Drama
Drama is a subject that helps students explore storytelling, performance, and communication through practical and creative activities. Lessons require students to explore play texts, stimuli or current/cultural events, whilst collaborating with their peers to create powerful, entertaining and impactful Drama. They will develop confidence, empathy and be inspired to work creatively in a safe space. All of the skills and knowledge learned at KS3 underpin the work completed at GCSE and A-Level.
Key Stage 3
Course Overview
What can I do to support my child?
Go and see live theatre, when possible! If students have seen plays and musicals live, this helps them build their own skills and knowledge of Drama.
Read the texts we study in class:
Y7 – Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Y8 – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Simon Stephens (play version)
Y9 – DNA by Dennis Kelly (school’s version) and Noughts and Crosses by Dominic Cooke (play version)
How will students be assessed?
Students perform in groups termly, showcasing the skills and techniques they have learned. They are also required to complete a termly quiz in which they are questioned on the play or topic they have studied, plus drama terminology and vocabulary, which will be used at GCSE and A-Level.
Key Stage 4 (GCSE)
Exam Board and details
Exam Board: AQA Drama (8261)
Course Overview
GCSE Drama is an exciting and challenging subject which encourages students to become confident performers and designers with the skills they need for a bright and successful future.
Core Aims
The course is designed to:
- Encourage students to become confident performers and designers
- Develop transferable skills such as collaboration, analytical thinking, and evaluation
- Provide a strong foundation for further study in drama and theatre
Performance is paramount and the GCSE course offers students the opportunity to do what they like best – participate in performance. All students will devise (create) drama and work practically on two text-based performances. We run an annual regional theatre trip to watch our set GCSE play (Blood Brothers by Willy Russell) so that students can see professional theatre in context.
Course Structure
1. Understanding Drama (Written Exam – 40%)
· Content: Knowledge of drama & theatre, study of set play, & analysis/evaluation of live theatre.
· Assessment: 1 hour 45-minute written exam.
· Skills: Interpretation, analysis, and evaluation.
2. Devising Drama (NEA – 40%)
· Content: Students create and perform their own piece of drama.
· Assessment: Devising log (written analysis and evaluation) and performance.
· Skills: Creativity, collaboration, and reflective writing.
3. Texts in Practice (Performance – 20%)
· Content: Performance of two extracts from a published play.
· Assessment: Marked by an external examiner.
· Skills: Acting or design (lighting, sound, set, costume, puppetry).
How will students be assessed?
November of Y11 – NEA Coursework: Devised Performance & Devising Logs [80 marks]
March of Y11 – Performance of Scripted extracts [40 marks]
May of Y11 - Written Exam [80 marks]
Key Stage 5 (A Level)
Exam Board and details
Exam Board: AQA Drama & Theatre Studies (7262)
Course Overview
A-Level Drama inspires students to become independent theatre makers with the skills they need to go on to higher education, whether that is to study a course in drama and theatre or another subject. There is a practical focus and students should find the course inspiring, creative, all underpinned by theoretical understanding. Students learn through experience, seeing and making theatre for themselves. They are introduced to a wide range of theatrical styles and context, exploring plays practically, devising and working on performances.
Students choose to develop as a:
- Performer
- Designer (lighting, sound, set, costume, puppets)
- Director
- Combination of the above
Whichever option they choose, students will gain many invaluable skills, both theatrical and transferable, to expand their horizons.
Component 1: Drama and Theatre (Written Exam – 40%)
· Study of two set plays from a list provided by AQA.
· Live theatre evaluation: Students analyse and evaluate a live theatre production they’ve seen.
· Assessed through a written exam (3 hours), with questions from the perspective of a performer, director, or designer.
Component 2: Creating Original Drama (Coursework – 30%)
· Students devise an original performance influenced by the work and methodologies of a prescribed theatre practitioner (e.g., Brecht, Artaud, Stanislavski).
· They perform or design the piece and submit a working notebook documenting the process.
· This is internally assessed and externally moderated.
Component 3: Making Theatre (Coursework – 30%)
· Students explore and perform three extracts from different plays.
· One extract is performed as a final assessed piece, influenced by a different practitioner than in Component 2.
· Includes a reflective report analysing and evaluating the theatrical interpretation.
· Also internally assessed and externally moderated.
How will students be assessed?
May of Y12 – Performance of Devised Drama & Working Notebook [60 marks]
March of Y13 – Performance of Scripted extract & Reflective Report [60 marks]
June of Y13 – Written Exam [80 marks]