Dance – Curriculum Overview
The benefits of physical movement to improve our health and well-being are well developed arguments in our society, yet dance is often overlooked in these terms and can offer so much more.
We study dance within school to broaden our students’ life experiences and provide opportunities to learn with their bodies and minds. Dance allows learners to express and escape, communicate and connect, improve health and well-being, as well as develop interpersonal skills such as teamwork, cooperation, compassion, and communication.
Dance is studied in Years 7, 8, and 9 as part of the PE curriculum. During KS3, students learn the essential knowledge and skills of performance, choreography, and appreciation through a broad programme of study.
At GCSE, students in Year 11 follow the AQA Dance curriculum, which consists of 60% practical exam and 40% written exam. Practical elements cover performance and choreography, whilst the written exam explores understanding and appreciation of professional work and the ability to reflect on their own dance progress.
The dance department strives to provide extracurricular opportunities to all students through a programme of events and clubs which enhance our curriculum provision.
Opportunities within the Dance Department
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U Dance – an annual national youth dance platform
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Regular trips to theatres and cinemas to see dance
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Visiting professional dance practitioners are invited regularly to enhance our work within school