The Expressive Arts Faculty

Teaching and Learning Director
Mrs D Royle

The Expressive Arts Faculty comprises of four discrete subjects – Art and Design, Dance, Drama and Music. In Key Stage 3 (Years 7 and 8), students have one hour per week of each subject and homework is set on a fortnightly basis. In Year 7 and 8, students are taught in mixed ability classes. Students have one key assessed piece of work each half term. In Year 9, students have 4 lessons per fortnight .and in year 10 and 11 they have 5 lessons per fortnight.

Art & Design

The Art & Design department at Oulder Hill offers a broad and balanced curriculum developed to give students maximum exposure to a wide range of techniques and media. We believe strongly in combining traditional skills with new media and as a result can offer techniques such as ceramics, print-making, painting, animation, screen-printing, video-editing, Photoshop and iPad work.

Upon selection of Art & Design as a GCSE option Year 9 students have a gradual introduction to GCSE working styles and expectations through the foundation course. They work on shorter projects to introduce GCSE techniques and marking methods. In Years 10 & 11 students study across a wide variety of media and techniques with the work produced being assessed under four distinct assessment objectives (AOs): Research (AO1), Artist Reference (AO2) , Ideas (AO3) and Final outcome (AO4).

Those in Yr 9 who don’t opt to do GCSE Art will still be studied the subject for half a term as part of a Carousel.

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Additional Information

There is an Art club for all GCSE groups on a Tuesday and a Thursday from 3.00- 4.30pm. Also Art & Design staff are available every lunchtime for any additional support required.

Throughout the year, a variety of workshops and educational visits to places such as The Tate Liverpool, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the Manchester Metropolitan Degree Show as well as workshops on Ceramics, Digital Screen-print work and Print-making.

Dance and Drama

In Dance and Drama we provide a wealth of opportunities for our students to achieve and succeed delivering rigorous training and having high expectations of our pupils. Pupils are frequently taken to see shows at the Lowry, the Royal Exchange and the Oldham Coliseum to inspire and challenge them to excel and to work alongside professionals within the industry. We aim to cater for pupils who perform because they enjoy it and are fully inclusive of all our pupils regardless of talent or ability. In year 9 pupils will experience core dance and drama where they will carousel with Art and Music over the course of the year giving our pupils a broad and balanced curriculum.

GCSE Drama

Upon selection of Drama as a GCSE option Year 9 students have two years to complete the course. Throughout their studies pupils are required to keep a diary of their lessons and rehearsals in preparation for the written exam which is worth 40%. Homework will be set once per week. During preparation for practical exams rehearsal afterschool are compulsory.

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Additional Information

There is an extensive range of extended curricular clubs that cater for a wide range of interests and abilities across KS3 and KS4. We aim to cater for pupils who perform because they enjoy it and are fully inclusive of all our pupils regardless of talent or ability. There are many opportunities for students to perform on stage including the School Production, Dance and Drama Show cases, Celebration assemblies, Reward Evenings, Talent shows and the Rochdale Music Festival.

GCSE Dance

Upon selection of Dance as a GCSE option, students have a gradual introduction to GCSE dance styles and expectations. Throughout their GCSE studies, pupils are expected to take part in the School Production and Dance Showcase in order to develop their physical, expressive, technical and mental skills. Students are required to attend rehearsals after school to prepare for the practical examination. Homework is set once per week.

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Component 1: Performance and choreography

What’s assessed:

• Set phrases through a solo performance (approximately one minute in duration)
• Duet/trio performance (three minutes in a dance which is a maximum of five minutes in duration)

• Solo or group choreography – a solo (two to two and a half minutes) or a group dance for two to five dancers (three to three and a half minutes)

How it’s assessed

Internally marked and externally moderated.

• 30% of GCSE
• 40 marks

• 30% of GCSE
• 40 marks

Component 2: Dance appreciation

• Knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills
• Critical appreciation of own work
• Critical appreciation of professional works

• 40% of GCSE
• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 80 marks

Music

Key Stage 3 Music

The Music department at Oulder Hill offers a heavily performance based curriculum developed to ensure that each student learns how to play multiple musical instruments such as keyboard, ukulele and drums. We strongly believe that this strategy will allow all students to access Music and enrich their lives. The Music of different cultures, mainly Africa and the Caribbean is explored and the students also learn to read and write both tablature and traditional music notation.

BTEC Music

Upon selection of Music as an option, Year 9 and 10 students will study towards the BTEC. This course is heavily based upon individual and ensemble performance where they will work on a range of tasks, including rehearsal technique, the importance of setting up rehearsals and working towards the creation of their own musical product. Pupils will also research the music industry and will listen to music from a variety of genres.

GCSE Music

Upon selection of Music as a GCSE option, students will have a gradual introduction to the Eduqas GCSE specification and Sibelius 7 music production software. Students will be working on shorter projects to introduce GCSE techniques and marking methods. All GCSE students are expected to work well both in ensembles and independently.