Dance at St Paul's Academy

At St Paul’s Academy, our three-year Key Stage 3 Dance curriculum and two-year Key Stage 4 Dance curriculum are designed to be more than just dance lessons. They aim to spark a lasting interest in the arts among students.

Our curriculum gives students plenty of time to get deeply involved in creative activities, helping them improve their performance skills and grow their love for dance. We choose dance styles that are easy for students to connect with and enjoy, making dance both fun and inspiring.

We don’t assume students come to us with previous dance knowledge. Instead, our curriculum is set up to grab their interest and help them really benefit from what they learn. It focusses on exploring a few key areas thoroughly, which helps students understand and remember the most important concepts and ideas.

This way of teaching dance isn’t just about learning steps; it’s about encouraging students to see dance as a meaningful part of their lives and future.

GCSE Dance

Exam board: AQA

What will I study? 

Dance is a powerful and expressive subject which encourages students to develop their physical, emotional and intellectual capacity, whatever their previous experience in the subject. The practical component of the course (60%) enables students to study dance by 'doing' and the anthology of professional works (theory 40%) enables students to critically appraise and analyse. Dance helps you develop life-long skills: physical fitness, stamina and perseverance; motivation and discipline; communication and interpersonal skills; creativity; resilience and working in a team. There will be opportunities to work in groups, sharing ideas and to work individually in order to really challenge yourself. 

What skills will I develop? 

During your practical classes you will study two solo performances, create a piece of choreography and perform in a group dance. Alongside this, you will study theory (1 lesson each week) based on safe dance practice (warm up, cool down, nutrition and hydration), study 6 professional works analysing aspects of production (lighting, costume, set design and accompaniment) as well as the choreography and analysis of your own practical work too. 

How will I be assessed? 

Theory (40%)

How it's assessed: 40% of GCSE 

Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes. 80 marks (mix of short answer questions, 6 mark questions and 12 mark questions) 

Practical (60%) 

Choreography: 30% 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) 

Performance of Set Technical Study: 15% Set phrases through a solo performance (approximately one minute) 

Performance of Duet/trio performance: 15% (three and a half minutes in duration) 40 marks (15 marks for set phrases and 25 marks for duet/ trio performance) 

Where can this course take me? 

Dance can bring you so many opportunities, such as dance teacher, professional dancer, dance movement therapist, arts administrator, choreographer, community arts worker, dance movement psychotherapist, personal trainer, theatre director. 

Subject Leader: Miss President