Performing Arts

There are three strands to Performing Arts in the Academy:

Dance

Drama

Music

Dance

Dance is taught within performing arts although it is located within the PE National Curriculum. Due to its physical nature, dance provides a means of expression and communication distinct from other art forms and because of its expressive and creative nature it stands apart from other physical activities.

The three strands of the framework in dance are performance, composition and appreciation. These strands prepare the learner for examination and vocational qualifications in dance, provide a foundation for students to progress into further education, to raise students' awareness of how they can access dance as a creator, performer and viewer, beyond the academy and into adult life.

Dance is taught one hour per class per week at Key Stage 3 on a 10 week rotation system against drama. At KS4 BTEC First Diploma in Performing Arts is offered at 10 hours per fortnight.

Drama

Throughout KS3 all students will experience the power of Drama, we aim to provide valuable skills whilst offering a challenging and diverse arts experience, one that fully prepares our students for life long learning. Using the subject of Drama we aim to empower the individual, create a caring community, and ensure commitment, purpose and pride. Model a culture of success and always focus on the positive.

Taught as a purely practical lesson in KS3 all students experience whole class, group and individual work. Drama develops interpersonal and practical skills and focuses on developing the individual to grow in confidence and ability whilst exploring themes/issues, scripts, acting skills, dramatic techniques and much more.

Students can then chose to follow the arts further in Key Stage 4 by opting for BTEC First Diploma in Performing Arts (performance) where they will study Drama alongside Dance; this course is worth 4 GCSE's. As a vocational course students are expected to work as a professional theatre company that produce performances for a paying public, students will learn of the performing arts business and exactly what else is involved other that just being a performer.

We then offer BTEC National Award in Performing Arts (acting) to 6th form students; here they will explore in depth the skills of acting to enable students to continue in this line of work as a profession.

Music

Music provides enjoyment and success to students within the academy and the department encourages students to develop a sense of commitment, responsibility and good manners by working both individually and in groups, within and outside the curriculum.

Music allows the students to develop their creative, communicative and social skills. It provides discipline, cultural awareness and a sense of much enjoyment and achievement. The department ensures that music is accessible to all students both in the classroom and through extra-curricular activities.

At Key Stage 3 students are taught music one hour a week, focusing on the four main elements; performing, composing, listening and appraising. Lessons are very practical and allow students the opportunity to learn keyboard, percussion instruments and to experience some of the popular music software packages such as dance-jay, musicace and Sibelius in our newly refurbished IT Suite.

In Key Stage 4 students study a wide variety of musical genres and they will complete a number of compositions and performances throughout the course. The coursework, consisting of composition and performance, is worth 60% of the mark and there will be a listening examination at the end of Year 11 worth 40%. For over a decade, Music has achieved the highest GCSE examination results in the school, with many students achieving A* - C grades. KS4 BTEC First Diploma in Performing Arts (performance)

Curriculum Enrichment

Abraham Darby Academy regards highly the importance of getting involved in extra-curricular activities. 

In Dance there are many opportunities for performance and extra curricular activities including dance festivals, KS3 showcase, BTEC showcase, Spring Loaded and our annual academy musical.

There are opportunities available to get involved outside of the timetable lessons in Drama such as lunchtime clubs, Yong REP (after school drama group working with professionals), theatre trips and the annual academy production.

The Music department at the Academy has provided, and continues to provide, students with opportunities to participate in musical experiences that far outweigh what is on offer musically in other schools across the country.

We are the only school within the county that provides instrumental lessons free of charge! We have a team of 14 peripatetic teachers providing tuition on all Brass, Woodwind and Percussion instruments, Guitars and Voice. When students have made sufficient progress with an instrument they are invited to join our Junior and Intermediate bands. We have over 120 students who perform regularly in the local area and also at National and International levels.

Our Senior bands: Showband, Brass Band, Jazz Band and Senior Woodwind Ensemble, have all gained National Awards several times in the last 12 years. The Showband has performed many times in top concert venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, London, Symphony Hall, Birmingham and Carnegie Hall, New York. They have been invited to perform again in Carnegie Hall, New York in 2010.
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