7

Autumn 1

Health, Fitness and Wellbeing

(inc. Warm Ups)
Autumn 2 Fitness Testing and Interpretation of Data
Spring 1 Structure and function of the Skeletal System, Feedback
Spring 2 Goal Setting
Summer 1 Factors affecting participation, Sportsmanship/ Gamesmanship
Summer 2 Types of movement, Types of Muscle and their roles

Year 8

Autumn 1

Short and Long Term Effects of Exercise
Autumn 2 Principles and Methods of Training (inc. Warm Ups)
Spring 1 Muscular System, Guidance
Spring 2 Goal Setting
Summer 1 Commercialisation & advantages and disadvantages
Summer 2 Structure and function of the Cardio-vascular system, Planning training (using principles of training)

Year 9

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Health, Fitness and Wellbeing, Engagement Patterns
Spring 1 Injury and Drugs
Spring 2 Diet and Nutrition & Consequences of a Sedentary Lifestyle

Summer 1

Summer 2

Cardio-respiratory system, Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise

Year 10

Autumn 1

Muscular-Skeletal System
Autumn 2 Physical Training
Spring 1 Cardio-Respiratory System
Spring 2 Short and Long term effects of exercise
Summer 1 PEP
Summer 2 Health, Fitness and Welbeing

Year 11

Autumn 1

Movement Analysis

Sports Psychology
Autumn 2 Optimising Training and Preventing Injury
Spring 1 Socio-Cultural Influences
Spring 2 Practical Preparation

Summer 1

Summer 2

Exam Preparation

Performing Arts

The Performing Arts curriculum aims to ignite pupil creativity, imagination and interest in the arts. 

Year 7  introduces pupils to the origins of Greek theatre, Commedia Dell'Arte and Shakespeare. In Year 8 pupils are introduced to key theatre practitioners, in both drama and dance, who have inspired generations of professional performers. Year 9 focuses on performance styles and physical practice. Throughout the curriculum, pupils return to core knowledge and skills, building mastery and spiralling up in challenge.

In Year 10 pupils begin to study for the Edexcel BTEC Performing Arts qualification, which has endorsements in both Dance and Drama. This allows them to explore professional work, looking at the inter-relationships between key features of performance material. Pupils will be able to interpret writers and performers intentions, performing as a professional theatre company through devising and creating performances. 

Year 7

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Greek Theatre and Staging

Spring 1

Spring 2

Commedia Dell’Arte

Summer 1

Summer 2

Shakespeare

Year 8

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Stanisalavski

Spring 1

Spring 2

Brecht

Summer 1

Summer 2

Physical Theatre

Year 9

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Rehearsal techniques and Monologues

Component 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Physical Practitioners

Components 1, 2 and 3

Summer 1

Summer 2

Devising a Performance

Component 3

Year 10

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Sprnig 2

Exploring the Performing Arts

Component 1

Summer 1

Summer 2

Developing Skills and techniques in Performing Arts

Component 2

Year 11

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Developing Skills and techniques in Performing Arts

Component 2

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Performing to a Brief

Component 3

Summer 2

 

Music

The Music curriculum is designed to underpin key knowledge and core musical skills of performing, composing and listening. These skills are developed through varied units increasing in demand, context and breadth.

In Year 7 pupils focus on an introduction to listening, performing and composing skills via the elements of music. In Year 8 pupils develop these skills further whilst exploring a range of genres and their cultural context. In Year 9 they will further their independent use of the skills explored earlier in the curriculum -  listening, composing and performing a diverse range of pieces and genres.  

From Year 10, pupils can go on to study the Edexcel  BTEC Tech Award Music.

Year 7

Autumn 1

Musical Ingredients

Singing Skills
Autumn 2

Musical Ingredients

Graphic Score composition
Spring 1 I’ve got Rhythm
Spring 2

‘Take 5’

Pentatonic Compositions
Summer 1 Perform it!
Summer 2 Compose it!

Year 8

Autumn 1

Blues

Autumn 2

Spring 1

Reggae
Spring 2 World Music
Summer 1 Theme and Variations
Summer 2 Live Lounge

Year 9

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Through the decades

Spring 1

Spring 2

Film music & Video games

Summer 1

Summer 2

Live Lounge

Year 10

Autumn 1

Auumtn 2

Component 1 “Exploring Music Products and Styles”

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Summer 2

Component 2 “Music skills development”

Year 11

Autumn 1

Autumn 2

Component 2 “Music skills development”

Spring 1

Spring 2

Summer 1

Component 3 “Responding to a Commercial Brief”
Summer 2