Drama
Mission statement
Challenging students to foster communication, cooperation and creative skills through making, performing and responding to drama.
Curriculum intent
- Each year’s programme of study to include devising original theatre using drama techniques, rehearsing and performing extracts from significant texts and responding academically to significant texts.
- Each year’s programme of study to Include learning about and responding to at least two significant plays from a variety of styles / practitioners.
- Drama texts will be studied in cultural and historical context, with emphasis placed in productions as well as text
- Knowledge is to be embedded in all lessons through consistent reference to knowledge organiser.
- Knowledge should be tested and retested in low-stakes assessment
- Knowledge should be embedded in the programme of formal assessment and tracked by teachers and faculty.
- Drama teachings enable students to access and appreciate different styles of drama: Naturalism, Classical & Contemporary.
- Understand how theatre and theatre styles relate to other art forms, especially with regard to genre: Comedy, Tragedy, Love, Horror
- Be able to respond to drama consumed critically, understanding it in context and having sensitivity to moral and political implication.
- Drama is a subject that is continually be doing, making and connecting practically. Adding variety within the curriculum and pushing for high standards of performance by exemplifying our 4 core principals of Challenge, Opportunity, Responsibility & Excellence.
- A curriculum which is not simply focused on teaching to the tests or achieving good exam results but the outcome of the experience and impact on the character being highly valued.
- Home learning will focus of the development of independent application for professionalism (as applicable to careers in drama): Students should learn lines and plan independent rehearsal outside of lesson.
- Students should review and revise knowledge using knowledge organisers.
Year 7
- To learn and practice techniques for working effectively in drama and to devising original theatre
- To develop skills and knowledge for reviewing, improving and rehearsing original theatre.
- To learn and practice techniques for developing characterisation from theatre text.
- To develop skills and knowledge for reviewing, improving, memorising and rehearsing theatre text
- To learn and practice techniques for developing characterisation from a stimulus of a poem
- To review all knowledge content and relate learning to a classical theatre text and other extracts.
Year 8
- To deepen and extend knowledge of techniques for devising and structuring original theatre.
- To learn and practice knowledge and techniques for scripting, redrafting and rehearsing original theatre.
- To deepen and extend knowledge of techniques for developing characterisation from a classic theatre text.
- To deepen and extend knowledge of techniques for devising and structuring physical theatre.
- To learn and use style-linked skills for reviewing and improving the devising process
- To review all knowledge content and relate learning to a contemporary theatre text.
Year 9
- To deepen and extend knowledge of techniques for devising and structuring original theatre.
- To review all knowledge content and relate learning to a classical theatre text.
- To learn and use a practitioner’s linked skills for reviewing and improving the devising process.
- To deepen and extend knowledge of techniques for devising and structuring original theatre.
- To use knowledge of plot, characters, relationships and themes to perform sections from a modern text.
Year 10
- Build broad knowledge of set text (content, characters, action), learn (review) range of rehearsal techniques, and build broad knowledge of styles, techniques and practitioners for devising
- Develop knowledge of set text (style, techniques, structure), learn (review) language for acting skills (voice, movement, interaction), introduce written skills for expressing knowledge and understanding (short-form), respond to stimulus making links to practitioner and developing a theme/intent, and learn to build/structure a plot.
- To deepen and extend knowledge of techniques for devising and structuring original theatre.
- Learners participate in the creation, development and performance of a piece of devised theatre using either the techniques of an influential theatre practitioner or a genre, in response to a stimulus set by WJEC, develop written skills for expressing knowledge and understanding in the form of a devising log, and learn to develop dialogue through improvisation and redrafting
- Review and deepen knowledge of set text (style, techniques, structure), respond creatively/practically as an actor (showing/deepening knowledge), develop written skills for expressing opinion and interpretation (long-form), and learn to rehearse using rehearsal techniques independently
- Review and deepen knowledge of exam expectations: Live Review (context, themes, meaning), respond creatively as an audience member, and introduce written skills for scaffolding a live review response
Year 11
- Review and deepen knowledge of set text (style, techniques, structure), analyse and challenge knowledge of set text (content, characters, action), and secure knowledge of range of rehearsal techniques
- Develop understanding of how to stage script extracts effectively, analyse and challenge knowledge of text (style, techniques, structure), secure and analyse written skills for expressing knowledge and understanding (short-form), and learn to polish, perfect and present a performance
- Develop understanding of how to characterise script extracts effectively, analyse and challenge knowledge of text (context, themes, meaning), secure and analyse written skills for expressing opinion and interpretation (long-form), perform extracts to visiting examiner.
- Perform with confidence and assurance for assessment, and clearly and accurately reflect on learning, knowledge and expressive skills for written evaluation
- Students knowledge and written skills to be fully prepared for examination.
Assessment
- Year 7-9: Whole class feedback sheets and practical assessments.
- Year 10: Informal written assessment, portfolio of evidence, final filmed performance
- Year 11: Informal knowledge-based written assessment, final performance as part of the GCSE showcase Formal (public) assessment of script extracts (early March) and final written examination.
Drama is helping me to become more social, improving my presentation skills and giving me more confidence in class discussions, both in drama and other lessons.
In Drama I am learning how to express myself in different ways and learning how to work with others.