Performing Arts

Year 7

Topics

Topic 1: Storytelling

Topic 2: Commedia Dell’ Arte

Topic 3: Comedy & Silent Movies

Topic 4: Scripted Performance

Topic 5: Shakespeare’s World 

Skills

• Storytelling – Understanding and performing cultural stories with social and moral contexts.

• Characterisation – Developing the ability to create believable characters.

• Teamwork – Collaborating effectively during performances and group tasks.

• Improvisation – Learning the rules of improvisation and quick thinking.

• Vocal Skills – Developing voice modulation for effective communication.

• Physicality – Using body language and movement to portray characters.

• Creative Thinking – Generating imaginative ideas for performances.

• Stage Presence – Building confidence in stage performance.

• Peer Assessment - Evaluating and reflecting on personal and peer performances.

Year 8

Topics

Topic 1: Improvisation

Topic 2: Pantomime

Topic 3: Gun & Knife Crime (Theatre in Education)

Topic 4: Scripted Performance

Topic 5: Lord of the Flies 

Skills

• Improvisation Techniques – Enhancing spontaneous performance skills.

• Pantomime – Developing skills in exaggerated performance and comedic timing.

• Characterisation – Focusing on stock characters and their modern adaptations.

• Vocal and Physical Skills – Further developing voice and movement techniques.

• Collaboration – Working in groups to plan and execute performances.

• Creativity – Developing innovative approaches to performance tasks.

• Stagecraft – Exploring technical roles such as lighting, sound, and set design.

• Problem Solving – Overcoming challenges in performance and production.

• Confidence – Building self-assurance through regular performances.

• Self-Assessment – Reflecting on progress and identifying areas for improvement.

Year 9

Topics

Topic 1: Theatre Production

Topic 2: Practitioner and Skill Based

Topic 3: Devising

Topic 4: Scripted Performance 

Skills

• Comedy Performance – Mastering comic timing and physical comedy.

• Devising Skills – Creating original performances based on contemporary social issues.

• Theatre Production Roles – Exploring non-performance roles like lighting, sound, and set design.

• Textual Analysis – Understanding and interpreting scripts.

• Technical Skills – Developing knowledge of technical elements in theatre production.

• Brecht and Stanislavski Techniques – Exploring major theatre practitioners and their methods.

• Collaboration – Enhancing teamwork through devised and scripted performances.

• Improvisation – Further refining impromptu acting skills.

• Public Speaking – Improving clarity and confidence in delivery.

• Self-Reflection – Reviewing and assessing personal contributions to performances

Assessment

1. Performance

• What’s Involved:

  • Students prepare and deliver a live or recorded performance (e.g., acting, dancing, or musical performance).

  • Emphasis on creativity, technical skills, stage presence, and teamwork (if in groups).

  • May include scripted work, devised pieces, or choreography.

• Key Criteria Assessed:

  • Technique: Mastery of skills specific to the art form.

  • Expression: Use of emotion, energy, and body language to convey meaning.

  • Collaboration: Effective teamwork and contribution to group performances.

  • Audience Engagement: Ability to captivate and communicate effectively with the audience.

2. Reflective Writing

• What’s Involved:

  • Students write about their creative process, challenges faced, and skills developed during a project.

  • May include reflections on rehearsals, performances, or peer feedback.

  • Focus on critical thinking and self-evaluation.

• Key Criteria Assessed:

  • Depth of Reflection: Insight into their strengths, areas for improvement, and lessons learned.

  • Use of Vocabulary: Application of performing arts terminology.

  • Evidence of Learning: Clear connections between their experiences and skills developed.

  • Structure and Clarity: Organised, coherent, and grammatically correct writing.

3. End of Unit Assessments

• What’s Involved:

  • Comprehensive evaluation of knowledge and skills learned throughout the unit.

  • Includes practical demonstrations, short quizzes, or written assignments.

  • Tests understanding of key concepts (e.g., performance techniques, stagecraft, historical context).

• Key Criteria Assessed:

  • Knowledge Recall: Understanding of topics covered in the unit.

  • Application of Skills: Ability to use techniques learned in creative tasks.

  • Critical Analysis: Ability to evaluate performances, including their own and others’.

  • Creativity: Originality and problem-solving during practical tasks.

These methods provide a balanced approach to assessing technical, creative, and reflective abilities in the performing arts, ensuring students develop both practical and analytical skills.

Topics

• Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts
• Component 2: Developing Skills and Techniques
• Component 3: Responding to a Brief 

Skills

• Performance Skills  – Developing physical and vocal skills relevant to acting, dance, or musical theatre.

• Interpretative Skills  – Understanding how to convey emotions, themes, and character in performance.

• Creative Thinking  – Generating and developing ideas in response to a brief or stimulus.

• Rehearsal Techniques  – Applying feedback, refining skills, and participating in the rehearsal process.

• Technical Design Skills  – Working on non-performance roles such as set, lighting, sound, or costume design.

• Collaboration  – Working effectively in teams during rehearsals and performances.

• Problem-Solving  – Responding to unplanned events during live performances.

• Research and Analysis  – Investigating the work of professionals and analysing different performance styles.

• Communication  – Presenting creative ideas and intentions clearly to an audience.

• Reflective Practice – Reviewing personal performance and setting targets for improvement

Assessment

BTEC Performing Arts Assessment

Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts (30%)

• Focus: Research and practical exploration of three professional performance styles and industry roles.
• Assessment:
  • Portfolio or presentation including research, analysis, and evaluation of performance techniques and industry roles.
  • Completed over ~12 supervised hours, worth 60 marks, marked internally and moderated by Pearson.
• Grading Criteria:
  • Understanding of performance work and processes.
  • Quality of research and analysis of job roles.
  • Application of theoretical knowledge to practical work.
  • Reflective practice demonstrating learning and development.

Component 2: Developing Skills and Techniques (30%)

• Focus: Development of performance or design skills through workshops and rehearsals.

• Assessment:
  • Practical performance (live or recorded).
  • Reflective logs documenting skill progression, feedback application, and improvement strategies.
  • Completed over ~15 supervised hours, worth 60 marks, marked internally and moderated by Pearson.
• Grading Criteria:
  • Practical application of performance/design techniques.
  • Engagement and skill development in workshops and rehearsals.
  • Responsiveness to feedback and reflective practice.

Component 3: Responding to a Brief (40%)

• Focus: Collaborative creation of a workshop performance based on a Pearson-set brief.

• Assessment:
  • Ideas Log (15 marks): Written creative response to the brief.
  • Skills Log (15 marks): Written reflection on individual contributions and skill application.
  • Performance (18 marks): Execution of the workshop piece, showcasing applied skills.
  • Evaluation Report (12 marks): Written analysis of the creative process, decision-making, and performance effectiveness.
  • Completed under supervised conditions with development and rehearsal over 12 weeks, worth 60 marks, externally assessed by Pearson.
• Grading Criteria:
  • Originality and depth in interpreting the brief.
  • Effective teamwork and collaboration.
  • Technical and expressive performance skills.
  • Thorough written evaluation of the process and outcome.

Key Success Indicators

• Demonstrates creativity, technical skills, and collaboration.
• Applies feedback and engages in reflective practice.
• Balances practical execution with strong analytical and evaluative skills.
• Meets Pearson’s grading criteria for knowledge, application, and critical thinking.

Drama Club – Wednesdays 3:45pm – 4:30pm
Now Festival – Rehearsals November 24 – February 25
Live Theatre Trips throughout each academic year 
1 Production per academic year
KS4 Theatre Trips – each student studying Performing Arts at KS4 will be offered the opportunity to see a piece of Live Theatre 

Actor (Film, Television, Theatre)

1. Musical Theatre Performer
2. Voice Actor (Animation, Radio, Advertising)
3. Stand-up Comedian
4. Dancer (Ballet, Contemporary, Street, etc.)

Production and Technical Roles

6. Director (Theatre, Film, Television)
7. Stage Manager
8. Lighting or Sound Technician
9. Costume Designer
10. Set Designer

Education and Therapeutic Roles

11. Drama Teacher (Primary, Secondary, College)
12. Drama Therapist
13. Workshop Facilitator (Youth, Community Theatre)

Writing and Media

14. Screenwriter or Playwright
15. Television or Radio Producer

Homework

KS3 – Fortnightly 
Due day: Next Lesson
Format/platform: Online/Paper copies/ Class charts 

KS4 – Weekly 
Due day: Next Lesson
Format/platform: Online/Paper copies/ Class charts
 

Revision

BBC Bitesize (Drama Section)

BBC Bitesize offers accessible revision resources, videos, quizzes, and guides on drama topics such as acting techniques, scriptwriting, and theatre history. It’s designed specifically for UK students preparing for GCSEs.

National Theatre Learning 

The National Theatre offers a wealth of free educational resources, including behind-the-scenes videos, interactive workshops, and downloadable lesson plans. Great for exploring theatre production and performance.

Royal Shakespeare Company Learning Zone

The RSC’s Learning Zone provides interactive resources focused on Shakespeare’s plays, offering insights into language, themes, and performance strategies suitable for students aged 11-16.

1. Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre by Keith Johnstone

   • A classic text on the art of improvisation, exploring spontaneity, storytelling, and creativity in performance.

2. Drama Games for Classrooms and Workshops by Jessica Swale

   • A practical guide featuring engaging drama activities for students and performers of all ages.

3. Blood Brothers by Willy Russell

   • A renowned play exploring class, family, and fate, ideal for performance study and analysis.

4. The Empty Space by Peter Brook

   • A seminal work on theatre theory, examining the purpose and possibilities of theatrical performance.

5. National Theatre: All About Theatre

   • A comprehensive resource providing insights into the world of theatre, including backstage roles, performances, and creative processes.

6. An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavski

   • A foundational book on acting techniques, focusing on emotional truth, character development, and preparation.