Facebook-f X-twitter Instagram Linkedin
Accessibility Tools

Curriculum

Dance

Curriculum intent, implementation, and impact

About the subject

“There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.”

Vicki Baum

 Dance is an important part of the ethos at Ercall Wood with students studying Dance through the P.E curriculum in KS3 and as a BTEC Dance option at KS4. We are incredibly proud of our students who we nurture to achieve their personal best in Dance. Within Dance we link the Performing Arts core values with the overall academy values to inspire a love and passion for the Dance and the Arts and capture the imagination of our students by introducing them to a rich diet of culture and diverse traditions, whilst developing confident and caring individuals who are equipped to deal with the world in which we live. Our students learn through practical activities and creative tasks to enable students to express themselves and we aim for them to use their senses, perceptions, feelings, and values to communicate ideas, emotions and experiences. Development of critical faculties enables them to effectively evaluate their own work and that of others, allowing them to become lifelong learners. This in turn allows them to take responsibility for their learning and their place within group practical work. Through a safe and respectful environment students learn to trust their ideas and abilities and grow in confidence whilst honing teamwork and cooperation skills. Through the study of specific skills and techniques, students will develop their resilience, self-discipline, health and wellbeing in order to overcome challenges and learn how to present themselves going into real life situations. All students are encouraged to develop their skills further through our extensive enrichment opportunities and live performances through two Dance Showcases per year. We ensure we provide professional opportunities and experiences which will prepare them for further study and a potential career in the industry. Students with a talent and passion for Dance are encouraged and stretched to perform at the highest level and are given the opportunity to represent the school in various performances.

About the KS3 Curriculum intent, implementation, and impact

At KS3 Dance is taught through the P.E curriculum. The Dance department aims to inspire a love for Dance and the Arts and to appreciate their relevance in today’s society. We aim to create an ethos of appreciation and respect to be established as well as effective routines to support skill development in preparation for taking Dance as an option at KS4.

Participation, enjoyment and sharing whilst understanding the foundations of the particular style of Dance studied is our key aims at KS3. In Dance students are introduced to basic Dance skills and the key elements which they will explore through appreciating, exploring and creating activities. These three strands are the foundations for all further study in the KS4 qualifications.

Dance is currently being taught in KS3 through a variety of workshops through the P.E curriculum. The curriculum is delivered primarily through practical activity with key concepts and theory being linked to skill development. Topics are chosen with the intent to engage all students and introduce them to the three key dance styles of Jazz, Street and Contemporary Dance embodying the knowledge of cultures and traditions whilst enabling them to explore the knowledge and skills that underpin Dance. Each year, schemes of work revisit essential previous knowledge & skills in greater depth, at a higher level or through the styles of Street Dance, Contemporary Dance and Jazz Dance helping student to embed key concepts into their long-term memory and to develop transferable skills. Students are encouraged to share and discuss their work regularly with termly more formal assessments taking place in order to instil confidence in performance.

Progress of students is measured continuously within lessons culminating in a performance opportunity. This may be an informal sharing of work, with opportunity for peer and self-assessment, or a more formal teacher assessment at the end of each unit of work. Knowledge is measure through recall questions/quiz’s, questioning, and a written knowledge quiz at the end of each term.

Engagement in Dance will be evident through the uptake of KS4 BTEC Tech Award Dance courses, and in those continuing to study Dance and Performing Arts in post 16. Students’ engagement will also be measured through the range of extra-curricular activities that build on the skills developed in lessons.

Students are encouraged to practice and refine their skills outside of the lesson to ensure that they are improving their long-term working memory and recall of movement.

Students are asked to complete a short research project or quiz questions to support their knowledge and understanding of the dance style.

Dance offers a range of extra-curricular opportunities including a weekly club for KS3 students where students work towards performing an ensemble dance at our annual Performing Arts Showcases.

We offer a Street Dance club with a professional street dance artist – Held weekly for all year groups.

The Performing Arts department also offers two Dance showcases a year, one at the end of the Autumn term and one at the end of the summer term.

In addition, the Performing Arts department produce a musical once every two years, where students have the opportunity to perform Dance, Drama and music as one discipline in our school theatre.

A play is also produced every other year giving students the opportunity to utilise their acting skills and also get involved in backstage opportunities such as designing set, costume and sound.

Students that enjoy performing and attend regular extra-curricular clubs are also invited to represent the school in a variety of live performances outside of school including Telford Dance Festival, Walsall Dance Festival, HLC’s Dance Fest, Charltonbury, and Telford’s Got To Dance.

We also offer the opportunity to watch live performances of Dance at local Theatres such as Trips to the Grand Theatre to watch professional Dance Companies.

Taking Dance lessons helps develop a wide range of physical, mental, and social skills including improved physical fitness, improved coordination, flexibility, strength balance and stamina. It also improves memory and concentration, musicality and rhythm, creativity and self-expression, discipline and perseverance, teamwork, social interaction and confidence. All of which are transferable skills that can benefit various aspects of life.

We hope that by engaging in Dance in our KS3 curriculum as well as the opportunities provided by our varied extra-curricular activities students will develop the necessary skills set and love for Dance to be able to take KS4 BTEC Tech Award Dance courses in year 10 and 11.

About the KS4 Curriculum intent, implementation, and impact

At KS4 students have the option to take a BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts Dance. This vocational qualification allows students to acquire sector-specific knowledge and skills by studying professionals’ work and processes, the skills and techniques used in different roles and how they contribute to the creation of a performance. It allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the demands, skills and knowledge required to work in this industry as well as developing personal skills such as working with others, working to deadlines, and responding to feedback through a practical and skills-based approach to learning and assessment.

In KS4, students study BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts Dance and are given 5 hours across 2 weeks. Lessons integrate practical dance work alongside written exploration of professional works and choreography techniques. The additional hours in year 10 and 11 allow students to deeper their technical, performance and interpretive dance skills and broaden their knowledge and understanding of how a professional Dance piece is created from its original idea to the final piece. Each component builds on the prior knowledge learnt to enable them to be a well-rounded versatile Dancer that can perform as well as analyse their own and others work. The skills and knowledge developed in components 1 & 2 provide students with the expertise to then choreograph their own Dance pieces in component 3.

The impact of this curriculum will be measured by the results produced at the end of KS4.

Students will be monitored in every lesson, and verbal and written feedback will be provided for formal assessments as well as a mark for each component. Components 1 and 2 are externally moderated by Pearson and Component 3 is marked by an external examiner who will produce a mark for the final unit. All unit marks are combined to give a final mark resulting in an overall grade of Pass, Merit or Distinction.

The engagement in dance will also be monitored through those continuing to study Dance and Performing Arts in post 16.

Homework at KS4 is set weekly and is linked to the knowledge and skills required for the component of work they are completing in the BTEC Tech Award. This will involve the completion of coursework, setting targets for development, analysis of professional dance work, understanding the production elements of a show, and the writing of logbooks to track practical development. All homework will be set using Show My Homework and be submitted to the teacher.

Dance offers a range of extra-curricular opportunities including a weekly club for KS3 students where students work towards performing an ensemble dance at our annual Performing Arts Showcases.

Street Dance club with a professional street dance artist – Held weekly for all year groups

The Performing Arts department also offers two Dance showcases a year, one at the end of the Autumn term and one at the end of the summer term, which are performed in the school Theatre.

In addition, the Performing Arts department produce a musical once every two years, where students have the opportunity to perform Dance, Drama and music as one discipline in our school theatre.

A play is also produced every other year giving students the opportunity to utilise their acting skills and also get involved in backstage opportunities such as designing set, costume and sound.

Students that enjoy performing and attend regular extra-curricular clubs are also invited to represent the school in a variety of live performances outside of school including Telford Dance Festival, Walsall Dance Festival, HLC’s Dance Fest, Charltonbury, and Telford’s Got To Dance.

We also offer the opportunity to watch live performances of Dance at local Theatres such as Trips to the Grand Theatre to watch professional Dance Companies.

Taking Dance lessons helps develop a wide range of physical, mental, and social skills including improved physical fitness, improved coordination, flexibility, strength balance and stamina. It also improves memory and concentration, musicality and rhythm, creativity and self-expression, discipline and perseverance, teamwork, social interaction and confidence. All of which are transferable skills that can benefit various aspects of life.

A BTEC Tech Award is a solid foundation for those wanting to pursue further education and careers in the Performing Arts. Students have the opportunity to move on to a BTEC Level 3 qualification in Dance or Performing Arts, A Levels in Dance or Performing Arts or specialist colleges or schools that focus on professional level training in the industry.

 Possible career paths include Performer, Choreographer, Dance therapist, Event coordinator, Teacher, Dance Physiotherapist, Dance Producer or Arts Administrator

View curriculum map
ErcallWoodV1[96]

Ercall Wood Academy
Golf Links Lane, Wellington
Telford, TF1 2DT

Tel: 01952 951410

Email: Click here

lct logo

A Learning Community Trust Academy

Linkedin-in Facebook-f X-twitter Instagram

©

2025

The Learning Community Trust | Company number 10846393 | Privacy policy | Accessibility statement

Proudly created by Yarrington

ErcallWoodV1[96]