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Creative Arts

In this section, the Creative Arts department provides an overview of the KS3 curriculum, teaching staff and extracurricular activities.

Department Contacts

Staff Role Email
Mrs E Chamberlain Head of Department emily.chamberlain@thewisbechacademy.org
     

 

Purpose of Study

Drama plays a vital role in the curriculum at The Wisbech Academy, offering an engaging and dynamic experience for students. Our comprehensive dramatic education fosters a deep appreciation for all facets of the theatre industry. Through our curriculum, students delve into a variety of historical, dramatic, and cultural themes, enhancing their academic knowledge and supporting their socio-emotional growth. This holistic approach equips students with essential transferable skills that will benefit them in their future endeavours.

What makes Music at TWA Special?

Our Drama department curriculum focuses on communication, expression, and exploration of identity. We offer an inclusive and challenging curriculum that nurtures self-confidence and independence. Our focus on collaborative learning, performance, and constructive feedback helps students thrive. By exploring diverse topics and characters from various cultures, religions, and lifestyles, we cultivate empathy and emotional awareness in our students. We inspire an appreciation for theatre through active participation in performances, critical analysis, and evaluation of a wide range of texts, broadening students’ cultural horizons. Our classroom environment is designed to ignite curiosity and foster creative thinking.

Additionally, we provide numerous opportunities beyond the classroom, including drama clubs, productions, workshops, and theatre trips. For instance, our Year 7 students have the exciting opportunity to attend a pantomime, which not only enhances their understanding of live theatre but also adds a fun and memorable experience to their learning journey. Later this year, we will be launching our school productions, offering students the chance to participate in and contribute to large-scale performances, further developing their skills and passion for drama.

Aims of the curriculum
  • Empower Confidence and Autonomy: We offer an inclusive and challenging curriculum that nurtures self-confidence and independence. Our focus on collaborative learning, performance, and constructive feedback helps students thrive.
  • Foster Compassion and Emotional Intelligence: By exploring diverse topics and characters from various cultures, religions, and lifestyles, we cultivate empathy and emotional awareness in our students.
  • Enrich Cultural Capital: We inspire an appreciation for theatre through active participation in performances, critical analysis, and evaluation of a wide range of texts, broadening students’ cultural horizons.
  • Stimulate Curiosity and Creativity: Our classroom environment is designed to ignite curiosity and foster creative thinking.
  • Provide Broad Extracurricular Opportunities: We offer numerous opportunities beyond the classroom, including drama clubs, productions, workshops, and theatre trips, ensuring students can explore and develop their interests fully.
Year 7 Drama Curriculum:

Students will experience a comprehensive, spiral curriculum centred around three core strands of the Drama GCSE: text in practice, devising, and live theatre review. Lessons predominantly focus on practical and collaborative exploration of topics. However, each year, dedicated time is set aside to enhance students’ ability to write detailed and eloquent reflections on their drama experiences.

The KS3 Drama curriculum equips students with a diverse range of performance skills and transferable life skills. Our aim is to build students’ confidence and resilience, using performance opportunities to develop their public speaking and oracy skills. By portraying a variety of characters, students will enhance their emotional intelligence and refine their abilities as performers and designers, engaging with a wide array of thought-provoking stimuli.

HT1

Twisted Tales

Key Skills

HT2

Improvisation

Key Skills

HT3

Murder Mystery

Devising

HT4

World Theatre

Genre/Style

HT5

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Text in Practice

HT6

Mischief Theatre

Live Theatre Review

Purpose of Study

The Wisbech Academy is proud to have music as a key feature of our curriculum. Our program centres around performance, composition, and musicology, fostering a love for music and a deep appreciation for a wide range of cultures, musical genres, and styles. Music education at our school enhances cognitive development, improving memory, attention, and problem-solving skills, which are transferable to other subjects and boost overall academic performance.

What makes Music at TWA Special?

Our intention at The Wisbech Academy is to integrate music into our curriculum in a way that enriches students’ educational experiences and supports their overall development. Our approach encourages students to explore their musical talents, develop teamwork and communication skills, and express themselves freely and with confidence. By fostering creativity, innovation, and cultural awareness, we prepare our students for a successful and fulfilling future, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to excel in various academic and life pursuits.

We are proud to be a singing school, where we sing for joy and to create a sense of community. Our school choir has already performed at a local care home and led a Christmas Carol Celebration Evening. We are excited to build this provision further over the coming years, enhancing our students' musical experiences and community involvement.

Additionally, we offer Year 7 students the opportunity to learn to play an instrument through free peripatetic lessons. For 12 weeks, students receive small group instruction provided by The Wisbech Academy in partnership with Cambridgeshire Music. These lessons not only enhance students’ musical skills but also boost their confidence and self-esteem as they master new instruments. The discipline required for regular practice fosters perseverance and resilience, while the collaborative nature of group lessons promotes teamwork and communication skills. Learning an instrument can also improve cognitive abilities, such as memory and attention, which are beneficial across all areas of study.

Aims of the curriculum
  • Instil Confidence: We create a supportive environment where students feel empowered to take risks and express themselves through music, building self-assurance and presence.
  • Develop Contextual Awareness and Cultural Capital: By exploring diverse musical genres and cultural contexts, students gain a deeper understanding of the world and enrich their educational experience.
  • Perform and Compose with Musicality: We emphasise both technical skill and expressive performance, ensuring students’ work is engaging and impactful.
  • Instil Creativity and Curiosity: We encourage students to ask questions, experiment with new ideas, and seek out diverse musical experiences, fostering a lifelong love of learning and creativity.
  • Demonstrate Resilience and Autonomy: We promote independent practice and self-directed learning, helping students become resilient and autonomous musicians.
Year 7 Music Curriculum:

Students will experience a comprehensive, spiral curriculum centred around three core strands of the Music GCSE: listening/musicology, composition, and performance. Lessons predominantly focus on practical and collaborative exploration of topics. However, each half-term, dedicated time is set aside to enhance students’ ability to write detailed and eloquent reflections on their musical experiences.

HT1

Introduction to Music

Composition

HT2

The Orchestra

Listening

HT3

Keyboard Skills

Performance

HT4

A Cappella

Performance

HT5

Jazz

Listening

HT6

Songwriting

Composition

Extra Curricular

Tuesday

Drama Club: 3pm-4pm

Thursday 

Choir Club: 3pm-4pm