Music and DramaSubjects

Drama

drama class

Introduction

Studying Drama has a lot of personal benefits for our pupils. It helps with building self-confidence, speaking in public, and developing interpersonal skills. Drama will help you to be more aware of how your physical presentation can affect the way people see you.

Studying drama is demanding but it also teaches pupils that hard work can lead to success.

The skills that are learnt by studying drama are invaluable in later life. We need to be creative and have an interest in understanding how we communicate ideas, thoughts and opinions to other people. In today’s workforce, we are expected to make presentations, to be able to speak confidently and deliver information effectively. Our drama classes provide the opportunity to develop these vital skills.

GCSE Drama

GCSE Drama is for students seeking the opportunity to study all aspects of the stage, from acting and directing to set and costume design. You will work as a member of a team and improve your social and communication skills. Students selecting Drama for GCSE will be successful if they are willing to perform in public and happy to work with others in groups over a significant period of time. 

The Key Stage Three English curriculum gives the pupils a clear understanding of the skills and attitude required to succeed in the three units at GCSE. The course is very practical, so it is vital that pupils taking GCSE Drama have excellent attendance. Therefore, it is unlikely that a pupil with a poor attendance record will be accepted on the course

Specification

Students will: 

  • Learn to work with others; 
  • Learn to experiment, consider a range of solutions and select the most appropriate option;  ▪     Learn to justify choices made; 
  • Take on a variety of leadership roles within groups e.g. director, designer etc.; 
  • Develop an understanding of key 20th century practitioners and apply their theories to practical work carried out; 
  • Develop an understanding of theatre as a means of communicating ideas and changing society; 
  • Learn to use a range of performance techniques to support the intention of a piece of theatre; 
  • Develop their ability to fully and constructively evaluate their own work and that of others; l 
  • Learn to employ voice, movement and facial expression to fully communicate roles;
  • Experience public performance. 

Examination Summary

Unit 1: Devising 25% of GCSE 

The pupils work in groups to develop a piece of original theatre from a stimulus. This unit is completed in Year 11. 

Unit 2: Scripted Performance 35% of GCSE 

The pupils work in groups to rehearse a 15-25-minute extract from a published play. This unit is completed in Year 12. 

Unit 3: Theory 40% of GCSE 

The paper comprises three questions based on the study and performance of the text Blood Brothers. This unit is completed at the end of Year 12.

Career Pathways

Theatre Studies students may also choose to proceed into third level courses in Drama or in Performing Arts at University, at Drama School or move into Acting as a profession.

The Russell Group’s report entitled “Informed Choices” identified Theatre Studies as a subject that can be taken in application for a range of courses. Russell Group universities such as Cambridge, Durham, Warwick, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Queen’s and Newcastle have accepted Theatre Studies as part of an examination profile for entry into a range of Arts and Social Science courses such as Engineering, Teaching, Law, English Literature, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Creative Writing, amongst others.

Transferable Skills

Drama is a highly skill-based subject, developing skills that are sought after in the world of employment. Drama develops confidence, communication, leadership, self-evaluation, negotiation etc. Many careers employ role play and presentation within their training process e.g. medicine, law, the police, and social work.

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