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Drama

KS3

DRAMA

Overview of course

Studying Drama will allow students to access a variety of skills including team work, creativity, trust, communication, risk-taking and many others.  This practical subject will allow the students to explore their own imagination and will give them the ability to shape, express and share their ideas, feelings and responses.  During Key Stage 3 a number of different elements are studied to give the widest scope available to allow the students to find their own niche within the subject.  This can range from script work, devising, costumes, lighting, directing and characterisation.  Skills studied within Drama will be able to be fed into other subjects through confidence, self-assessment and creativity and also lead directly into their GCSE curriculum.

 

Programme of study

 

 

Schemes of work include:

  • An Introduction to Drama – communication, co-operation, concentration and trust
  • Mime – exaggeration and precision
  • Film Scripts – Characterisation and staging
  • Devising – Own Creation
  • Duologues – Teamwork, scripts and lighting
  • Physical Theatre – slow motion and focus
  • Devising from a Stimulus – Mini projects collaborating new skills
  • Shakespeare – Interpreting text

Schemes of work include:

  • Presentation Skills – Confidence and business skills
  • Commedia Dell’Arte – Comedy and characterisation
  • Monologues – Solo performance
  • Chorus – Teamwork and physicality
  • Musical Theatre - collaboration, 
  • social, political & historical context
  • Improvisation – Thinking on the spot
  • Script writing – Literacy and creative skills

 

Skills / Knowledge / understanding

Students are marked on their ability to create drama from a variety of different themes and how they use their skills within their pieces.  They will be able to evaluate and respond to others work, their own ideas and the creative process.  The students will have the opportunity to work with all of their peers throughout the year, helping to develop collaboration skills.  Drama allows for a wide range of understanding in many areas that will transfer into other subjects and eventually their future paths, with skills such as reasoning, enquiring, evaluating, creative thinking, interpreting information and understanding cultures continually being developed during the lessons.

Methods of assessments / accreditation structure

Students are continuously assessed through their class work, teacher observations and discussions, self and peer assessment.  Progress is assessed on their rehearsal work, performance and evaluation of themselves and other during each topic covered.

 

Teacher Assessment: This is mostly verbal to the students, either during the rehearsal time or directly after a performance and allows the students to act upon this immediately.

 

Self-Assessment: Students are regularly asked to assess their own work, this shows an understanding of each topic and the progress they are making.  This may be written and referred to, or alternatively, verbally throughout the lessons.


Peer Assessment:  This is the most important during KS3, after every performance students are asked to give verbal feedback to one another.  This helps to show they understand not only how they can perform themselves, but also how to analyse others performances which is vital at GCSE level.

 

How Parents and Carers can help

 

The best way to help Drama students is to show an interest in what they have been doing in Drama lessons and asking questions about issues which they are currently exploring through drama. Encourage students to participate in the wealth of extra-curricular activities which the department offers. Encourage students to apply their knowledge of drama when watching films or TV. Attend the theatre and other cultural activities—many theatres offer extensive children-specific performances and offer special reductions in price.

 

 




KS4

DRAMA

Exam Board - AQA

Overview of course

During the course students will study a range of themes and topics which will develop their acting, devising, designing, reviewing and analytical skills. In addition to this we aim to develop the more advanced skills of creating and working to a concept, time management, leading rehearsals and directing. Students will have the opportunity to further themselves in different areas of the industry, whether they have a keen eye for set design, costume, lighting or directing if this is a path they wish to take.  The students will have the opportunity to work with industry professionals in workshops and also see live performances throughout the three years.

 

Year 9 Programme of study

The students will begin having a mixture of theory and practical lessons.  A general overview of what is expected throughout the course will be discussed; this includes all three components of the GCSE.

Practical lessons will be focused on exploring the set text for the exam – Blood Brothers.  This will aid with giving the students a deeper understanding of the text in preparation for their exam.  They will also have a mock devising project which will give the students to create their own performances and give them the knowledge and skills for their actual component in year 10.

Theory lessons will look at the general stage craft, from lighting to costume, practitioners and their works, a variety of different texts and how to analyse them and live theatre evaluation.

 

Year 10 Programme of study

During Year 10 the students will complete 40% of their drama course. This will be the devising component.

Practical lessons will begin with a mock scripted extract assessment, where the pupils will learn, stage and perform two extracts from a chosen play.  This will be in preparation for Component 3 in Year 11.  The students will be focusing on how to bring a character and script to life and understand what it takes to learn large amounts of dialogue and perform in a convincing way.  The students will then move onto their devising component and will be offered a stimulus, they will have to go away and research and create their piece of theatre in groups.  There will also be a written log to accompany this which is up to 2,500 words, analysing and discussing in detail the development and progression of their devised piece.

 

During theory lessons, the students will begin to understand what is required in the written paper.  Blood Brothers will be studied in depth so the students are able to read a singular extract and have the ability to bring it to life through their written work.  The students will also study various pieces of live theatre and learn how to analyse and evaluate other performances, focusing not only on the acting but all the other technical elements that make up a performance.

Year 11 Programme of study

Year 11 will be heavily focused on the theory elements of the course, raising the students written standards and ensuring their knowledge is in depth both of Blood Brothers and the chosen piece of live theatre.

 

Practically the students will complete Component 3.  They will be given a play per group and they must find two suitable extracts from this play, and stage and perform them to an outside moderator.  This will challenge the students as they must create convincing characters and consider other aspects of theatre.

DRAMA

 

Exam Board - AQA

 

Skills / Knowledge / Understanding
  • Knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre
  • Study of a set text
  • Analysis and evaluation of the work of live theatre makers
  • Process of creating devised drama
  • Performance of devised drama
  • Analysis and evaluation of own work
  • Performance of two extracts from one play considering characterisation

 

Methods of assessment / accreditation structure

Component 1

Component 2

Component 3

Written assessment

1hour 45 minutes

Open Book

40% of the GCSE

 

Theatre roles and Terminology, Study of Set Text, Live Theatre Evaluation

 

This component is marked by AQA

Devising Log (60 marks)

Devised performance (20 marks)

40% of the GCSE

 

This component is marked by teachers and moderated by AQA

Performance of extract 1 (10%)

Performance of extract 2 (10%)

20% of the GCSE

 

This component is marked by a visiting AQA examiner

 

In School Contacts

Mrs V Carlo – vcarlo@saa.woodard.co.uk

How Parents and Carers can help

 

PARENTS/CARERS can help by encouraging an interest in performing arts, taking students on theatre / show visits, encouraging participation in school productions, monitoring homework and helping students to rehearse at home by running lines regularly.

 

 

Software and Websites used

 BBC Bitesize - https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/zbckjxs

YouTube – offers a variety of full shows including Blood Brothers – the set text

Gojimo – an app available for free download to help with GCSE Drama revision and other subjects

 

 

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