Drama is an important subject that helps students to develop a range of key skills that are transferable across all subjects, and prepares them for lives outside of school.
We are not just about training the actors of tomorrow; we aim to:
- Encourage students to develop their creativity and self-confidence, as well as their collaborative and communication skills.
- Foster an interest and understanding of Drama and Theatre.
- Encourage and develop empathy with others through exploring scripted drama and live performance.
Key Stage 3 Drama is organised into Lower School Drama (Year 7 and 8) and GCSE Transition (Year 9). Both the Lower School and Year 9 curriculums are delivered in one hour lessons each week throughout the academic year.
Lower School Drama
In Year Seven and Eight, students are introduced to the 4 C’s (Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Confidence) which underpin our Drama curriculum. These aspects are delivered through a series of modules focusing on key performing skills (physical, vocal, and interaction in the stage space) in Year 7, and are further developed in Year 8 through script work, where students learn about interpreting and conveying character to an audience. They are also introduced to the different elements of production design (Sound, Lighting, Set and Costume) and get to experiment with these technical elements through practical workshops. In addition, students undertake analysis of Live Theatre productions, viewed through one of our Theatre streaming platforms.
GCSE Transition
Year 9 is when students have the opportunity to build on the skills taught in Lower School, apply them to real world contexts, as well as explore the key aspects of Drama that form part of the GCSE syllabus. This will include focusing on transferable skills, such as presentation skills, interviews etc; and studying and responding to Live Theatre, and the work of other performers; Devising Original Drama from a stimulus; exploring different styles of theatre, interpreting genre, and applying techniques to different types of performance.
Students are mainly assessed through observation and opportunity to showcase their practical performance work each lesson. Students receive a range of feedback though teacher lead commentary, and peer assessed work. In Year 9, students are required to complete a written assessment at the end of their Live Theatre module.
Prep is not set weekly for Lower School Drama but does form part of the latter modules in Year 7 and in Year 8. It is further introduced in Year 9 when students will be required to complete tasks ahead of lessons; this might include line learning, research, and out of lesson rehearsals.
Additional Opportunities
Extra-curricular work centres around the whole school production in the Autumn term and a Lower School production in the Summer Term. There is also an annual Inter House Drama Competition held during the Spring term. Various clubs run throughout the year: a Year 7 and 8 Drama Club, Dance Club, and a Technical Theatre club for budding lighting and sound engineers. All of these run at lunch times.
