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Eden Park High School

Performing Arts

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Performing Arts

MUSIC

OUR music CURRICULUM 

What is music?

Music as a discipline encompasses academia and creativity. We each have a unique musical identity that is informed by our life experiences, background and social situations. The music we listen to in the car, on our way to school or in our bedrooms contributes equally as much - if not more so - to the development of our musical identity as the music that is taught as part of the National Curriculum. This should therefore be celebrated.

music at orion eden park

At Orion Eden Park, the Music Department aims to foster a love and appreciation for music through an inclusive, inspiring, and challenging curriculum. We believe music is essential for the holistic development of every student, nurturing creativity, confidence, emotional expression, and critical thinking. Music lessons are a partnership between students and the teacher; everyone has their part to play when forming the classroom's musical landscape. The Music Department is a space where every individual should feel safe, accepted and celebratedOur curriculum in music is sequenced around the development of skills and knowledge all the way through from KS3 to KS5. This is achieved through considering how students learn and the different types of knowledge that students need to acquire.

music at KS3

Students are introduced to the basic elements of music and musical concepts at the beginning of their learning journey, and these are gradually developed throughout our curriculum. We begin by looking at the fundamental concepts that underpin musical understanding and complexity is added in both the sequence of lessons of a specific Scheme of Learning but also as our students progress on their learning journey. For example, we teach Year 7 rhythm and pulse by exploring body percussion and notation, and once the basic note values and rhythms have been understood, we then move on to looking at syncopation or complex time signatures. This is further developed through sequencing when this knowledge builds and develops and by the end of Year 9, students learn how to perform and compose complex rhythms in our Samba Scheme of Work. This allows us to achieve a cumulative development of knowledge and skills in Music. 

Music at KS4

Students develop performance, composition, listening and appraising skills.  

By the end of Year 11, they have achieved the following:  

- 1 Solo Performance 

- 1 Ensemble Performance 

- 1 Free Composition  

- 1 Composition in response to a brief  

- 1 Listening and Appraising exam exploring unfamiliar pieces and two set works that they study throughout the course.    

Music at KS5

BTEC National: Extended Certificate in Music Performance

We are looking to run this qualification for the 25-26 intake of sixth form students. This course allows students to develop performance skills, whilst learning about the music industry. Modules include:  

Practical Music Theory and Harmony  

Professional Practice in the Music Industry  

Ensemble Music Performance  

Composing Music  

Music Performance Session Styles 

Solo Performance  

Improvising Music 

 

DRAMA 

OUR drama CURRICULUM 

What is drama?

Drama Studies is an academic discipline that focuses on the study of drama and theatre. It combines both practical and theoretical approaches to understanding performance, storytelling, and the broader contexts of theatre arts. 

drama at orion eden park

Drama at Orion Eden Park enables students to express themselves through text and devising whilst evaluating and drawing their own conclusions as they critically engage with professional performances. We believe that Drama goes beyond the curriculum, developing young people holistically. Students are able to develop their character through confidence building performances, imaginative devising and communicative collaboration. They are also given the opportunity to explore different cultures and historical contexts. 

Drama at KS3

Drama lessons at KS3 focus on acting techniques including, voice projection, movement, gesture, facial expressions, and improvisation. We work on role play and exploring different perspectives and situations, then use this as a platform to devise original performances. We introduce students to the history of drama, from Greek theatre to modern-day performance styles. A key component of building drama skills is evaluating performances, including self-assessment and peer feedback. 

Drama activities are incredibly engaging, we use freeze frames, hot seating, tableau, script work and collaborative performances to enhance students skills.

Drama at KS4

Drama GCSE is a popular option for students who enjoy performing, analysing plays, and exploring the creative process of theatre. It combines practical performance with theoretical study, giving students a broad understanding of drama and its various elements.

The course is divided into three components:

Component 1: Devising Theatre (40% of qualification)

Students create and perform an original piece of drama based on a stimulus provided by the exam board (e.g., an image, poem, quote, or theme).

Component 2: Performing from a Text (20% of qualification

Students perform two extracts from a published play. They focus on acting skills or a technical/design role (e.g., lighting, set, costume, or sound design).

Component 3: Interpreting Theatre (40% of qualification)

This component is a written exam (1 hour 30 minutes) that tests students’ understanding of drama and theatre.

 

DANCE 

What is dance?

Dance is a form of artistic and physical expression that involves the movement of the body, often to music, in a deliberate and rhythmical way. It is an art form that serves various purposes, including entertainment, storytelling, cultural celebration, and emotional expression.

dance at orion eden park

Through dance at Orin Eden Park, students can express themselves via movement and choreography whilst evaluating and drawing their own conclusions as they critically engage with professional performances. Studying dance is a vehicle for students to develop an understanding of the world around them as we explore different styles such as Bollywood, hip hop, contemporary, flamenco and many more. We believe that dance goes beyond the curriculum, developing young people holistically. Students are able to develop their character through confidence-building performances whilst also being challenged physically.  

dance at ks3

Dance at KS3 encourages creativity through allowing students to express themselves through movement and explore their creativity. Students build strength, coordination, flexibility, and fitness. We encourage cooperation through group choreography and performances. We have a KS3 Dance Troupe who perform together at our concerts and in our school musical.

dance at ks4

The AQA GCSE Dance course is designed for students who are passionate about movement, creativity, and performance. It combines practical dance skills with theoretical knowledge, giving students the opportunity to explore dance as an art form and develop both their technical and creative abilities. There are two components in the course:

    1. Performance and Choreography (Practical Work) – 60% of the GCSE

  • Performance (30%): Students need to perform two short, teacher-taught phrases of  approximately 30 seconds each and a longer duet or trio performance where they demonstrate key skills.

  • Choreography (30%): Students create an original piece of choreography based on one of several stimuli provided by AQA (e.g., a poem, image, or theme).

    2. Dance Appreciation (Written Exam) – 40% of the GCSE

  • Written Paper (1 hour 30 minutes):
    • Students critically analyse their performance and choreographic work. They also study and analyse a set anthology of six professional dance works provided by AQA.