‘Building powerful knowledge to grow confident & creative global citizens.’

 Drama

Drama is studied alongside English in KS3. Students are given the opportunity to experience the texts studied in their English lessons through the practical application of drama skills.

Year 7 Unit 1 - Greek theatre 

• Greek myths and legends  
• Greek theatre devices such as chorus movement and dialogue
• Historical context of theatre beginnings 
• Reading and interpreting scripted works 

Year 7 Unit 2 – Pace, Pause, perform

• Vocal techniques to carry a performance
• Poetry as a stimulus
• Mime

Year7 Unit 3 - A Midsummer Night's Dream

• Character exploration including social and cultural influence
• Plot development
• Stock characters
• Historical context of theatre developments

Year 8 – Unit 4 – Oliver Twist

• Character building
• Social class
• Tableaux
• Expression

Year 8 – Unit 5 – War Poetry   

• Tableaux
• Mime and movement
• Multimedia
• Vocal techniques

Year8 – Unit 6 – Macbeth

• Character exploration 
• Plot development
• Stock characters
• Understanding Shakespeare’s England including historical, social and cultural influences

Year 9 Drama (Creative option subject)

Modules 1 – Realism

• Physical skills
• Vocal skills
• Trust and confidence

Module 2 – Practitioners

Methodologies and works of the following practitioners

• Brecht
• Stanislavsky
• Artaud
• Pinter
• Beckett

Module 3 – Theatre in Education

• Brecht
• Dramatic devices
• Didactic theatre
• Staging
• Multimedia

Module 4 – Room 13

• Tension and suspense
• Working from a stimulus
• Character development
• Multimedia
• Physical and vocal skills
• Script development through improvisation
• Basic semiotics

Module 5 – The Tempest

• Plot
• Characterisation
• Script work
• Shakespearian techniques
• Critique and feedback
• Performance analysis

Module 6 – Peter Pan Scripted performance and analysis

• Team work
• Production design
• Structuring drama
• Semiotics  
• Characterisation
• Performing to an audience

 

Music

Music is taught every week to all students in Years 7 & 8

Year 7  

Module 1 – STOMP!

• reading and writing rhythm
• ensemble skills
• creating and performing through ensemble work
• chair drumming
• duration, Tempo, Texture, Structure 

Module 2 – Instruments of the Orchestra  

• Keyboard skills
• Deeper listening skills
• Pitch, articulation, timbre, texture 
• Types of instrument
• Sharps and flats

Module 3 – Oriental music

• Pentatonic scales
• Improvisation
• Drone
• Music taught through the aural tradition

Module 4 – Find Your Voice – The Sea Shanty 

• Whole class vocal work
• Part singing
• Pitch, dynamics
• Music arrangement - Soundtrap remix

 

Module 5 – The Blues 

• Blues scale
• 12 bar blues
• Improvisation
• Historical, social, cultural influences
• Band skills 

Module 6 – The Blues Legacy

• Rock ‘n’ Roll performance
• Elements of Rock ‘n’ roll music
• Keyboard skills
• Vocal skills
• Basslines

Year 8 Music

Module 1 - Pop goes the classics part 1 

• Students perform a piece of music from a lead sheet. 
• Using chord sequences on piano & guitar 
• Bass – sustained root notes and rhythmic interest   
• Drum kit – 4/4 beats including fills  
• Vocals - lead and backing    

Module 2 - Pop goes the classics part 2

• Pachelbel’s Canon using keyboards. 
• Improving awareness of notes on the keyboard and hand coordination.
• Timing within an ensemble
• Chord creation and recognition
• Understanding major and minor chords
• Knowledge of baroque features such as instrumentation, texture and compositional devices. 

Module 3 - Pop goes the classics part 3 

• Composing to a brief  
• Revamping a ground bass
• Arrange and sequence a backing track.
• Write and record a rap using technology
• Using poetry techniques to create lyrics

Module 4 – The 4 chord trick

• Reading music
• Using feedback to improve performance
• Improving confidence in live performance.
• Accuracy of rhythm and pitch
• Listening to performances and giving feedback.
• Drum kit, bass, keyboards, vocals, ukulele
• Opportunities to write and arrange music

Module 5 – Melody and Chords

• Using notation software 
• Reading music notation 
• Creating a chord sequence 
• Using chords to create melodies. 

Module 6 - Reggae Performance  

• Syncopation 
• Reading rhythm
• Independence in an ensemble. 
• Keyboard – syncopated chords 
• Bass riff 
• Drum kit 4/4 syncopated beat
• Vocals 

Year 9 Music (Creative option subject)

Module 1 – Loops, Hooks & Riffs  

• Ed Sheeran – Looping
• Texture and layering
• Arranging a track
• Samples and found sound
• Creating your own track using techniques found in modern pop production
• Performing a range of hooks and riffs from various artists and styles.

Module 2 - World Music

• Ensemble skills
• Musician skills
• Samba band
• Salsa – Havana
• African drumming
• Creating fusions – Afro Celt Sound System

 Module 3- Film Music

• Sibelius composition 
• Music theory including notation, element handling and composition devices
• Portfolio of typical features - Appraising 
• Music by Has Zimmer and John Williams

Module 4 - Live Lounge – Working as a musician

• Develop practical skills for the industry
• Gain knowledge on how the industry works
• Watch and appraise performances from professionals
• Develop a live performance for an audience

Module 5 - Minimalism  

• Sibelius Composition 

• Looping
• Melody manipulation and development
• Composition skills in preparation for GCSE Music
• Music by Philip Glass and Steve Reich

Module 6 – Working to a commission  

• Choosing appropriate material
• Developing a set list
• Improving ensemble skills
• Developing instrumental skills
• Performing to an audience

 

 

Year 10 & 11 GCSE Music

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/music-2016.html

Year 10 & 11 GCSE Drama

https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/242630-specification-accredited-gcse-drama-j316.pdf