Curriculum Intent Statement:
In the Dance Department, we aim to engage and challenge students throughout their time at Thorpe St Andrew School & Sixth Form. We believe that through developing students’ confidence in performance, working as a team and giving opportunities for creative exploration, we can prepare them for life beyond their time in education. We believe in excellence and inclusion at all levels, recognising that students thrive in an environment of supportive high standards and expectations. Lessons are highly practical in order to provide students with maximum opportunity to develop their skills, whilst also supporting their general health, fitness and well-being.
Creativity and independence are attributes we aim to nurture from KS3 to KS5 in the Dance Department. Tailored programmes of study in Years 7 & 8, delivered during PE curriculum time by a Dance Specialist, explore Social Dance and its development over time, Dance Styles and Choreography. These units incorporate key skills such as dance technique, performance and creativity. We enable students to discover styles that engage and excite them.
Moving into Year 9, our Performing Arts rotation of Dance, Drama and Music allow for further development of these skills and analysis of professional dance works in an Independent Performance Project ‘Screen Performance In Dance, Drama and Music’. Through carefully selected units of work studied at KS3, the aim to promote a passion for Dance accumulates in the option to select GCSE Dance for study in Year 10 & 11. Performance, Choreography & Analysis of Professional Works are explored over the 2 years equalling a 60% Practical, 40% theory overall outcome as a GCSE result.
Dance is promoted further into sixth form studies and BTEC Level 3 Performing Arts with a Dance Specialism. We aim to develop technical skill, deepen creative exploration and widen analytical and reflective practice in dance through written and practical study. Students will study a range of esteemed practitioners from the world of dance and explore the historical, social and political contexts of the creation of professional dance works.
There are regular opportunities to become involved in dance clubs, trips, workshops and productions and these are encouraged.
In Summary:
Key Stage 3
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Year 7 & 8: Dance for a half term (6 weeks) during PE Curriculum Time
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Year 9: Screen Performance In Dance, Drama and Music & Independent Performance Project
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Key Stage 4
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Year 10 & 11: GCSE Dance (AQA) as option subject
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Key Stage 5
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View our Sixth Form pages for full information about the Courses on offer.
