Welcome to the Drama Department. Students can choose to take Drama at GCSE and A Level. The work is practically based where students learn how to perform as well as developing their self confidence, speaking, listening and presenting skills. Students also complete written work showing analysis of live theatre as well as their won performances.
The Drama Studio is based within the Performing Arts block and is well equipped. It is a large space complete with sound and lighting systems as well as an extensive range of costume and props.
Showcase Evenings for parents and others allow the students to demonstrate their progress to a wider audience. Such evenings give the students the opportunity to perform under the pressure of a live audience and this is good practice for their eventual assessed piece as well as an effective way of building their self esteem and self confidence.
Regular visits to the theatre are a feature of both A Level and GCSE. Recent productions seen have been ‘Waiting For Godot’ with Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stuart, ‘Othello’ and ‘Blood Brothers’. We encourage students to attend the theatre as much as possible as this really helps students develop their skills.
Drama is a strong feature of the extra curricular life at the school. We present a major school production each year which gives any students, whether studying Drama or not, the opportunity to take part and engage in live theatre.
Previous school productions have been ‘Les Miserables Schools Edition’, ‘Copacabana’ and ‘My Fair Lady’. We aim to given as many students as possible the chance to get involved, either on stage of backstage and the installation of a new lighting and sound system will mean that students can develop their technical skills.
Key Stage 3
Drama, as a discreet subject, is not taught at Key Stage 3 and is only experienced through English.
Key Stage 4
Students can take Drama as a GCSE subject in Years 10 and 11 (AQA specification). The course involves developing dramatic techniques such as improvisation and mime, as well as performing scripted work. It is assessed through coursework (60%) and a written exam (40%).
For the coursework sections, all students work towards group performances. One piece will be a Devised Thematic piece and the other is an Acting piece based on published scripts. Marks are awarded for work in progress during rehearsals and the final presentation.
The written exam requires students to answer questions on their coursework performances and either a Set Text or response to Live Theatre that the students have seen. As part of the course students are require to attend as many theatre performances as possible, and trips are regularly organised through the department.
Key Stage 5
Students can take Drama and Theatre Studies at A Level. This course is practical and theory based, with assessed performance modules and theory exams. There are four units for study, two in Year 12 and two in Year 13, focusing on the study of set texts, response to live theatre seen and assessed performances.