Performing Arts

By the end of the Year 11 students at Pendle Vale College will: 

• have been given every opportunity to develop self-confidence through improved communication, co-operation and planning and organisation skills. 
• have developed their vocal and/or instrumental fluency, accuracy and expressiveness; and understand music and drama structures, styles, genres and traditions. 
• become independent and creative individuals. (A range of topics allow students to develop an understanding and appreciation of the arts formed in a contemporary society and throughout the world.)

We fully believe that Performing Arts contributes to the development of all students at Pendle Vale College through our unrelenting focus on: 

• Currency: Providing ongoing experiences, facilitating the development of practical  and physical skills alongside  developing team working and social skills. 
• Core Skills: involving students in a wide range of activities, in and beyond the classroom. 
• Character: Giving and supporting opportunities to gain and show talents which may not otherwise be recognised or developed. 

We seek to instill a true love of learning in all our students through: 

• A rich and varied curriculum encompassing listening, appraising, evaluating, describing, identifying, aural perception and many other aspects of learning. 
• Being challenged in every lesson, musicality and drama skills being the centre of attention.  Ongoing opportunities through practical lessons, listening to students talking and playing /performing, and watching them responding, encouraging them at every step. 
• Highly experienced, passionate and talented staff, sharing their own experiences, talent and knowledge. As well as a mutual respect to build relationships. 

In order to achieve a true understanding of Performing Arts, topics have been intelligently sequenced based on the following rationale: 

• Developing and demonstrating understanding and creativity through performance and composition and skills based learning,  
• Collaboration with their peers and evaluation of their work. 
• Teaching themes in context – exposing students to influences and traditions from many different cultural and historical contexts. We believe that it is essential to their understanding that they understand the ‘why’ as well as the ‘how’. 

We fully believe that Performing Arts contributes to the development of students at Pendle Vale through their development in five key areas: 

• Social development is encouraged through carefully planned group learning and team work, learning to share and respect the ideas and opinions of others through effective communication and listening.   
• Moral development of students is promoted through students listening with increasing discrimination and awareness to inform their practice.  Developing a deepening understanding of the music and drama that they perform and its history. 
• Spiritual development is highlighted through thoughts and feelings being individual and personal in response to music and drama, and that although these may differ, understanding that giving informed justifications for personal responses is a valid outcome of their work. 
• The curriculum contributes to the cultural development of students in enabling pupils to utilise and develop their experiences from both within and, importantly, beyond the classroom. 
• Personal development is taught by encouraging students to think for themselves, to be independent, to experiment and explore whilst building a base of knowledge, skills and understanding.  Also not giving up on ideas too soon and being resilient to setbacks.

The Performing Arts curriculum ensures that any potential equality issues are mitigated by: 

• helping students to make sense of the world through imagination and feelings and creative and cultural activities.  
• providing an opportunity for pupils to explore the world of people and music from other places, times and cultures, and to examine differences and similarities with their own environment.  
• ensuring all students have a range of opportunities commensurate with their needs and abilities, creating an environment where girls and boys work independently or together on equal terms with equal aspirations. 
• providing knowledge organisers for all students. 
• providing additional support on a one to one basis at KS 4, in pre-arranged sessions

Our belief is that homework should be a deliberate practice of what has been modelled and taught in lessons, as well as interleaved revision to ensure students are embedding previously learn knowledge but also developing high level skills alongside powerful knowledge. All Science homework is meaningful and contributes towards students’ progress. KS3 tasks focuses on literacy and key terminology and KS4 focuses on long term memory; repetition and retrieval.

Opportunities are built in to make links to the world of work to enhance the careers, advice and guidance that students are exposed to including: 

• promoting a sense of self-worth, encouraging confidence, resilience and developing relationships. 
• promoting leadership and independence that will support them to further their learning and career choices. 
• providing students with an accurate knowledge of how the Performing Arts industry operates in today’s society. 

Whilst ensuring students are well prepared for their GCSE examinations, we teach beyond the exam specification by: 

• promoting an overall appreciation of the performing arts both inside and outside of the classroom. 
• developing discipline, control and focus allowing them to grow into well rounded adults. 
• introducing a range of opportunities to develop their expertise beyond those of performing.

The Performing Arts curriculum at Pendle Vale has been influenced by: 

• Performers and artists/musicians and their culture, developing an understanding between the work and how it is influenced by social, political and personal factors.   
• Theatrical companies and practitioners, actors, composers & musicians past and present giving an understanding of our place in the world and in history. 
• A cultural capital experience encouraging students to understand the varied world, cultures and social influences.