Key Stage 3 Curriculum

Jude Kelly (theatre director and founder of Metal) ‘Like theatre, drama in schools can unlock the use of imagination, intellect, empathy and courage. Through it, ideas, responses and feelings can be expressed and communicated. It carries the potential to challenge, to question and to bring about change.’ From Drama in Schools, Arts Council Second Edition

WHAT IS DRAMA?

Drama is taught as a discrete subject at Key Stage 3 and pupils receive one lesson a week delivered by a drama specialist. They are taught specific drama skills, including those advocated by the English National Curriculum and the British Arts Council, as well as essential interpersonal skills. Drama is an art form, a practical activity and an intellectual discipline. A drama education, which begins naturally with learning through dramatic play, will eventually include many elements of theatre. Like the other arts, it involves imagination and feelings and helps pupils to make sense of the world. It does this through the creation of imagined characters and situations, and the relationships and events that they encounter.

What will your child study?

Pupils work on improvisation, developing their ability to communicate through effective use of language and movement. They also explore a wide variety of play extracts to further their acting skills and their knowledge of drama in performance. The inspiration for many of the sessions comes from a quote from the British playwright Edward Bond. ‘Morality can't function without imagination to allow us to project ourselves feelingly into the experience of others. Morality, therefore, has nothing to do with the control of our behaviour (whether by ourselves or by our betters), but everything to do with the free activity of uncorrupted imagination.’

Through engagement in drama, pupils will apply their imaginations and draw upon their own personal experiences. Their increasing knowledge and understanding of how the elements of drama work will enable them to effectively shape, express and share their ideas, feelings and responses, making use of language, space, symbol, allegory and metaphor.

Pupils will use drama to communicate through the language and conventions of theatre. This will result in all pupils gaining access to one of the great forms of human expression. As pupils develop confidence and control of the medium of drama, they will be able to communicate shared understanding and tell stories using dramatic form.

How will your child be assessed?

Pupils will be continually assessed throughout the year using the level descriptors recommended by the Arts Council. By the end of Key Stage it is expected that all students should be attaining level 5. The level descriptors will be displayed in the Drama Studio and pupils will be given termly targets aimed at improving their current level.

What activities will they take part in?

All pupils have the opportunity to be involved with the main drama production, which takes place once a year. Previous productions have included Little Shop of Horrors and Arabian Nights.

In addition to this, there is a Drama Club for Beginners and Improvers aimed specifically at Years 7, 8 and 9 as well as various performance opportunities throughout the year. These range from small-scale opportunities in morning assembly to workshop presentations. The Drama Club’s aim is to expand the pupil’s knowledge of theatre and performance, experimenting with genre, style and technique. Exercises will range from improvisation to scripted work. Plays studied in the past have included works by William Shakespeare, Samuel Beckett and Edward Bond.

Theatre trips are regularly arranged, giving pupils further opportunities to develop their understanding and enjoyment of drama.

Indian Dance and Movement Year 8 rehearse in their Drama lesson