Drama
Drama plays an important role within the curriculum from the start of KS3. Drama can be used as an important tool for students to explore the world, and their place within it, and to give them the confidence to take a more active role within that world.
Through drama lessons and experiences outside of the classroom students are exposed to a range of dramatic experiences. Drama should lead to a greater understanding of not only dramatic techniques, traditions and forms, but also political, social and ethical issues.
Routes through Drama
During years 7 and 8 drama is delivered through the English curriculum. This involves a variety of tasks from working with scripts and studying dramatic works such as Shakespeare’s The Tempest through to using drama as an exploratory device when looking at fiction and non fiction texts. A range of dramatic techniques are gradually built upon to increase the students’ confidence, not only within the classroom, but also among their peers.
At the end of Year 8 students choose which subjects they would like to study at GCSE level. We currently offer a GCSE in drama that is delivered throughout Year 9 and 10. This is a mixture of scripted work and devised work and includes at least 2 practical units. The course also requires the study of a set text for a written exam as well as requiring them to respond to live theatre that they have seen over the period of the course. At the end of Year 10 the students move onto a personalised curriculum that enables them to pursue further drama qualifications that suit their particular interests such as RADA, LAMDA and BTEC qualifications.
The department also offers an opportunity to study drama at AS and A2 Levels in Years 12 and 13. The course is very practically based with each year involving a major practical project, usually examined around Easter time, and some set text study. The course also requires a production response element and so theatre experiences throughout the year are very important. Through the course students are increasingly encouraged to be independent and discerning theatre goers so that they can effectively utilise ideas in their own dramatic work.
Extra-curricular Opportunities
The drama department plays a very important part in the extra-curricular life of the school. Drama opportunities are available to all at the school through whole school and upper school productions. The upper school productions involve students from GCSE and A Level groups and allow them to tackle challenging texts or even exam texts from a practical standpoint. Productions have included Our Country’s Good and Tartuffe over recent years. The upper school production for December 2009 is Oh, What A Lovely War! The whole school production offers an opportunity for those lower down in the school, or those who are not studying for a drama qualification, to get involved. 2008 saw the successful staging of Return to the Forbidden Planet. No concrete plans have been put in place for 2010 as yet but watch this space!