Drama lessons develop individuality; to encourage students to think and express themselves with flair and confidence, but also to encourage tolerance and understanding.
Students are given opportunities through practical role-play activities to experience the world around them and begin to appreciate situations from more than one perspective. Through drama, we encourage students to develop effective communication, teamwork and presentation skills – enhancing skills required for their future.
We have 1 teacher of Drama who delivers both the KS3 and 4 Curriculum. KS3 students receive 2 lessons and KS4 students receive 5 lessons per fortnight. At KS3 students explore key Drama skills and techniques through a variety of units such a class scripts, Shakespeare, Reality TV, Teenage Pressure, Bullying. The balance of modern scripts with traditional Shakespeare as well as thematic topics presents a variety of stimulus for students to read and explore, similar to that at KS4 though the controlled assessment of the AQA Curriculum. The Drama skills developed at KS3 and the practice of exploration, creation, rehearsal, peer assessment, improvement, performance and evaluation, underpin the KS4 model to enable students to achieve at GCSE. The personal skills fostered at KS3 of confidence, communication, teamwork, problem solving, and resilience are also fundamental in ensuring that students can achieve not only in Drama but as individuals in society.
Students have varied opportunities to experience Drama outside of the classroom through theatre trips and workshops to local and national theatres. We have strong links with local colleges and universities to enable students to visit or experience within school, the varied touring college performances. We invite singers, musicians and actors to provide workshops where required. Students are encouraged to attend Drama club to enhance their passion for the subject outside of the curriculum where performances are included in the annual showcase performances that the school presents.
At GCSE, students follow the AQA Specification. This is suitable to our students as it enables them to explore Drama through devising performance as well as supporting them with scripted performance. The controlled assessment essays enhance their performance and enable them to understand the process of exploration, rehearsal and evaluation. The written exam provides opportunity to continue studying script as well as enjoying live theatre and evidencing their experience as a reflective written examination.
Current schemes of work have been developed through guidance from the AQA specification, training events and communication with other Drama teachers to share and collaborate. The Schemes enable students to experience controlled assessment, build on experiences as a practice before applying skills in the final assessment.
All students are catered for within Drama. They are supported where required through varied roles they may play in the creative process and written work at GCSE is carefully framed where required to ensure that students are stretched to achieve their potential. All students are inspired through lessons and within extra-curricular provision to develop within and beyond the academic.
The Drama department develops links with primary schools by presenting workshops during taster/transition days for students to experience the subject outside of a traditional often whole school production. From this, students recognise its place within the formal lesson as well as placing status on it as a subject and experiencing a positive memory to look forward to when they arrive at les ons in our school.
Homework is set at KS3 where appropriate to research, plan, rehearse and prepare for performance. At KS4 students follow the school policy to support and extend their GCSE study.
The aim is that all students who experience Drama, enjoy, achieve, understand and develop their Drama knowledge alongside the transferrable skills required to succeed I the changing world.
The department was proud of the 93% 9-5 achieved in 2018 and aim to maintain the outcomes exceeding national averages.