Drama

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?
At Key Stage 3 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 will develop their ability and confidence by communicating through effective use of language, movement and voice projection. They also explore a wide variety of play extracts to further their acting skills and their knowledge of drama in performance. 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.  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. 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 Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' and 'Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat'.

In addition to this, there is a Drama Club open to all year groups 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 and more technical aspects, including work on blank verse and prose. Plays studied in the past have included works by William Shakespeare, Samuel Beckett and Edward Bond.

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

The course
This course will help candidates gather knowledge and understanding of the genre, style and conventions, and of the historical, social and cultural influences that inform the way drama is devised and structured. The course is distinctive in that it emphasises and assesses the drama process as well as the final product, and candidates will look at this from the perspective of Director, Designer and Performer.

This course is suitable for all candidates who want a firm foundation in drama, learning to interpret script, devise, develop, interpret and communicate practical outcomes. By understanding the process involved in drama they will improve their own performance skills, develop their imagination and the ability to create drama. They will also learn how to communicate intention, develop the skill of working with others and develop their critical skills, through evaluation, analysis and reflection.

'Drama is a subject that helps children with Dyslexia to grow in confidence and enables them to improve both reading and writing skills. Many children who have Dyslexia choose Drama at GCSE, and they have over the years achieved very high exam results.'

But I don’t want to be an actor – what use is drama to me?
A GCSE in drama can help you develop many vital skills which are useful in all walks of life – confidence in communicating with other people, leadership skills, and teamwork to name but a few. A Drama GCSE is an essential choice for anyone who wants to work in the arts. It is also an excellent choice for anyone who wants to work in close contact with people.

What will I be assessed on?
The route through the course rewards knowledge, understanding, process, performance and hard work. These are tested through practical examinations from a scripted piece of theatre and an improvisation based on stimuli, a project review and a written examination at the end of the course. The written exam covers a play studied and assessment of practical skills gained over the two years.

Specification = WJEC Drama
Click here to download the current specification for this GCSE course.

What grades can I get?
The full range of grades from A* to G are available.

What else do I need to know?
Don’t be fooled – You will be expected to perform in a variety of situations and keeping up to date with deadlines requires dedication. However, if you are committed and are looking for an exciting GCSE course that will challenge you, then Drama could be just what you are looking for.

AS and A Level Drama and Theatre Studies

`Our future depends on the state of our imaginations, and drama becomes more important as the world changes. Plays young people write, act in and watch are the blueprints of the world they will have to live in.' David Davis: Edward Bond And The Dramatic Child.

The Drama and Theatre Studies course demands practical, creative and communication skills. You will study a variety of plays, playwrights and practitioners through practical workshops and study, as well as take part in productions.

You will also extend your ability to create drama and you will be required to write about your experiences and to develop your powers of analysis to become an informed critic of theatre.

You will be exposed to many different genres of theatre and have the opportunity to watch many productions. You will embrace both traditional theatre and modern theatre techniques, using computers and digital projectors to create virtual sets.

What is covered in the course?
The full A level course comprises four units. Units one and two make up the AS level and the remaining units complete the A level course. The plays studied each year will vary depending on the size and gender mix of the class.

For AS:

Unit 1: Practical - 40% of AS or 20% of A Level
For the major part of this first practical unit, candidates will either act in a group or contribute their chosen technical production skill to a performance from a set text. They will then either act in a group or contribute their chosen technical production skill to a second performance based on a text devised by the group.

Unit 2: Written Paper - 60% of AS or 30% of A Level
In this written paper unit, candidates will be assessed on their responses to two texts and a performance seen. Candidates will be assessed on their ability to analyse scenes from the texts with regard to character motivation and action, atmosphere and staging potential.

For A Level - the above plus:

Unit 3: Practical - 30% of A Level
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to analyse and evaluate the working process involved in the preparation and presentation of two Practical Performances.

Unit 4: Written paper - 20% of A Level
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to analyse from the point of view of an actor or a designer responsible for technical production. Two further texts are also studied.

The most important requirement for the course is that you have great enthusiasm for acting, performance or technical theatre, and are prepared to work hard.

Specification: WJEC AS & A Level GCE in Drama and Theatre Studies
Click here to download the current specification for this A level course.

Assessment summary:

For AS

DA1 20% Practical performance
Unit title: Performance workshop.
For this unit candidates will either act in a group or contribute their
chosen technical production skill to a performance from a set text
and a devised piece. They will work on the ideas of two practitioners.
The unit is internally marked and externally moderated.

DA2 30% Written paper (2 hour paper)
Open text exam
Unit Title: Text in Performance
Candidates will answer three questions:
• One pre-1900 text from a prescribed list.
• One post-1900 text from a prescribed list.
• Live theatre review.
This unit is externally marked.

For A Level - the above plus:

DA3 30% Practical performance
Unit Title: Performance on a set theme
Candidates will be expected to work in response to a theme set by
WJEC and prepare two performances. In each case candidates will
either act or demonstrate a technical production skill with a group of
performers. The performance will include:
• scenes / extracts from a published text
• a piece devised by the group.
An evaluation of performance work for both pieces will be required.
This unit is externally marked.

DA4 20% Written paper (2½ hour paper)
Unit Title: Text in Context
1. Two set texts from a prescribed list: one pre-1900 and one post
1900. This is an 'open text' examination – candidates will be
asked to discuss the play as a whole, including the following
aspects:
• theatrical context
• performance history
• theatrical challenges of text in terms of acting
• theatrical challenges in terms of production skills
• personal reaction to the text
2. Directorial analysis of an unseen text.
There will be four sections to the paper:
• ground plan
• design/costume
• lighting/sound
• movement
This unit is externally marked.