Drama
Curriculum Leader: Miss R Goldberg - goldbergr@saintgeorgescofe.kent.sch.uk
From the start it has been the theatre's business to entertain people... it needs no other passport than fun
bertolt brecht - german theatre practitioner
The course will help you to understand a range of drama and theatre experiences. It will assist you with self and group awareness; imaginative, creative, cognitive, communication and social skills.
View our Learning Journey for Drama here
Intent
The Drama curriculum covers a range of topics designed to stimulate pupils’ creativity, provide historical and cultural awareness and inspire students to try and experience things they may not have done previously in the arts. Many key practical skills and concepts are introduced during KS3 and these are refined and explored further in KS4 and 5 to ensure academic excellence.
Implementation
The implementation of the curriculum comes from various style and practitioner workshops as well as opportunities to devise, perform and work collaboratively. Lessons follow a carefully sequenced pattern where key skills are built and then developed throughout the learning journey to ensure every child flourishes.
We ensure that SEND and disadvantaged children are given the necessary support in class to access the Curriculum fully and that equal opportunities are given to all.
Impact
When studying Drama students begin to grow in confidence allowing them to flourish in many different social and professional situations. They also grow in terms of being able to critically analyse, problem solve and use their creative thinking amongst other things. Drama allows students to experiment with ideas practically, they have a greater appreciation for the arts and how it allows students to express themselves and become more of their own person.
Drama in Key Stage 3 (KS3)
Per fortnight: 1 Lesson
Through fortnightly sessions, students are given the opportunity to explore a range of different texts, practitioners and styles of drama and theatre. Assessment at KS3 is performance-based where pupils will be working towards a final piece of theatre that demonstrates the learning of the term’s topic. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own work and the work of others as an audience member to develop the skill of art appreciation.
Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
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Darkwood Manor, Tv and Film, Myths and Legends |
Blood Brothers, Shakespeare, and Devising |
Drama is offered as part of the taster roaster |
Drama in Key Stage 4 (KS4)
At KS4 we currently offer the AQA GCSE in Drama. This 2-year course provides students with the opportunity to work on both a combination of performance and design skills and is the perfect introduction to life in the performing arts industry. The course includes components in exploring a set text, analysing and evaluating live performances, and creating their own pieces of original drama in the form of devising and also performing or designing a couple of extracts from a prescribed text.
Assessments
Component 1 (40%) – Understanding Drama | Component 2 (40%) – Devising Drama |
Component 3 (20%) - Texts in practice |
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1 hour 45 minutes. Open Book. 80 Marks. | Devising log (60 Marks) and Devised Performance (20 Marks). | Performance of Extract 1 (20 Marks) and Extract 2 (20 Marks). |
The students have 3 sections, section A is multiple choice and looks at staging and roles in the theatre, section B focuses on the text of Blood Brothers and has a focus on both performance and design aspects and section C is the review of a live performance where students are expected to analyse and evaluate a production they have seen. |
This is an internal non-exam assessment and is made up of a practical performance worth 20 marks and a devising logbook worth 60 marks. During this component, pupils are given a range of stimuli’ to respond to and are expected to create a piece of the original theatre. Alongside the devised piece they are to write a log book explaining their devising process and evaluating their final piece. Students have the option to work as a performer or designers. |
This is an external non-exam assessment that is made up of the practical performance of 2 extracts of a prescribed text. Students have the option to work as a performer or designers. |
Exam Board: AQA GCSE Drama
Drama Future Paths
Students can progress further to obtain an A Level in Drama and Theatre
Drama can be helpful in the workplace as it shows an employer that you are able to speak with a certain amount of confidence and have the ability to work well with others.
Extra Resources
- BBC Bitesize: Drama
- An Actor’s Work, by Konstantin Stanislavski (ISBN: 978-0415551205)
- The Frantic Assembly Book of Devising Theatre, by Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett (ISBN: 978-1138777019)
- The Complete Brecht Toolkit, by Steven Unwin (ISBN: 9781854595508)
Revision Materials
- Blood Brothers, by Willy Russell (Methuen Modern Classics, ISBN 978-0413767707)
- CGP: GCSE Drama Play Guide - Blood Brothers (ISBN: 9781782949664)
- CGP: GCSE Drama Revision Guide (ISBN: 9781782949626)