Dance is taught within the PE curriculum at Windsor in a purpose built state of the art dance studio.
Rationale
The dance department aims to support the school in developing a learning area where the following takes place:
- High expectations of all staff and Students
- A learning culture is developed
- Independent learning is encouraged
- Students want to improve
In dance we aim to create an area where students feel:
- Challenged
- Confident
- Involved
- Safe
- Secure
- Supported
- Valued
Aims:
- To foster aesthetic awareness
- To develop creativity in individuals
- To celebrate and share achievements in dance
- To build self esteem and self expression
- To work with our local community in promoting the dance
- To increase understanding of diverse cultural traditions
- To encourage collaborative and cooperative working methods
Key Stage 3
The Students have 3 PE lessons per week lasting 50 minutes. Within these lessons one of the focus areas for a module is dance. Students are taught in single sex groups.
Key Stage 4
Students study GCSE dance according to the AQA syllabus. Exam results consistently exceed the national average. Students also receive some dance within the PE curriculum at Key Stage 4
Key Stage 5
Students can choose to study any of three courses at Key Stage 5. These include:
- Subsidiary Diploma in Performing Arts: Dance (equivalent of one A level)
- Diploma in Performing Arts: Dance (equivalent of two A levels)
- Extended Diploma in Performing Arts: Dance (equivalent of three A levels)
Extra curricular activities
Dance offers an extensive range of clubs in a variety of dance styles before school, at lunch times and after school. Students regularly have the opportunity to perform in many events across the year – Birmingham Artsfest, Dance Production (Stourbridge Town Hall), an Easter Celebration of Dance (Brierley Hill Civic Hall). Pupils are offered residential opportunities to London, Pineapple Dance Studios, DisneyLand Paris and Baltimore, USA. As well as our American exchange experience we annually host Danish Pupils for week long visits from Holstebro School of Ballet, Denmark.
Windsor’s dancers are current Dudley Schools’ Dance Champions.