Performing Arts
Intent Statement
Provision for all students
The Creative Arts in our context refer to Art, Music and Drama, as well as Arts components within Design & Technology, ICT and specialisms such as Photography and Animation.
We value the creative and collaborative aspects of the arts to support students, particularly disadvantaged pupils and pupils with SEND. In this context we believe that our creative arts curriculum helps develop:
- Confidence & Communication - A command over their vocal and physical skills to allow them to approach a wide range of public speaking with confidence
- Concentration - Working on intricate projects over extended periods of time
- Empathy & sensitivity - Understanding the viewpoints and emotions of a range of characters including their own experiences of life in Camden and the inner-city.
- Co-operation & team-work skills - Getting the best out of each other when striving towards a common goal
- Commitment & self-discipline - Encouragement and help to excel when challenged, developing resilience and resourcefulness
- Creativity - An understanding of the benefits of participation in the Arts, including performance and creativity, during their time with us and throughout their lives.
- Evaluation & appreciation - An appreciation of the ways in which the Arts communicates to an audience and an ability to evaluate their own and others’ work.
Our Creative Arts curriculum develops creativity, sets challenges, engages and inspires students and equips them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, take risks, invent and create their own works of art, music, drama. The curriculum offers appropriate subject knowledge, skills and understanding to support students to explore, investigate, create and evaluate artwork. It enables pupils to create art work with a real purpose when displaying and sharing the work they create and showcasing the skills and progress they have made.
Planning and sequencing towards cumulative knowledge and skills
The Creative Arts curriculum seeks to award students by offering a range of sequenced accreditations developed through KS3 to KS4.
AQA Unit Award and Arts Award enable students to focus on the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to practice their art form in a collaborative environment. We seek to develop independent learning and research so students are taken on a creative arts journey leading to accreditation and an exploration of the creative capital offered in the rich and diverse culture of Camden and beyond.
We also work with The Roundhouse giving students the opportunity to be creative in a working establishment, with industry professionals. This also gives students an understanding of how their skills and knowledge can be used for future employment and learning. The Arts award and NCFE Performance Skills accreditations are embedded within the Roundhouse and CCfL curriculum so that all students are able to engage with the Arts.
Acquisition and independent application of knowledge, skills and abilities
All Arts subjects are delivered to meet the needs of our SEND students by developing subject knowledge through the development of practical skills and understanding of both their own development and the way artists and industry professionals work towards creation of final arts pieces. Repetition, creativity, challenge and the development of skills seek to give all students the necessary tools so that they can comfortably take risks in their work within a safe and nurturing environment. The use of task plans and portfolios further enable students to develop independence and pride in their artistic accomplishments.
The Arts team seek to offer students opportunities to see the Arts in action by providing opportunities for visits to galleries, concerts, theatre and circus, thereby cementing the Arts in context and developing independence and responsibility.
Accreditation pathways and preparation for Education, Employment, Training and adult life
Performing Arts has a 3 level accreditation offer set to meet the needs of all CCfL students. KS4 students are able to take Arts Award Bronze in year 10, followed by Silver in Year 11, should they demonstrate the necessary leadership and self-motivation needed to complete the course. An embedded work experience placement at The Roundhouse is also offered to give students an understanding of the post 16 opportunities in Arts employment and training. Should students demonstrate the necessary commitment, they can take the NCFE V-CERT Performance Skills accreditation which has a much higher value and exam element.
KS3 students are able to access graduated Unit Awards and the Arts Award Explore accreditations as part of their activities option.
In the Summer Pan Intercultural Arts and the CCfL run an integration arts project for the Year 9 and Year 10 students’ development of group work and practical drama development. PAN also run Friday extra curricula drama sessions where CCfL students are invited to join students from other Camden schools to develop practical drama skills and improvised performances.
