Drama is taught in our purpose built Drama area or in the larger space of the school hall. It is a popular subject at both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.

Key Stage 3

Drama is taught in mixed ability tutor groups for one lesson per week. Topics taught are flexible but include the following:

Year 7:

• Journeys
• The Haunted lift
• Comic Book Theatre
• Silent Movies
• Status

Year 8

• Peer Pressure
• Smoking
• Truancy
• ‘The Story of Larrissa’, which explores the relationship between parents and children.

Year 9

• ‘The Killing of Michael de Gruchy’. This topic looks at the consequences of following the crowd.
• Creating Tension through a variety of ways such as silence, sound and music, dramatic irony and setting.
• ‘Miscarriages of Justice’ with particular reference to the case of Craig and Bentley
• Greek Theatre
• 7 Ages of Man

Drama is a spiral curriculum and skills are revisited regularly through different topics. During Key Stage 3, pupils will learn how to explore ideas and how to present drama using a variety of techniques. These will include using freeze frames, split screen work and monologues. Drama encourages concentration, flexibility and group work. All skills which are useful in other subject areas and in life.

Assessment : Drama is assessed in a variety of ways.

• Each lesson pupils will be involved in peer assessment and work will be discussed with the help of the teacher.
• Each term the pupils will prepare an assessment piece in small groups and each child will be given an attainment level.
• In line with school policy, each term the pupils will receive an IPR or a full report which will give an attainment grade and a progress grade.

Drama is a popular choice at GCSE. The syllabus followed is Edexcel. This is a predominantly practical course where the written work supports the practical workshops and there is no written exam. Students are taught in mixed ability classes with usually no more than 20 students per group.

The assessment areas in GCSE Drama are:

• RESPONSE
• DEVELOPMENT
• EVALUATION
• PERFORMANCE

The exam is in three parts: two practical workshops, one exploring a theme and the second a play text. Both these practical workshops are taught and marked by the teacher and are supported by a written portfolio. The final part of the exam is a scripted or devised performance piece. The students may work on any theme or text and will be advised by their teacher. They are able to work on this for 6 to 8 weeks and are expected to work beyond the lesson time. This part of the exam is marked by an external examiner. Throughout the course a minimum of one script and a variety of themes are explored. The skills and techniques from earlier years are developed.

Where possible, theatre groups are brought in to school so that students can experience other kinds of drama such as mask work. Students are encouraged to go to the theatre and trips are organised within school.