Performance Arts

The Performance Arts Faculty consists of Physical Education, Dance, Music and Drama. These activities help students to gain self-confidence, self-discipline and tolerance. Students learn to take pride in what they do and gain satisfaction and enjoyment from their learning.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The PE department has three very clear priorities:

Promote a healthy, active lifestyle for all
Promote the access to sport for all
Promote the attainment of academic success for all

We recognise that health and well-being are the most important aspects of life. The primary focus of our curriculum is to promote a life-long enjoyment of physical activity and exercise. Through our high-quality Physical Education programme, we empower our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make responsible lifestyle choices that directly impact their health and well-being.

We also believe in the idea of ‘sport for all’. Physical Education is synonymous with competitive sport, and although it is widely accepted that competitive sport has a vital role to play in a young person’s development, its emphasis should not be so great as to exclude some students. At St Paul’s Academy, we make every attempt to ensure that ‘all students’ are given opportunities to engage in sport, whether it be recreational or competitive.

We are also very committed to attaining academic success at Key Stage 4 and offer a GCSE in Physical Education and a BTEC in Sport. High quality teaching and learning is a whole-school initiative that underpins the success of our students at Key Stage 4. The PE department has high expectations of their students, and as a result, we achieve fantastic results.

Finally, at St Paul’s Academy, we are very fortunate to have some of the very best facilities in the local area, which provide wonderful opportunities for our students and the local community:

  • Multi-use sports hall
  • Fitness suite
  • Dance studio
  • Multi-use games areas
  • Full size 3G football pitch
  • Grass football pitch
  • Athletics track

MUSIC

Music has always played an important role at St Paul’s Academy. A wide and varied range of experience is offered including composition, music appraisal and singing. The department is fully equipped with instruments, computers and music writing programmes. Enrichment activities including choir, band and step up to the mic are very popular and students have the opportunity to develop their music appreciation and performance in a variety of settings. Alongside this our music tech club gives keen students the opportunity to develop their skills in music production.

Music is a popular choice at GCSE, with students having the opportunity to develop their performance and composition skills as well as developing their appraising skills for the exam.

The aim of the Music Department is to assist students in becoming informed, imaginative and enquiring musicians, giving them a wide range of musical skills and to use these skills creatively, which, in turn, enhances their enjoyment of music.

DRAMA

All students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of extra-curricular activities as well as a dynamic curricular programme. The focus is very much on building an individual’s confidence and social skills, whilst exploring various styles of theatre and developing performance skills.

Drama is a very popular subject at GCSE and this course provides diverse opportunities for students to explore performance and theatre. At Key Stage 4, the Academy also offers BTEC Performing Arts (Acting) and a variety of external performance opportunities and experiences as well as regular visits to the Theatre.

DANCE

Within the Key Stage 3 curriculum, students will be given the opportunity to develop and refine their physical and performance skills in Dance through exploration of a range of dance genres and themes. They will engage in a collaborative and creative learning journey to choreograph their own work and become effective in performance appreciation.

At Key Stage 4, students will be offered the opportunity to continue their dance studies and undertake the BTEC Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts (Dance). The course gives students the opportunity to develop dance specific knowledge and skills in a practical learning environment.

Beyond the curriculum the dance department at St Paul’s Academy offers the chance for all students to participate in dance clubs that span a range of dance genres. Students may also choose to join the ‘Emotive Dance Company’ to further develop their technique and performance skills within the dance arena.