Broadway Academy

Curriculum

For pupils who attend Rossall School, the Performing Arts curriculum is extensive and diverse, ensuring that pupils of all abilities and with a wide range of interests are able to find something that they enjoy and can make excellent progress in. We believe that all children benefit from exposure to skills developed through the Performing Arts and this is why they feature so prominently on and off timetable.

Academic Lessons

Weekday academic lessons will include:

  • Dance Lessons – Year 1 – 8
  • Drama Lessons – Year 3 – Sixth Form
  • Music Lessons – Reception – Sixth Form
  • BTEC Level 3 in Performing Arts – Sixth Form

Course Areas

Dance 

Every child at Rossall from the Preparatory and Lower School until Year 8, has an opportunity to develop and master important movement and performance skills through weekly dance lessons. These lessons are purposeful and progressive, allowing pupils to blend creativity and physical activity. At all key stages the dance curriculum has a balance of performance (skills building and presenting to an audience) choreography (creating) and appreciation (feedback and analysis) with an emphasis on developing self-confidence, creativity, and independent thinking skills. In Year 10, GCSE Dance will become an option for pupils who have a passion to further develop technical and expressive skills, as well as knowledge and understanding of dance through performance, choreography, and critical appreciation. In the sixth form we currently offer students the opportunity to study 

BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Performing Arts (Musical Theatre) which provides an excellent preparation for those seeking to apply for performance related courses at drama schools, music conservatoires and universities.

Drama

Every child at Rossall has weekly Drama lessons, starting in Year 3. There is an early emphasis on core vocal and physical skills, before moving on to explore monologue, duologue and devised group work. There is a strong focus on the ensemble throughout, and pupils are encouraged to work towards their own targets. In Year 9, Drama becomes an optional subject, allowing for a greater depth of study, and many of these pupils go on to take Drama GCSE in Year 10. In the sixth form students can opt to take Drama and Theatre at A-level, which serves as excellent preparation for further study beyond school, as well as being a stimulating and challenging course in its own right. 

Music

Every student at Rossall, from Reception to Year 13, has the opportunity to study music as an academic subject. All students in the Preparatory and Lower School (until Year 8) receive one-hour weekly curriculum music lessons. At Year 9, music becomes an optional subject, with students receiving two hours of tuition a week that is built around building the analytical, composition and performance skills to continue the subject at GCSE from Year 10. In the sixth form, we offer students the opportunity to study A-Level and IBDP music. Many previous students have gone on to study music at university and conservatoires in the UK and overseas.

BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Performing Arts (Musical Theatre) 

This course is the equivalent of two or three A levels and provides a perfect context within which to develop technical and performance skills in dancing, singing and acting. It provides an excellent preparation of those seeking to apply for performance related courses at drama schools, music conservatoires and universities. Of course, it is an attractive route for those wishing for a career on the stage but it also provides for those seeking to work in the industry in a diversity of different roles. 

Students study six mandatory units covering the following:

  • Investigating Practitioners’ Work
  • Group Performance Workshop
  • Individual Performance
  • Developing Skills and Techniques for Live Performance
  • Performing Arts in the Community 
  • Final Live Performance to an Audience 

Students choose two optional units, which have been designed to support progression to the range of sector-related courses in Higher Education, and also to link with relevant occupational areas. The optional units cover content areas such as:

  • Acting 
  • Dancing 
  • Musical Theatre 

Potential degree courses include: 

  • BA (Hons) in Music, Theatre and Entertainment Management
  • BA (Hons) in Theatre and Screen: Theatre Design
  • BA (Hons) in Drama and Event Management
  • BA (Hons) in Creative Writing/Dance, Scriptwriting and Performance, if taken alongside an A Level in English Literature
  • BA (Hons) in Dance and Movement Studies and History, if taken alongside an A Level in History.

Co-curricular Lessons (Sample Programme)

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Close Harmony Boys’ Singing

 

Flute Choir

 

Contemporary*

Chamber Choir

 

Orchestra

 

Rossall Radio

 

Jazz*

Chapel Choir

 

Theatre Tech Club

 

Tap*

 

Drama Club

Drama Rehearsals

 

Ballet*

 

Acting for Film

Chapel Choir

 

Musical Theatre

 

Writers’ Room

Saturday Morning Academy 

(additional charge)

* Broadway Academy dance lessons.

 

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