Performing Arts
FACULTY LEADER: Mr P Condry
Music
SUBJECT LEADER: Mr P Condry
At Prince Henry’s, Music is part of the lifeblood of the school.
The subject team aims to open up a world of music to all students and frequently stages concerts and productions. We also provide music for school and community events.
Throughout their school careers, Prince Henry’s students can get involved with music-making through many different ensembles/choirs (for students of differing abilities) and are able to study music through to A Level.
In addition to classroom-led lessons, a team of eight peripatetic instrumental/vocal tutors delivers tuition on a weekly basis in the school.
KS3 Curriculum
All students in KS3 have two lessons per fortnight. At KS3, the schemes of work are designed to integrate the key areas of Performing, Composing and Listening together, whilst also giving students a wide range of musical experiences. They learn how to read conventional notation, chord diagrams and tab across a variety of instruments including piano, ukulele and guitar. Students also learn how to use music technology creatively. Throughout KS3, they learn compositional technique through practical study.
|
|
Term 1 |
Term 2 |
Term 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Year 7 |
Elements of Music Keyboard Skills Sea Shanties |
GarageBand sequencing - Remix Chords on keyboard |
Chords - Ukulele FOUR chord chorus compositions |
|
Year 8 |
Opera and Musical Theatre | Blues |
Song analysis (whole class) Song writing using GarageBand |
|
Year 9 |
Music for Media | Cover versions/Advanced ensemble skills |
Individual song analysis + presentations Song writing |
KS4 and KS5 Curriculum
At KS4, students may opt for the GCSE Music course (AQA). Year 10 Overview. Year 11 Overview.
At KS5, students may opt for A Level Music (AQA).
Please see the Key Stage 4 Options and Sixth Form Pages for details of the KS4 and KS5 courses offered in Music.
Assessment
In Music we will
- Assess the skills being learned through practical work
- Use questioning every lesson to check understanding
- Give informal feedback on work in progress every lesson
- Give formal feedback on Showbie for every topic
- Give written feedback on selected tasks in KS4 and KS5
- Give a DIRT opportunity to act on feedback practically in lessons
- Give opportunities to assess and reflect upon work and the work of others
- Assess knowledge of key concepts and key vocabulary through practical work and (sometimes) written responses on Showbie
Enrichment
Staff lead rehearsals for the many and varied ensembles each week (Junior/Senior Choir, Big Band, Concert Ban
d, String Ensemble and Junior Band). Students (and staff!) participate in 3 main school concerts per year, as well as an annual production and several other community/school ‘gigs’. Musicians are invited to enter for external music exams (ABRSM/Trinity Guildhall/Rock School) on a termly basis and experience great success.
We also organise an international performing tour every 2 years (previous destinations have included Mallorca, Italy, Belgium, Dublin and Holland). In addition, music staff regularly organise visits to concerts and the theatre as well as workshops with leading practitioners.
If you wish to book a school ensemble for a local event, please send an email via info@princehenrys.co.uk and mark it for the attention of Mr Condry.
Drama
SUBJECT LEADER: Ms Y Wittering
At Prince Henry's, Drama is a high profile and flourishing subject. Our aim is to open up the world of theatre to all students. This is achieved not only in timetabled lessons but also through our regular productions, theatre trips and input on PSHE / Citizenship Days.
KS3 Curriculum
All students have two lessons of Drama per fortnight throughout Years 7, 8 and 9. A list of the topics students will study in each year of KS3 is shown below:
|
Year 7 Transferable skills and |
Year 8 Theatre History Presenting Text
|
Year 9 Presenting and Performing text |
|---|---|---|
| Devising from Poetry: Introduction of Skills |
Greek Theatre | Tusk Tusk by Polly Stenham. (Page to Stage) |
| Silent Movies and Mime | Commedia Dell'arte | Devising drama |
|
‘Ernie's Incredible Illucinations’ |
Contemporary Theatre 'Face' by Benjamin Zephaniah (Page to stage) |
GCSE Tasters |
KS4 and KS5 Curriculum
At KS4, students can choose to study GCSE Drama, following the OCR Specification.
At KS5, students can choose A Level Drama and Theatre Studies, following the OCR Specification.
Please see the Key Stage 4 Options and Sixth Form Pages for details of the KS4 and KS5 courses offered by the Drama Team.
Assessment
In Drama we will
- Assess the skills being learned through practical work
- Use questioning every lesson to check understanding
- Give informal feedback on work in progress every lesson
- Give formal feedback on Showbie for every topic
- Give written feedback on selected tasks in KS4 and KS5
- Give a DIRT opportunity to act on feedback practically in lessons
- Give opportunities to assess and reflect upon work and the work of others
- Assess knowledge of key concepts and key vocabulary through practical work and (sometimes) written responses on Showbie
Enrichment
There is a regular programme of Drama productions, theatre trips and visiting practitioners. These have included our production of The Wiz in 2019, Our House in 2018, visits to Blood Brothers, Leeds University, War Horse and visits from professional theatre practitioners.