In year 7 and 8 students study drama for one hour a week focusing on a broad range of inspiring topics to prepare them for KS4.
The drama course at Key Stage 3 provides students with the necessary skills and knowledge to access the Edexcel BTEC Level 1/2 Award in Performing Arts course in Key Stage 4. During Key Stage 3, students explore a variety of scripts and stimuli to develop their knowledge in drama. Initially students will develop their characterisation and then learn how to structure performance using drama techniques in a variety of different genres.
If you would like further information about the topics and themes being taught please contact: Miss Thomas
Overview of the Year for Drama at Key Stage 4
During Key Stage 4 students will complete three units including; Unit 1 – Showcase, Unit 2 – Preparation, Production and Performance and Unit 3 – Acting Skills. Students will begin with Unit 3 to develop and improve their basic acting skills in drama which will enable them to apply drama knowledge when devising a performance and working with a script. Whilst on the course students will develop an understanding of practitioners and their work. Unit 1 and 2 are both internally moderated and Unit 3 is externally moderated.
Developing acting skills – Students will be developing their knowledge of characterisation, structuring a performance, genre and style. The students will be exploring the London Riots to use as a stimulus when developing a performance.
Unit 3 – Acting skills
In this unit students develop their acting skills whilst focusing on two plays. The play they will focus on for this cycle will be Blood Brothers by Willy Russell. The students will self assess against a skills audit and track their progress throughout the unit.
Unit 2 – Preparation, Production and Performance
Students will learn how to develop a performance piece as a member of a company. Students will be responsible for the preparation of the performance. The showcase will be performed to an invited audience. Students will develop their performance using a stimulus.
Unit 1 – Individual Showcase
Students will experience the audition process in the arts industry. Students will choose a brief that has been set by the exam board. This will include performing two monologues and writing a letter of application.
Edexcel BTEC Level 1/2 Award in Performing Arts is assessed in the following way:
If you would like further information about the topics, themes or assessment for this course please contact: Miss Thomas
Within this course, students develop their acting skills in relation to different plays being studied. The plays are different in style, genre and content to broaden the minds and enrich their knowledge of theatre around the world. Students will also study the work of different practitioners, such as Stanislavski and Brecht to prepare them for later years studying the course and to understand how to approach creating a character. The final component of the course is a devised performance based on a given stimulus. Students will be expected to work as a performance company to design and shape their own performance to an audience.
BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts Level 1/ Level 2 is assessed in the following way:
If you would like further information about the topics, themes or assessment for this course please contact: Miss Thomas, Acting Second in Department and Head of Drama
Please see the current Academy Enrichment Programme Booklet for details of enrichment opportunities in this subject area.