Academic
Drama is offered to pupils in years one and two in the form of a double lesson every week. The sessions are practically based and offer a wide range of experience to the pupils.
Drama GCSE is also offered and is a popular choice as a fourth-form option. The syllabus offers a good balance of practical and text based work. The variety of tasks set is challenging but offers a wide range of skills and knowledge.
Theatre studies is offered at AS and A2. This course provides the opportunity to continue from GCSE or start from scratch. Both practical and theoretical aspects of the course are balanced equally and offer a varied range of material to work from.
Candidates have the opportunity to specialise in acting, lighting, set design or costume design for their practical assessed work.
For detailed course information, click on the links below:
GCSE Drama [EDEXCEL]
GCSE Drama is all about understanding what it is like to
be in another person's shoes. Students will play many parts
in different imaginary situations and will have the opportunity
to create their own work as well as look at plays written
by other people. As well as acquiring the skills involved
in creating and performing Drama, students will also be
able
to acquire skills in working with others, problem solving
and communication, making them more self-confident and
preparing them to deal with a range of different situations
and people. 
The course is in three parts: Part 1 will use drama to express feelings and ideas about a range of issues. Part 2 will examine a play to see how the author expresses ideas about a theme or topic. Ways of making the play work on stage will be explored. Part 3 will give students the choice of being involved in the performance of a play from an existing script or creating one themselves.
The course is enjoyable for students who want to study a subject that is both practical and creative and who are keen to attempt making a play, performing, making costumes, building a set or operating the lights. Drama involves a lot of teamwork.
GCSE Drama follows on from drama work that will have been done at Key Stage 3. Improvisation and acting skills will be developed to a higher level, and plays will be looked at in more detail and different ways will be explored of bringing a script alive on stage. The examination for GCSE Drama is a practical performance, which is worth 40% of the marks. Students will take part in a play that has been created as a group or rehearsed from a script. They will either be examined on acting skills in the performance or on design and technical skills such as stage design, costume, masks and makeup, lighting or sound. The play will be performed in front of an audience and the examiner will be present at one of the performances. The 60% coursework part of the course consists of practical performance work and written notebook of evidence.
During the course students will take part in two different workshops that will be marked by the teacher. One of the workshops will use experience gained to explore responses to a range of material presented by the teacher. The other workshop will explore a play and students will show their understanding of drama by taking part in a number of exercises based on the play. Students will be assessed on the practical work and on the supporting notes kept during the workshops.
More info can be found at: Edexcel GCSE
Portfolios due in March, practical exam in the Summer term.
AS Drama and Theatre Studies [EDEXCEL]
It is useful to have taken Drama at GCSE level but not essential. It is important that candidates are interested in gaining a greater understanding of how theatre and plays work and are keen to be involved with performances. The course demands practical, creative and communication skills in almost equal measure. Candidates will extend their ability to create drama and theatre, either in a performing or production role. They will also be required to write about drama and to develop their powers of analysis to become an informed critic.
The
course will involve taking part in drama productions, as well
as studying plays and playwrights. Candidates need to be curious
about issues and ideas and have a creative instinct for communicating
their views through drama. They may be keen on acting, writing
or on the visual and technical side of theatre and wish to
develop their skills in some or all of these areas. Equally
they will be interested in going to the theatre to see plays
performed by different theatre companies.
AS Unit 1: Exploration of Drama and Theatre
40% of the total AS Marks
Content summary: This unit introduces students to the content of plays written for the theatre. You will learn how to analyse plays in a variety of ways so that you become familiar with the way written plays can be interpreted for realisation in performance.
Assessment:
- This internally assessed unit requires students to explore two contrasting play texts, chosen by the centre. in a practical and active way. At least one of the plays must be explored in the light of a recognised theatre practitioner.
- A set of Exploration Notes must be submitted.
- Students are also required to experience a live theatre performance and submit an evaluation.
AS Unit 2: Theatre Text in Performance
60% of the total AS Marks
Content summary: This unit offers students the chance to demonstrate skills in a performance environment. The knowledge and understanding gained during the study of two plays in Unit 1 can now be applied with a view to delivering a performance to an audience.
Assessment:
This is an externally assessed unit.
- The first section requires students to offer either a monologue or duologue.
- The second section requires students to contribute to a performance of a professionally published play by a known writer.
Students may offer either acting or a design form and must also provide a concept of the interpretation of their chosen roles or designs.
Further information can be found on the AS Course Outline page
A2 Drama and Theatre Studies [EDEXCEL]
It is useful to have taken Drama at GCSE level but not essential. It is important that candidates are interested in gaining a greater understanding of how theatre and plays work and are keen to be involved with performances. The course demands practical, creative and communication skills in almost equal measure. Candidates will extend their ability to create drama and theatre, either in a performing or production role. They will also be required to write about drama and to develop their powers of analysis to become an informed critic. The course will involve taking part in drama productions, as well as studying plays and playwrights.
Candidates
need to be curious about issues and ideas and have a creative
instinct for communicating their views through drama. They
may be keen on acting, writing or on the visual and technical
side of theatre and wish to develop their skills in some or
all of these areas. Equally they will be interested in going
to the theatre to see plays performed by different theatre
companies.
Course Content : A-level The full A-level qualification is made up of the AS units plus three more units studied at a higher level.
Unit 4 Devising- 20%
Unit 5 Text in Performance - 15%
Unit 6 Text in Context - 15%
A2 Devised piece performed in January, portfolio due in March,
practical exam in Summer term.
