Performing Arts
A Level Dance
We believe that Dance is a powerful medium for students to explore their individuality, develop emotional intelligence, and connect with the world around them. Dance encourages a different approach to physical activity and improves well being. Dance at Welling is growing at rapid speed and we are very proud to be one of the only sixth form provisions in the local area to offer Dance A Level from 2025.
The department is welcoming and supportive, students feel confident to experiment and challenge their abilities. Mrs White is a graduate of University of Winchester and Trinity Laban and has over 17 years of experience teaching Dance at all key stages. Mrs White has also been A Level Dance examiner and was also a contributor to the book “Huh Curriculum conversations between subject and senior leaders” by Mary Myatt and John Tomsett. Miss Thompson trained at Urdang Academy and brings lots of experience and contacts from urban dance and musical theatre.
Dance is taught at KS3 and at KS4 so there is a strong feeling of community within the faculty. As well as your lessons you will have the chance to join our company Relevé and also participate in Dance Extra - which is highly intensive technique classes aimed at students who may wish to move onto vocational training post 18.
There are a wealth of opportunities for students to take part in performances, making a positive contribution to the life of the school. Students are invited to the theatre regularly as well as experiencing workshops with visiting professional artists such as the CAT programme at Trinity Laban. We are also very experienced in preparing students for UCAS and conservatoire process, coaching students with the writing of their personal statements, providing practice auditions and interviews.
Exam board: AQA
A-Level Dance is a dynamic qualification which encourages students to develop their creative and intellectual capacity, alongside transferable skills such as team work, communication and problem solving. All of these are sought after skills by both higher education and employers, helping students to stand out in the workplace whatever their choice of career. The course is 50% practical and 50% theory, there is a focus on contemporary dance with roots in the early 20th century to present day, studying world renowned choreographers such as Christopher Bruce and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. At the end of the course students will perform a solo, quartet and create a piece of choreography to a visiting examiner and will also complete a written exam paper.
Specific GCSE requirements
A Grade 5 in English GCSE is also advisable due to the demands of the written components.
Ideally you should have studied Dance at GCSE and obtained at least a Grade 6. It is possible that you could be considered without a GCSE in Dance, but in this case you would need to be able to demonstrate an aptitude for the subject through an audition workshop.
AQA | Dance | A Level | A-level Dance
- 50% theory and 50% practical
- No coursework
- No internally assessed work
Component 1: Performance and Choreography:
Example paper component 1
What's assessed?
- Solo performance linked to a specified practitioner within an area of study
- Performance in a quartet-
- Group choreography-
How it's assessed
- Practical exam with a visiting examiner Spring of Year 13
- 80 marks
- 50% of the A Level
Component 2 Critical engagement:
Example paper component 2
What's assessed?
- Knowledge, understanding and critical appreciation
- One compulsory set work within the compulsory area of study: Rambert Dance Company 1966- 2002
- One compulsory set work Little Red Rooster - Christopher Bruce (youtube.com)
- One optional area of study: Independent Contemporary Dance in Britain 2000 - present day
- One optional set work: Sutra by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui - Sutra // Sadler’s Wells (youtube.com)
How it's assessed
- Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes- summer series Year 13
- 100 marks
- 50% of A-Level
How can you support your child?
- Ensure they have access to google classroom for theory resources
- Check that your child has packed their Dance kit for practical lessons
- Ensure your child has a water bottle to hydrate after class
- Book a ticket to come into school to see your child’s exam performances and production performances
- Encourage your child to join Relevé Dance Company, a weekly club which runs every Thursday from 3:15-4:15 or to audition for the cast of our yearly panto and/or musical production
- Promote the participation at Dance Extra classes each week to elevate technique further
- Encourage your child to watch a much dance as possible - BBC iplayer is often a great place to start
- Sadler’s Wells is known as THE place to watch Dance and they offer a brilliant scheme for students aged between 16-30 where tickets can be purchased at a heavily reduced rate Barclays Dance Pass - Sadler's Wells
How can you find out more about A Level Dance at Welling?
2025 Welling School A Level Dance flyer
Or alternatively contact Mrs White - katie.white@wellingschool-tkat.org
Music
Studying Music opens the door to success across the whole curriculum, aiding students to gain confidence in everyday tasks, as well as gaining an understanding of the importance of teamwork.
The Music department consists of a highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic group of teachers who are passionate about their subject. Our teaching enables all children to feel included and well-supported, whatever their background in the subject may be. Our aims as teachers is to provide an enthusiasm for both the performance and technology side of the subject, developing skills and expertise that will help them through their entire time at Welling School.
Reflecting the Welling Ways, creativity and resilience play a large part when studying music. Students will learn to develop their performance and technical skills, creating their own music, allowing them to improve an independence within the subject as they progress through their school life. A key factor in music is also ensemble work. Students learn quickly how to adapt to different situations and scenarios, showing their resilience towards the subject, a feature that will help them both inside and outside of school.
At Key Stage 5, we follow the Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma for Music Performance (worth 1 A-Level) and the Edexcel BTEC National Diploma in Music Technology (worth 2 A-Levels). Both subjects are exciting and demanding, which are highly valued by industry professionals. Both courses are examined through a combination of coursework and examinations. Students will also have two key lectures provided by Industry Professionals, allowing them to network within the Music Industry. There are also opportunities to attend musical theatre trips.
How can you support your child?
- Encourage your child to rehearse and practice
- Read online articles about the topics they are studying to gain wider knowledge.