Aims

The Performing Arts Department aims to provide students and staff of Great Torrington Community School with the opportunity to realise their performance and response skills. Students will be able to develop knowledge and experience of Dance, Drama and Music through various styles and mediums. The Performing Arts Department also aims to reach out into the community and share its expertise and resources.

Policy

Great Torrington Community School aims to provide and actively promote an arts culture within the school and local community in which all students are provided with opportunities to realise their potential and raise their standards in performance. The school aims to be a local and regional centre of excellence in the arts, providing facilities, partnerships, support and experience. This includes working with a family of schools and a local theatre. To read the full policy please click this link.

Progression

Students are assessed through written and practical tasks.

In Dance, Drama and Music there are assessments during each half term, each one is based upon one of the following; choreography, devising or composing, performing, evaluating and these include teacher assessment, self assessment and peer assessment. These assessments are based upon the level descriptors below and are scored out of 60 (20 for each of the three strands; choreography, devising or composing, performing, evaluating.) The marks are recorded electronically. These will happen at the end of a scheme of work and in lesson time. Where needed students may be required to complete practical assessments at break/lunch time due to time constraints. In Music assessed work is given a National Curriculum level and is to be recorded by teacher and also by the students on their assessment record cards. Every half term targets for improvement are to be set and logged on the assessment record cards. This information is stored in the students' class / homework book.

Courses Offered

Courses currently offered by the Performing Arts Department are:

Leaders and Ambassadors

A small team of Prefects are designated by the Team Leader of Performing Arts as Performing Arts Leaders. From these two Performing Arts Ambassadors are selected.

Once selected the Ambassadors role is to act as a link between students and the Performing Arts department. They will take on the role of a voice for the Performing Arts department and may be asked to represent the school at events. They will also be asked to support the Performing Arts Leaders in their role.

The role of the Performing Arts Leaders is to organise extra curricular activities such as performances, clubs, competitions and festivals in order to extend the subject and enrich student's knowledge. They will also be asked to support the Performing Arts Ambassadors in their role.