Courses
We offer a broad and balanced curriculum, for key stage 3 (Years 7-9), key stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) and key stage 5 (Years 12 and 13 - Sixth Form). Click the appropriate button below to find the details for each subject offered in each key stage.
Further details of our curriculum are available on the curriculum page.
Overview
Drama
Introduction
The Performing Arts Department aims to ignite a lifelong passion for the arts with clear understanding of its significance in the 21st century. We want students to explore freely, their creative reactions to go above and beyond. In drama, we nurture the power of positive influence on others to shape a better working environment and gain strength for the challenges that lay ahead in life.
Our goal is to promote self-confidence whilst learning about the performing arts industry and potential roles that could excite their futures. Our extracurricular programmes offer all students the opportunity to further refine skills in a safe, fun space and meet new people beyond their class.
Qualification
GCSE
Awarding body
Pearson Edexcel
Course leader
Mrs J Moore
Assessment
- Examination: 40%
- Component 3: Theatre makers in practice | 1 hour 45 mins | 40%
- Non-examined assessment: 60%
- Component 1: Devising | 40%
- Component 2: Page to stage | 20%
Curriculum
Course content
You will study all aspects of the theatre: acting, directing and designer roles, lighting, set, and costume/makeup however you will select your unique pathway as an actor and/or designer.
The course will:
- Nurture the mind for greater appreciation of the wider world and knowledge of it via the devising process ensuring growth of self organically through the arts.
- Explore practically set play in full and other plays to gain understanding and appreciation of different mediums of theatre and how they gain impact to context and themes.
- Enable you to write skilfully to support understanding of roles and review professional and own work to increase confidence in self and supporting other academic written subjects.
- Mentally challenge and stretch creativity by develop a wide range of practical investigation skills to problem solve consistently, analyse and respond.
Topics
- Devising theatre as an actor or design will cover any topic inspired by group reaction to stimuli.
- Text to performance will explore any topic of the play chosen by student and support by the centre.
- Component 3 written exam will explore the themes of the theatre performance viewed that year and themes with the text 'DNA': murder, hierarchy, gang crime, peer pressure and many more.
Skills and requirements
Skills required
- Passion for the subject and positive attitude to working with others.
- An open mind to the world and artistic approaches.
- Analytical skills to reflect and respond.
- Problem solving and ability to problem solve creatively .
Beyond the classroom
Future pathways
Communication skills, creativity and critical thinking are essential to all post-16 subject areas and the skills and techniques developed in drama will be continued in a wide range of A-level courses including: drama, English, humanity subjects, social sciences, media and film studies.
A love for the theatre and developing a greater cultural appreciation will ensure a much more rounded citizen. Drama can build a stronger position in degree applications as it is correctly recognised by The Russell Group as a valued subject when looking for a broad and balanced curriculum.
Finally, the course will provide skills that all employers will find valuable such as problem solving, leadership, creativity and the ability to communicate in all forms.
