Performing Arts

Tong’s thriving Performance Arts Department aims to engage all pupils and raise attainment through creative and imaginative lessons.

We strive to develop students’ leadership and their creative skills through the disciplines of Dance, Drama and Music, with extra-curricular activities in all three disciplines and an annual whole school production.

Over the years, we have forged strong partnerships with industry professionals and regularly offer workshops in different performance areas of expertise. This often includes giving our students the opportunity to perform in professional theatres to a number of audiences.

#The Script was introduced this September 2012 and is a fortnightly update allowing students, parents and staff to keep up to date with information in the Performing Arts Department - Please click here to read Issue #5 

 

Course details

Transition stage

Our transition students (Year 7 and 8) are given training in all three performing arts disciplines. Regular formative and summative assessments allow students to demonstrate the skills they have been taught by performing to a range of audiences. Students in the transition stage have four Performing Arts lessons over the two week timetable.  All students study three Schemes of Learning. One scheme a term

 

Year 7

Dance

Schemes of Learning: dance choreography, street dance and conflict.

Lessons are a combination of teacher led choreography with students learning the skills to choreograph themselves which they then put into practice by creating their own movement. Emphasis is on developing students creativity and performance skills

Drama

Schemes of Learning: Physical Theatre/Storytelling, Mime, Charlotte Dymond.

Lessons focus on learning performance skills, creating performance work and developing their performance technique. Students are encouraged to be creative in the development of their own pieces whilst incorporating the skills they have been taught.

Music

Schemes of Learning: Body Percussion, Samba, Song Writing

Lessons focus on students been creative with the creation of music learning to use a combination of instruments but other props also. Students are taught the craft of composing music, rehearsing and performing music from a variety of genres

Year 8

Dance

Schemes of Learning: Dance & Film, Physical Theatre, BTEC Skills

By this stage students have developed their basic dance skills and whilst they continue to learn specific dance technique more emphasis is out on students creativity when choreographing.

The final SoL prepares students for their examined BTEC course which would be offered the following year. 

Drama

Schemes of Learning: Trestle Masks, Let Him Have it, BTEC Skills

Students learn a mixture of stylised skills through trestle masks which is then complimented with the exploration of crime and the inclusion of specific theatrical techniques.

The final SoL prepares students for their examined BTEC course which would be offered the following year.

Music

Schemes of Learning: Film & Music, Blues and Improvisation, BTEC Skills

Students previous learning has ensured that they are able to compose a range of music styles, this is built on in year 8 with students looking at music from different film genres and the skill of musical improvisation.

The final SoL prepares students for their examined BTEC course which would be offered the following year.

Accreditation stage 1

Our exam groups take the BTEC in Performing Arts course, where pupils study a range of units in Acting, Dance and Music. Through the course, we try to offer workshops that allow students to work with professionals in the industry, developing their knowledge and understanding of Performance Arts. Wherever possible, they will perform their work to live audiences.

Year 9

Students study the BTEC level 2 Performing Arts qualification which is the equivalent of one GCSE. The students focus on preparing an individual audition performance piece as an actor, dancer or musician. Alongside this they are taught a specific dance Unit to further develop these skills.

Years 10 & 11

Students are either in the first or second year of the BTEC (level 2) Performing Arts course. Students learn about the performing arts Industry and the development of theatre over time.  These theoretical units are balanced out with the practical study of different dance styles (physical theatre, rock and roll and street dance). Finally students work towards their own devised acting performances for their final exam.

Accreditation stage 2

Sixth Formers can opt to study one or more of the performing arts disciplines. Emphasis here is on preparing the students for university courses. By teaching a balanced curriculum of practical and theory based units students are given a broad understanding of a range of performance skills, practitioners and performance experiences.

•BTEC In Performing Arts (Acting)

•BTEC in Performing Arts (Dance)

Year 12 –Acting

Units taught: Drama as Improvisation, Performance Workshop and Theatre in Education

Year 12 – Dance

Units taught: Developing Contemporary Dance Technique, and Dance Performance

Year 13 – Acting

Units taught: Devising, Contemporary Theatre Performance and Performing to an Audience

Year 13 - Dance

Units taught: Applying Contemporary Dance Technique, Developing Movement Skills and Performing to an Audience

In the Performing Arts department some would say that we burst into live even more after the final school bell at 2.15. There is always something for students to attend with our energetic and varied extra curricular timetable. 

Be it the Taiko drums group or the choir in Music, Rock Challenge or Street Dance in Dance, or The Ignite Theatre group or Drama club in Drama. With the recording of charity singles, performances before thousands of people at sporting events, rock concerts and peripatetic lessons in Drums and Singing too, there really is something for everyone. Click here to find out more about our extra curricular activity.