Drama

Key Stage 3

In Years 7, 8 and 9 students have a one hour lesson per week. The year groups are divided into mixed ability groups. The curriculum is designed around developing basic but key Drama skills, with more complex skills, techniques, scripts and concepts as students move through KS3. The schemes are designed against the knowledge and skills required in GCSE Drama. Typically, we assess students 3 times throughout the year and Years 8 and 9 students undertake a 'Live Theatre Evaluation' unit of work. We use aspects of the AQA Assessments throughout KS3 to ensure the best possible preparation for those students who wish to opt for Drama at GCSE.

Key Stage 4

GCSE Drama offers students the opportunity to explore Drama as a practical art form in which ideas and meaning are communicated to an audience through choices of form, style and convention. Students will be introduced to key practitioners, theoretical influences and influential playwrights whilst developing and building their core practical performance skills.

The course is broken down into 3 components studied over the two years:

1. Understanding Drama (Written Exam)
2. Devising Drama (Practical Performance and Portfolio)
3. Texts in Practice (Practical Performance)

In the practical components students may specialise in performing, lighting, sound, set, costume and/or puppets. Whilst there is a fundamental emphasis on the practical element, the building up of a lively portfolio full of inspiration ideas, collaboration and experimentation and finally evaluation, is also a central part of the course.   

Key Stage 5

A Level Drama offers students the opportunity for students to further pursue explore Drama as a practical art form and focuses on more complex development of how ideas and meaning can be communicated to an audience through choices of form, style and convention. Students will continue their study of key practitioners, theoretical influences and influential playwrights whilst continuing to develop their core practical performance skills.

The course is broken down into 3 components studied over the two years:

1. Drama and Theatre (Written Exam)

• Study of two set plays.
• Analysis and evaluation of a live theatre production.

2. Creating Original Drama (Practical Performance and Working Notebook)

• The process of creating devised drama.
• The performance of devised drama (students may contribute as performer, designer or director).
• Devised performance must be influenced by the work and methodologies of one prescribed practitioner.

3. Making Theatre (Practical Performance and Reflective Report)

• Practical exploration and interpretation of three extracts (Extract 1, 2 and 3) each taken from a different play
• Methodology of a prescribed practitioner must be applied to Extract 3.

Enrichment

The department offers rich and varied extra-curricular and enrichment activities, including the opportunity for student leadership in Year 10 with our Drama Ambassador scheme. We also host an annual Drama Awards Evening, in celebration of students who have achieved well in both subject lessons and extra-curricular.

Extra-Curricular

Due to Covid-19, we have had to strip back our extra-curricular for practical Drama, however we normally offer these fantastic opportunities: 

Every other year the Drama and Music Departments join forces and produce a full-scale musical production, usually open to Year 9 and upwards. Most recently Disney's High School Musical (2018), Oliver! (2016), Beauty & the Beast (2014) and Jesus Christ Superstar (2013).

Every other year, our drama clubs take part in Henry Box School's very own Shakespeare Festival 'Bard @ the Box'.

Currently, we are running Year 7 Drama club every Tuesday lunchtime and Year 8/9 Drama club after school every Tuesday.

GCSE Students will also benefit from Drama 'surgeries' to support their written work ahead of their GCSE exams.