About the school curriculum:
What is statutory?
Key Stage 1
The statutory subjects that all pupils must be taught at Key Stage 1 are: art and design, design and technology, English, geography, history, information and communication technology, mathematics, music, physical education and science. Religious education must also be provided.Key Stage 2
The statutory subjects that all pupils must be taught at Key Stage 2 are: art and design, design and technology, English, geography, history, information and communication technology, mathematics, music, physical education and science. Religious education must also be provided.Key Stage 3
The statutory subjects that all pupils must be taught at Key Stage 3 are: art and design, citizenship, design and technology, English, geography, history, information and communication technology, mathematics, modern foreign languages, music, physical education and science. The teaching of careers education, sex education and religious education is also statutory.Key Stage 4
Key stage 4 National Curriculum requirements are set out in section 85 of the Education Act 2002, as substituted. Students study a mix of compulsory subjects (core & foundation) and, if they so elect, a course of study in a subject within each of four ‘entitlement’ areas. The compulsory subjects (with statutory programmes of study) are:Core |
Mathematics |
| English | |
| Science * | |
Foundation |
ICT |
| PE | |
| Citizenship |
In addition to the core and foundation subjects, students may opt to follow a course of study in a subject within one or more of the four ‘entitlement areas’ as they may choose. These subjects do not have statutory programmes of study. The entitlement areas and subjects within each of them are:
| Entitlement area | Subject |
| Arts | Art & Design Music Dance Drama Media arts |
| Design & Technology | Design & Technology |
| Humanities | Geography History |
| Modern foreign language (MFL) | Any modern foreign language specified in an order made by the Secretary of State – no such order has been made |
- Schools must provide access to a minimum of one course in each of the four entitlement areas.
- Courses available under the entitlement areas must give students the opportunity to obtain a qualification approved by the Secretary of State for the purposes of section 96 of the Learning and Skills Act 2000.
Looking on the TES website, I looked in to how many hours in terms of timetabling, lessons should have. This is the Keystage 3 guide line (Years 7 and 8). Note that Drama and Dance are not even mentioned.
KS3 Curriculum Time
In my school, KS3 pupils have 18 hours of Maths, English and Science in a 6 week period. They have 2 hours of Drama and 0 hours of Dance in a 6 week period.
It just makes me despair!! This has really opened my eyes to how Dance is regarded within education. I knew it wasn't considered overly important, but in actual fact it's barely acknowledged as a part of education! I feel that perhaps I've been a bit nieve about how the arts are treated in school, and the whole new Ebacc system can only make things worse.
ReplyDeleteI am starting to reconsider what the best career route to take would be after completing my degree! Are secondary school dance teachers even going to exist!?
Interesting data count - and yet what is the story in the private sector or independent secondary schools?
ReplyDeleteAn interesting point Paula and one that I have followed up to a certain degree. I know a family who's daughter attends 'King's school' in Kent (an independent school). I spoke to the pupil this week. She is in Year 7 and is only in her first term. She told me that so far she has not done any Drama. I decided to look on the school's website and am overjoyed to see how much effort they put into both Dance and Drama. Pupils in lower school do have Drama timetabled, though perhaps not on a regualr basis. In middle school however, they are encouraged to choose a creative subject as one of their options. There appear to be countless school productions which are extra curricular but none the less, offered. Here is a section of what is stated on the school's prospectus:
ReplyDeleteDrama
The Drama Department uses a workshop studio theatre with specialist facilities. Many pupils also involve themselves in drama off the curriculum. There are senior and junior drama competitions and, as well as school plays, there are regular house plays. Drama and Dance are also offered as activities.
King's Week is the annual showcase for the range of production work. There are usually two major plays, as well as one or two junior plays. Dance shows are put on by KiDaCo (the King's Dance Company).
Recent productions, many performed outdoors in some of the beautiful settings around the Cathedral Precincts, have included: Yerma, Bouncers, The Little Shop of Horrors, You Can't Take It With You, Macbeth, The Shoemaker’s Holiday, An Italian Straw Hat, Rhinoceros, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, A Servant to Two Masters, The Knight of the Burning Pestle, Les Misérables, performed at the Marlowe Theatre, Arcadia, Cowardy Custard, The Dresser and The Boys Next Door, and The Lark.
In February/March 2012 there was a production of West Side Story at the Marlowe Theatre. See: West Side Story.
There are regular theatre trips to London to see plays.
I have now also contacted a member of staff who works at a Private school and also a member of staff from Chesham Grammar school in Buckinhamshire. That way I should get information from an independent school, a private school, a Grammar school and my state school. Looking forward to sharing the information.