Drama
Key Stage 3
Year 7
The course is designed to introduce pupils to the fundamentals of Drama; from rehearsed improvisation to building characters and roles. Much of the work is focused on whole class drama and the development of a group ethos, in which the pupils are encouraged to think for themselves, develop ideas and opinions and extend the creative language that enables expression. Issues, themes and concepts are explored, using the drama medium. A basic understanding of the drama form will be attained.
Year 8
The course consolidates and extends the work pursued in Year 7. Elements of the drama form, covered in Year 7, are re-visited and developed further. The focus is largely on small and whole group work and the development of structure, staging, character, narrative and actor research. Additionally, local and global issues will form the basis of explorative drama activities. There will be, (dependant on the dynamic of a given class), opportunities to explore whole class play making, through spontaneous and rehearsed improvisation.
Year 9
The course consolidates all of the work undertaken in the previous two years, by means of further development of key skills. The primary focus of the year will be issue-based and text-based drama, (mostly using text as a stimulus, as opposed to a rehearsal tool). Students are encouraged to develop a serious attitude to the work and are provided with many opportunities to explore, expand and experiment with their creative skills. They will develop the means by which it is possible to voice opinion through creative endeavour.
Key Stage 4
PRACTICAL WORK (60%)
Most students will choose to be actors and work in a small team to rehearse and perform an extract of a script and then to improvise their own piece in a group. Students are assessed on how well they co-operate in a team, as well as their acting skills.
WRITTEN EXAM (40%)
At the end of the course, students will sit an exam, where they will write about their practical work and a professional production that they have seen. Trips to local theatres and the National Theatre in London will be run during the course.
Studying Drama is great fun and requires enormous commitment. Students will need to rehearse their scripted and devised either at lunchtimes or after school.
Key Stage 5 - Drama and Theatre Studies
Exam board: AQA
Students may choose to be assessed as actors or can work backstage, for example doing directing, costume design, set design or lighting.
AS Scripted Practical (20% of A-level)
Performing an extract of a play, in the style of a practitioner.
Including supporting notes.
(Perform at some point between Feb- May)
AS Written Exam (30% of A-level)
Live Theatre production seen
Set play studied.
(Exam in June)
A2 Devised Practical (20% of A-level)
Performing a piece you have created yourself, in a specific style.
(Perform at some point between February and May)
Including supporting notes.
A2 Written Exam (30% of A-level)
Study of two further set play texts
(Exam in June)
