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

 Drama

One lesson per week for Yrs 7 & 8 

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)

Two lessons per week in Year 9

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 two lessons a fortnight 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