Drama

Intent

The Drama department aims to develop individuality and encourages students to express themselves with flair and creativity. Students are given opportunities through practical role play and written drama activities to explore diverse topics, from historical events like the African slave trade to contemporary media such as soap operas. Through drama, we encourage students to question and challenge their perceptions of the world while developing key drama skills that build their confidence.

Knowledge and Skills

Drama encourages the development of a wide range of transferable skills:

Confidence and Communication: Enhancing vocal and physical skills to develop characterisation and public speaking abilities.
Concentration: Focusing on intricate projects over extended periods.
Cooperation and Teamwork: Collaborating effectively to achieve common goals.
Commitment and Self-Discipline: Building resilience and excelling when faced with challenges.
Creativity: Understanding the benefits of participation in the arts and using devising skills to perform in various styles.
Evaluation and Performance: Appreciating how to achieve effects and communicate intentions to an audience.

Curriculum Overview

Key Stage 3

All students study Drama once a week at Key Stage 3. The curriculum covers a range of topics designed to build foundational skills for GCSE level, including: Myths and Legends, Pantomime, Exploring Scripts, Silent Movies, Shakespeare, and Greek Theatre.

Key Stage 4

Students complete a full GCSE qualification in Drama, which consists of the following components:

Component 1 (40%):
- Performance: Students devise a group performance based on a stimulus provided by the exam board.
- Portfolio: Students write a 1000-word portfolio detailing the devising process and how ideas were developed.
- Evaluation: Students evaluate their performance in a 1.5-hour written assessment.
Component 2 (20%):
- Students learn lines and perform two sections from a text of their choice to a visiting examiner.
Component 3 (40%):
- Students complete a 1.5-hour written exam that includes an analysis of the text Hard to Swallow and a theatre evaluation of a live performance.

Career Opportunities in Drama

The study of Drama can lead to many different career choices, including acting in film, TV, and theatre; television presenter; theatre director; playwright; costume designer; teacher; arts administrator; broadcast journalist; choreographer; public speaker; set designer; stage manager; television/film producer; youth and community worker; sales; radio presenter; script writer; media researcher; producer; and many more!

Year 7 Curriculum Overview

What are we learning?	What knowledge, understanding and skills will we gain?	What will excellence look like?	How will this be assessed?
An introduction into Drama	Year 7 pupils in an introduction to drama will develop skills in improvisation, teamwork, and communication. They will gain knowledge of basic drama techniques, stagecraft, and character development, enhancing their understanding of storytelling, empathy, and creative expression.	Excellence in Year 7 drama will be demonstrated through confident and imaginative performances, effective collaboration with peers, and a deep understanding of dramatic techniques. Students will show strong communication skills, creativity in improvisation, and the ability to critically reflect on their work and that of others.	Pupils will create an anti-bullying advert using the drama techniques and skills that have been explored and developed throughout the term.
Suspense and Tension	Year 7 pupils will develop skills in pacing, voice, proxemics, modulation, and body language to create suspense and tension. They will gain knowledge of dramatic techniques such as dramatic irony and foreshadowing, enhancing their understanding of building atmosphere and engaging an audience.	An excellent performance will involve precise control of timing and pace, effective use of silence and sound, and expressive body language. Students will create a palpable sense of anticipation, maintain audience engagement, and deliver convincing, emotionally charged performances with clear character intentions.	Pupils will be assessed upon their ability to create a performance of a film trailer from a thriller/horror genre which showcases a range of conventions explored throughout the term.

Year 8 Curriculum Overview

What are we learning?	What knowledge, understanding and skills will we gain?	What will excellence look like?	How will this be assessed?
Soap Opera	Pupils will gain an understanding of character development and stereotypes, narrative structure, cliffhangers and tropes. They will also learn about staging types and will develop skills in improvisation, scriptwriting, and performance, while exploring social themes and relationships portrayed in soap operas.	An excellence performance will contain well-developed, believable characters, clear and engaging narrative, effective use of dialogue which is highly appropriate for the character performed and the ability to use a range of conventions to create highly engaging cliffhangers.	Pupils will be assessed on performing a clear stereotype character, use a cliffhanger ending, a classic soap opera storyline in addition with selecting an appropriate staging type for their soap opera scene.
The Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty	Pupils will develop a knowledge of themes such as bullying and consequences, script analysis, and character motivations. Pupils will deepen their empathy and moral decision-making and explore the impact of actions on others.	Excellent performance work will include compelling, authentic portrayals of characters which uses the script to inform off-script improvisations, clear and impactful delivery of lines, and highly effective characterisation which reinforce the themes of bullying and consequences. Pupils will effectively use staging, props, proxemics, pace, and subtle facial expressions.	Pupils are assessed on off-script improvisations; pupils will need to demonstrate a secure knowledge and understanding of the script in order to create authentic yet convincing performance work.

Year 9 Curriculum Overview

What are we learning?	What knowledge, understanding and skills will we gain?	What will excellence look like?	How will this be assessed?
Blood Brothers	Pupils will develop knowledge of social class issues, character arcs, and dramatic tension. They will enhance skills in performance while exploring both scripted and off-script performance work, vocal expression, and ensemble work.	Pupils will be able to experiment with several ways to create and build tension in performance work, showing a secure command of pace, proxemics, vocal delivery, and movement skills with a high degree of subtlety and sensitivity.	Pupils will be assessed on their performance of the final scene of Blood Brothers.
Stage Combat	Pupils will develop knowledge of safety protocols, choreographed movement, and the history of stage combat. They will enhance skills in physical coordination, timing, sequencing, and controlled movement. Pupils will develop an understanding of how to create realistic yet safe fight scenes, cooperation with partners, and the dramatic purpose of combat in storytelling.	An excellent stage combat performance features precise, realistic, and safe movements, seamless choreography, and strong character portrayal. It demonstrates a clear understanding of timing and spacing, effective use of dramatic tension, and flawless execution of techniques, while ensuring the safety and believability of the fight scene.	Pupils will be assessed on their ability to create a well-sequenced performance that uses a wide range of stage combat in either a scripted or improvised performance.

Year 10 Curriculum Overview

What are we learning?	What knowledge, understanding and skills will we gain?	What will excellence look like?	How will this be assessed?
An Introduction to the Drama GCSE Course, Focusing Specifically on the Demands of Component 1: Devising	Year 10 Drama students will gain skills in performance, script analysis, and improvisation, along with an understanding of dramatic techniques and different genres, including Theatre in Education and Brecht. They will develop knowledge of various genres, character development, and collaborative creative processes.	Excellence in a Component 1 performance will include: highly effective application of performance skills, very sensitive interaction with other performers, a fully coherent and successful interpretation of the character/role using highly relevant aspects of the practitioner/genre style to successfully realise artistic intention, and a highly sensitive individual contribution to the performance, sustaining audience interest throughout.	Pupils will be assessed on a performance from a specific genre/practitioner.

Year 11 Curriculum Overview

What are we learning?	What knowledge, understanding and skills will we gain?	What will excellence look like?	How will this be assessed?
Completion of Component 1: Devising (which includes final performance, portfolio, and evaluation)	Students will gain skills in performance and improvisation, along with an understanding of dramatic techniques and different genres, including Theatre in Education and Brecht. They will develop knowledge of various genres, character development, and collaborative creative processes.	Excellence in a Component 1 performance will include: highly effective application of performance skills, very sensitive interaction with other performers, a fully coherent and successful interpretation of the character/role using highly relevant aspects of the practitioner/genre style to successfully realise artistic intention, and a highly sensitive individual contribution to the performance, sustaining audience interest throughout.	Pupils will be assessed on a performance from a specific genre/practitioner and their written portfolio and evaluation.