Expressive Arts & Welsh Baccalaureate

Music

Music at Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3, music activities should enable learners to build on the skills, knowledge and understanding acquired at Key Stage 2. Music education enables learners to engage with and enjoy making music. Through active involvement in performing, composing and appraising, learners will develop their sensitivity to and understanding of music. Learners will develop musical skills relating to the control, manipulation and presentation of sound. At Key Stage 3, these skills include singing, playing instruments and practising; improvising, composing and arranging music; and listening to and appraising music with perception and attention to detail. Learners should improve their performing, composing and appraising by developing and applying their thinking, communication and ICT skills, and give due regard to health and safety.

https://sites.google.com/milfordhavenschool.co.uk/milford-haven-music?usp=sharing

Art

Art and design at Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3, learners build on the skills, knowledge and understanding acquired at Key Stage 2. They achieve this through an increased ability to make connection between their creative investigations in the making of their own work and the work of other artist craft workers and designers. Art and design stimulates creativity and imagination by encouraging pupils to challenge assumptions, look at things in a new way, be receptive to new ideas and make informed judgements and practical decisions to communicate their ideas and feelings. They become increasingly independent in their choice of materials and processes, and from past experiences gain confidence in applying visual, tactile and sensory language. Exploration, appreciation and enjoyment in art and design enriches learners’ personal and public lives.

Drama

Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification (WBQ)

At Milford Haven School the WBQ is a very successful department, achieving significantly over the Welsh average for GCSE for the past 2 years.

Our team is made up of 6 experienced WBQ teachers, each with a track record of success.

 ‘In key stage 4 and in the sixth form, the development of skills through the Welsh Baccalaureate is a strong feature’
                                                   Estyn (2018)

We take great pride in seeing our pupils develop academically and socially through the activities they undertake and are please to say that 82% of KS5 pupils in 2018 were offered a university place based on their WBQ scores.

Key Stage 4

In Years 9 to 11 pupils complete the National Skills Challenge Certificate (nSCC).   This is worth one GCSE and can be achieved at Level 2 (A* – C) and at level 1 (equivalent D-G). It is a diverse qualification with elements that suit pupils of all interests and abilities.

In 2018 Milford Haven School pupils achieved 84.8% A*- C compared to a Wales average of 82.8%

There Are Four Components To This Qualification

Enterprise and Employability Challenge

Global Citizenship Challenge

Community Challenge

The Individual Project

Supporting Qualifications

Skills Challenge Certificate + Supporting Qualifications = Welsh Baccalaureate

Completion of the nSCC can lead to pupils achieving the Welsh Baccalaureate National Diploma, the following Supporting Qualifications are required:

  • GCSE English Language grade A*-C
  • GCSE Mathematics-Numeracy grade A*-C
  • Three further GCSEs or equivalent grades A*- C

To achieve the Welsh Baccalaureate Foundation Diploma, grades D-G are required from the Supporting qualifications.

The requirements of both the Skills Challenge Certificate and Supporting Qualifications must be met in order to achieve the Welsh Baccalaureate. This is awarded as pass or fail.

Key Stage 5

The advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (aSCC) follows the same model with the inclusion of Higher Education focussed tasks.

Additionally the IP is extended to become a 5000 word dissertation related to the pupils university or employment aspirations.  

In 2018 MHS pupils achieved 100% A*-E compared to a national average of 97.7%

‘Performance in the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification at advanced level in 2017 is well above that of similar schools. Many sixth form pupils are positive about their learning and have ambitious aspirations for their future’

                                                          Estyn 2018