Performing Arts At The Levels School
Performing arts for Prep and KS3 are designed to allow students to explore their sense of self, the social landscapes they are growing up in, and the development of themselves as people with a voice. The fundamental goal of performing arts pre-GCSE is to ensure that students develop a sense of confidence and self-esteem. To engender that, lessons at The Levels School are built to support students in working creatively within small groups and individually toward a theme.
Constructive criticism in peer review plays an important part of developing a good critical vocabulary while maintaining the importance of resilient, reflective development. It incorporates both music and drama, sometimes within the same module, or in rotation, to allow all students to find the ideal avenue for their expressive progress. Every child is involved in the development of work in lessons, either as a creator or as a supportive external director/critic, which helps build strong sense of team spirit and a willingness to engage.
Prep
Prep students are taught in mixed-age and mixed-ability groups consisting of children from Years 3 to 6. All Prep children are taught the same performing arts curriculum in a single year. To avoid repeating the same units, the Prep curriculum has been mapped over two years, with students studying different units in years A and B.
| Year A | |
|---|---|
| Autumn Term | Rainforests & Freedom/Justice |
| Spring Term | Victorians & Drama through Poetry |
| Summer Term | The Wreck of the Zanibar; Practical Exploration & London's Burning; The Great Fire of London |
Key Stage Three
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | Bullying& Character Development/Solving a Mystery | Shoplifting & Battle Cries | Commedia Dell'Arte & The Secret Annex |
| Spring Term | Childhood Tales & Off The Page | Slapstick & Showtime | Departure & Ambition |
| Summer Term | Who am I? & Tinsel Town Truth | Peer Pressure & From Page to Stage | Pop Goes The Culture & Life on The Streers |
External Links
| National Theatre | NT Live |
| NT On YouTube | Technique Critique |
| Actors Academy | iPlayer Films |
| RSC | RSC On YouTube |
Holiday Activities
If you're looking to support your child's performing arts studies at home, try the following activities:
Watch theatre productions, especially at a theatre if you can but at home is also great. Some theatre productions can be found for free on YouTube.
Watch a range of films and TV shows and then discuss them afterwards.
Listen to music from as many different artists and genres as possible, and talk about the music at home. You could discuss how different music makes us feel, what instruments are used to make different sounds, etc.
Play karaoke games - these can be done at home if children are anxious about singing in front of others. There are lots of great karaoke videos on YouTube!
