Drama
Overview
The Drama department believes that working on Drama skills develops powers of thinking and learning. Drama makes us think about the important aspects of our world, our society and identity. We can develop our academic potential through Drama.
We believe everyone has ability and should be encouraged to contribute. We take control of the progress students make by encouraging others and making suggestions about the way forward. By doing this students achieve a better understanding of ourselves and others, and improve their skills in group collaboration and creative thinking. We shape ideas through decision making, setting goals and achieving them through concentration, cooperation and creativity.
In preparation for our Drama evenings and public exams the students study world and current theatre. This sharpens their thinking about what it means to be human today and how they can express ideas effectively to an audience. We develop mastery of a wide range of dramatic techniques. Drama is a subject which requires a high level of thinking, creativity and group collaboration.
The Drama department through teaching and ethos aims to:
- Enable the students to explore, clarify and express ideas, feelings and experiences through a range of activities.
- Provide for aesthetic experiences and develop aesthetic awareness.
- Develop the student’s awareness of, sensitivity to and enjoyment of visual, aural and spatial environments.
- Enable the students to develop natural abilities and potential to acquire techniques and to practise the skills necessary for creative expression and for joyful participation in theatre and drama forms.
- Enable the student to see and solve problems creatively through imaginative thinking and so encourage individuality and enterprise.
- Value the student’s confidence and self-esteem through the encouragement and nurturing of self-expression.
- Foster a critical appreciation of theatre, culture and The Arts.
- Provide a supportive and disciplined environment conducive to learning.
- Prepare students for Higher Education by guiding them to successful assessment at GCSE.
- Produce school productions that serve to include, entertain and educate.
- Collaborate across curriculums.
- Encourage and promote school links with community events.
Courses
At both KS3 and KS4 students follow a varied and challenging curriculum. From year 7 students develop confidence, performance skills, literacy and analytical skills. There is a combination of practical and written assessments, and the Drama skills students learn in key stage 3 form the foundation of learning and knowledge in Drama that is built upon at GCSE level.
The Drama department regularly runs trips to see live theatre. We also have a successful, long-standing professional relationship with The Redbridge Drama Centre.
Key Stage 3
Year 7
- Introduction to Drama techniques
- Building a play and exploring the fairy tale genre.
- Exploration of the text through drama
Year 7 Drama Grade Descriptors
Year 8
- Devising – how to create performance from a stimulus exploring social relationships through Drama.
- Survival – exploration of news events though Drama
- The X-File – exploration of symbols through drama
Year 8 Drama Grade Descriptors
Year 9
- ‘What Has Happened to Lulu?’ – devising theatre from a literary stimulus with an emphasis on Physical Theatre.
- Exploring the genre of Horror.
- The Guild Plays- medieval mystery plays
Year 9 Drama Grade Descriptors
Key Stage 4
Year 10
- Dramatic Devices
- Practitioners
- Genre
- Component 1 – Devising theatre
- Component 2 – Performing from a text
- Component 3 – Interpreting theatre
Year 11
- Component 1 Examination – Devising theatre
- Component 2 Examination – Performing from a text
- Component 3 Examination – Interpreting theatre
Exam Board
EDUQAS