Assessing Performance, choreography and appreciation skills at KS3Dance
In the dance department we embed AFL assessments into every lesson both practically, theoretically and through questioning. We also have specific skill related assessment tasks. Our assessment practise combines both formative and summative assessment to provide an overall indicator of student progress.
Recent GSCE curriculum changes have shifted the focus of 80 % practical, 20% theory to 60% practical and 40% theory. Therefore assessing student progression in dance will be based on a bigger weighting in theory and literacy, still maintaining a strong emphasis on the practical skills.
Knowledge and understanding
A focus on the authentic and artistic qualities of dance and the use of movement to express and communicate ideas interrelated process of performance, choreography and appreciation. Dance has a skill based approach in both practical and appreciation. The students will learn by ‘doing’ as well as study professional works to developtheir practical, composition and appreciation skills as a whole.
Skills
Performance skills: Students need to develop knowledge; understanding and skills to perform skills which are the basis to any dance style. Studying professional works, watching live dance and learning repertoire will be assessed throughout KS3.
Choreography skills: Learning how to respond creatively to a stimuli and create movement of their own. This will assess their understanding of choreography and interpretation and expression though movement.
Appreciation skills: Through written communication with the use of subject specific key words, students will be able to critically analyses, interpret and evaluate both their own work and professional works. This is assessed at KS3 at the end of each unit with a written test.
The progression map of Dance skills from Y7-9 is detailed over the page.
KS3 Assessment
There are 3 topics throughout the year and each topic will be assessed. This will included a practical assessment and a theory test. Each unit aims to develop the performance, choreography and appreciation skills across the key stage in line with the GSCE curriculum needs.A range of Assessment styles are planned into the units and built on existing skills, including peer and self-assessment tasks. Practical assessments will be done in pairs or groups and the theory test will be completed individually. The dance skill shave been mapped across the key stage and across all units. Student’s performance and appreciation skills will be used to monitor student progress towards end of key stage targets.
KS3 Dance assessment overview
Task / % Weighting / TotalYear 7 / Musical Theatre (Autumn term)
Performance (2 x performance 25%)
Choreography (2 x choreography 15%)
Appreciation –Homework (2 x HW 10%) / 50%
30%
20% / 100%
Styles (Spring Term)
Performance (2 x performance 25%)
Choreography (2 x choreography 15%)
Appreciation –Homework (2 x HW 10%) / 50%
30%
20% / 100%
Elements (Summer term)
Performance (2 x performance 25%)
Choreography (2 x choreography 15%)
Appreciation –Homework (2 x HW 10%) / 50%
30%
20% / 100%
Year 8 / At The Movies (Autumn term)
Performance (2 x performance 20%)
Choreography (2 x choreography 20%)
Appreciation –Homework (2 x HW 10%) / 40%
40%
20% / 100%
Urban Identity (Spring term)
Performance (2 x performance 20%)
Choreography (2 x choreography 20%)
Appreciation –Homework (2 x HW 10%) / 40%
40%
20% / 100%
Alice in Wonderland (Summer term)
Performance (2 x performance 20%)
Choreography (2 x choreography 20%)
Appreciation –Homework (2 x HW 10%) / 40%
40%
20% / 100%
Year 9 / Performance (HT1)
Performance
Choreography
Appreciation –Homework / 40%
40%
20% / 100%
Professional work #1: Shadows (HT2)
Performance
Choreography
Appreciation / 40%
40%
20% / 100%
Professional work #2: Intra (HT3)
Performance
Choreography
Appreciation / 40%
40%
20% / 100%
Teaching/Site Specific (HT4)
Performance
Choreography
Appreciation / 40%
40%
20% / 100%
Choreography project (HT5/6)
Performance
Choreography
Appreciation / 30%
50%
20% / 100%