Drama and Theatre Studies

Key Stage 3 Throughout Key Stage 3, the focus is on developing knowledge and understanding of drama concepts through the delivery of practical workshops. Students develop a variety of drama techniques including role play, character work, group skills and performance skills, and are encouraged throughout to evaluate their own progress, and that of others. Students may supplement their classroom learning by taking part in after school drama clubs, if they wish, or joining in with school productions. Topics covered in KS3 drama lessons include the following:

• Basic Skills

• Haunted house

• The Tempest

• Status

• From Antigone to Rosa Parks

• Jo

• Page to stage

• Theatre History

 At the end of year 9, there may be an opportunity to undertake the Trinity Guildhall Bronze level Arts Award.

Key Stage 4

We use the Edexcel GCSE syllabus. The Programme of Study consists of the essential skills needed to succeed in the three units of the course:

• Explorative Strategies – Students take part in a two day workshop using stimulus material as a starting point to explore a theme, topic or issue and a 2000 documentary response based on the workshop. This is marked in school and sent away for moderation (30%)

• Exploring Play texts – Students explore the action, characters, ideas, themes and issues of a written play text through a two day workshop and a 1000 word written documentary response to the workshop. They also need to write a 2000 word evaluation of a live performance of a complete play they have seen. Again, this is marked in school and sent away for moderation. (30%)

• Drama Performance – Students will work as part of a group to create a performance either devised or scripted based on a stimulus. This is will be shown to an examiner who will mark each student individually. (40%) The focus in Key Stage 4 is focussed on developing understanding largely through practical workshops. Opportunities will be given to visit productions and participate in public performances. From September 2011, BTEC level 2 Performing Arts will be offered in addition to GCSE.

Key Stage 5

 Drama AS and A level are available if demand requires – we would use the AQA syllabus.

From September 2011 BTEC level 3 Performing Arts will be offered.