Departments

Performing Arts

All pupils and students at Hagley Catholic High School follow a taught course of Performing Arts, compromising of Dance and Drama. The Department is made up by one specialist teacher and supported by a technician who are fully committed to the education of the pupils:

Miss. F McKee - Second in Performing Arts
Mr. C Handley - Arts Technician/ Musician

To enhance the learning opportunities within this subject, there is a wide range of extra-curricular activities for students to engage in. These opportunities include;

Dance clubs for all year groups
The school musical - actors, dancers, singers, designers, band and backstage team
Annual whole school Dance showcase
Gifted & Talented Dance Company
Visits to local productions (recent trips have included 'Billy Elliot- the Musical', Matthew Bourne's 'The Red Shoes' and 'Miss Saigon'
Dance Leader roles for students in Years 9 - 11
Workshops with local companies and professional practitioners

Information for Performing Arts KS3

All students follow a taught course of Performing Arts in Years 7, 8 and 9 as part of the Arts rotation. Each student receives 15 lessons of Performing Arts in each Academic year.

This page outlines the topics taught in each term through Key Stage 3 (years 7 to 9), along with an overview of how assessments will take place.

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Assessment takes place at the end of each unit. Students are required to perform excerpts of their work for their peers, and complete theoretical work such as research projects to support their practical learning in preparation for KS4 BTEC Performing Arts.

BTEC Performing Arts

BTEC Tech Award (Level 1 and 2 Technical Award in Performing Arts)

Why study Performing Arts?

Would you like to take a hands-on, practical course along-side your GCSEs that gives you a taste of what the Performing Arts sector is like? As well as giving you the skills and confidence to succeed in your next steps?

With the new BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts, you not only get the chance to perform, but also develop valuable skills and techniques in different disciplines and explore potential careers in the industry.

What does it prepare you for in the future?

With a BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts, you are able to explore, challenge and realise your potential. During the course, you can see whether the industry is one you want to be in, where you could go, and gain knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your next steps.

After completing the course, you could continue on to further vocational and academic study, as well as apprenticeships and traineeships. What’s more, the transferable skills you master during your studies, such as self-reflection, communication, teamwork and problem solving, will also support your progress in the present and future.

How will you be assessed?

The course has two internally assessed components and one that’s externally assessed. These components build on each other to motivate you by helping you to put what you have learnt into practice and grow in confidence.

What will you learn?

As the BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts is a practical introduction to life and work in the industry, you will explore the sector while developing specific skills and techniques, devising and delivering a workshop performance and also analysing, evaluating and enhancing your skills.

Exploring the Performing Arts: The aim of this component is to give you a taste of what it’s like to be a professional actor, dancer or musical theatre performer across different styles. During this component you will observe and reproduce existing repertoire, as well as explore:

Performance styles, creative intentions and purpose

Performance techniques, approaches and processes

Performance roles, responsibilities and skills

How practitioners create and influence what’s performed

Developing Skills and Techniques: The aim of this component is to develop skills and techniques in the chosen discipline of acting, dance and musical theatre. During this component you will:

Gain physical, interpretive, vocal and rehearsal skills during workshops and classes

Apply your technical, stylistic and interpretive skills in performances

Reflect on your progress and use of skills in performance, as well as you could improve

Performing to a Brief: The aim of this component is to consider how practitioners adapt their skills for different contexts and put this into practice in a performance. During this component you will:

Use the brief and what you’ve learned to come up with ideas for the performance

Choose the skills and techniques you’ll need

Build on your skills in classes, workshops and rehearsals

Review the development process within an ideas and skills log

Perform a piece lasting 10-15 minutes to your chosen target audience

Reflect on the performance in an evaluation report

Extra Curricular

We have a wide range of Performing Arts activities that run every week. We encourage all year groups and all abilities to get involved. These activities develop new skills that enhance and support our curriculum. Joining a Performing Arts activity is a fantastic way to feel part of a team, be creative, meet new friends and have fun!

There are regular performances, productions and showcases throughout the year.

Here is the current Performing Arts extra-curricular timetable.

Performing Arts extra-curricular timetable