Head of Faculty: Miss S Stow
2 i/c: Miss Corder
Teachers of Drama: Miss Osborne, Mrs Telfer, Miss Corder, Mr Sargeant, Miss Stow
Drama curriculum statement:
Drama curriculum
The drama curriculum is focused on developing the creative, performance and appreciation skills of our students, whilst building upon their Skills For Life that are transferrable across everything they do, including confidence building, perseverance and collaboration. The curriculum is designed to offer a breadth of dramatic styles and techniques, opportunities to devise original work, and work from scripts. Much of the drama offering also encourages students to explore their understanding of themselves, other people and the world around them through drama and role play.
Drama facilities
The drama department consists of two large drama studios, one of which is equipped with stage lighting, and the main stage space that is fully operational with rigged lighting and sound, wings, a large audience space and direct backstage/changing room access. The main hall area is also equipped with a tech box containing light and sound desks.
Year 7
In Year 7, students begin learning about the basic physical and performance drama skills through devising from a stimulus. They then move to studying pantomime theatre, the art of storytelling through the use of body and voice and exploring physical theatre as a means of further developing the use of body and building relationships with their peers through contact work. To end the year, students study some theatre history through an introduction to Shakespeare, including some script work.
Year 8
Students begin Year 8 further developing their knowledge of devising from a stimulus as they explore types of stimuli and the use of free writing. They then move to studying more specific drama techniques such as: hot-seating; narration; ‘marking the moment’; devising from themes; and ensemble work, all through a variety of genres such as horror and fantasy. Students finish the year studying their first drama practitioner, Stanislavsky, and his naturalistic style.
Year 9
Students in Year 9 begin to study more complex drama techniques. They start the year studying a true crime story and exploring the use of verbatim theatre. They then move into exploring comedy as a genre and how to build dramatic tension through the use of climax/anti-climax and the seven states on tension. Following this, students explore the work of Brecht as a professional drama practitioner and the art of Abstract Theatre. Next is building further upon trust and collaboration through the development of the specific skills required for stage combat, before finishing the year, and key stage, with a specialist skills project. The project is designed to give students wider knowledge of the various roles within drama, such as, costume and make-up, lighting, set and prop design.
GCSE Drama at KS4
In Years 10 and 11, drama students study the AQA GCSE in Drama. This course consists of 3 assessed components: Understanding Drama – a written exam based on the study of a play and evaluation of live theatre; Devising Drama – a practical assessment where students devise their own work, perform and evaluate; and Texts in Practice – a performance of 2 extracts from a chosen play. The course offers students the opportunity to explore drama as a practical art form in which ideas and meaning are communicated to an audience. We also offer various performance opportunities to support the course and extend the learning of our students. This includes the opportunity to be involved in our annual musical production.
More information on the course can be found at: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/drama/gcse/drama-8261/introduction
BTEC at KS5, Level 3
In Years 12 and 13, students can continue their BTEC drama/musical theatre studies through the level 3 BTEC Performing Arts course. Students will look at the work of various professional practitioners to enhance their understanding of performance and the production of work. The course consists of 4 units, 2 internally and 2 externally assessed, one of which is a written exam of the study of chosen practitioners. The other units focus on the development of practical drama skills and techniques, and the development and application of musical theatre techniques. The drama department prides itself on its annual musical production whereby the principal roles are performed by year 13 BTEC Performing Arts students as part of their coursework. This is a week-long, whole school, full musical production that is professionally filmed, which provides students with an intense yet valuable understanding of the professional performance industry.
More information on the course can be found at: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-nationals/performing-arts-2016.coursematerials.html#filterQuery=Pearson-UK:Category%2FSpecification-and-sample-assessments
Co-curricular Activities
The drama department prides itself on the ever-successful, annual musical every February. This musical provides an insight to the demands of the professional performance industry as it sees 6 shows performed across 3 days, and comprises of a cast from all years across the school. Rehearsals take place during lessons for our Year 13 students, as it provides them with an assessment opportunity for their musical theatre unit, and after school as a regular club for all other year groups. This show provides opportunities for students of all abilities to get involved in large scale production of like-minded students who share the love for performing arts. There are roles for all preferred disciplines and opportunities for students of any age to take lead roles through the audition process.
Trips
The drama department regularly offer a range of trips to support the curriculum and to foster and develop the students’ interest in the performing arts. Some examples of past visits include several West End shows including &Juliet, The Bodyguard, Ghost, Mamma Mia! and Phantom of the Opera.