Curriculum Intent Statement

At Leigh Academy Rainham, our vision is to offer a comprehensive Performing Arts curriculum, encompassing the domains of practical, theoretical, and disciplinary performance art knowledge and the interrelationships between them. We teach our pupils the fundamental practical performance techniques required to succeed at GCSE level and beyond. Our Performing Arts Department is guided by the inspiring straplines, “Unlocking Potential, Making Dreams a Reality” and “Dream, Believe, Achieve.” Our curriculum is deeply rooted in the Middle Years Programme (MYP) framework from the International Baccalaureate (IB) and is a powerful embodiment of these visions. to develop intercultural understanding, interdisciplinary learning, and global engagement.

We aim to develop students’ practical knowledge and skills in both drama and music. Our focus is on improving instrumental ability and understanding of basic music notation in music, while enhancing confidence and performance techniques in drama. These performing subjects are taught in a carousel format, allowing pupils to move between subjects after each module. We integrate works of theatre practitioners such as Bertolt Brecht, Frantic Assembly, and Antonin Artaud to broaden their knowledge of varying performance styles, ensuring that our pupils enter their GCSE and post-16 years with knowledge that will not only help them succeed at these levels but also in further education and the professional industry. We adhere to a “no opt-out” policy to encourage pupils to confront their performance fears, enhancing their confidence and ability to excel in any workplace scenario.