Drama

The Drama Department at St Edward’s takes pride in all of its successes at an individual, class and whole school level.

Curriculum Intent

We believe that students deserve a broad, ambitious and inclusive Drama curriculum, rich in skills and knowledge, which immerses students in a range of styles. The curriculum will encourage students to become confident and independent thinkers, who will be able to create original work and critically analyse professional and non-professional repertoire. Students will have an appreciation of their own work and that of others, always demonstrating respect and empathy.

St Edward’s Drama Department passionately believes in the importance of developing our students ‘cultural capital’ in order to  help create compassionate, empathetic global citizens.

Our Drama curriculum will give students the opportunity to:

  • Recognise how creativity can help students become innovators as well as operators, in school and beyond.
  • Consider a range of texts and themes based around diversity and inclusion.
  • Explore social and cultural issues though drama to develop tolerance and understanding
  • Empathise and engage with others outside their own social, cultural and historical setting
  • Explore contemporary issues, in a safe and environment
  • Consider different peoples’ perspectives and emotions on issues and events
  • Develop skills of co-operation and collaboration
  • Grow students’ confidence in communication through evolving vocal and physical skills
  • Study the history and influence of different practitioners on drama
  • Apply and analyse different stylistic qualities such as Naturalism, Physical Theatre and Epic theatre
  • Extend and use subject specific vocabulary effectively
  • Develop critical thinking and evaluate their own and others’ work
  • Build their individual characters, including raising confidence and self-esteem, resilience and independence contributing positively to the life of the school
  • Explicitly understand the interdisciplinary connections across the whole school curriculum

Key Stage 3

Students follow a scheme of work on the history of the theatre.  This creates an understanding of the origins of history and incorporates the social and historical contexts that have shaped the different styles and genre.  Devised units are also incorporated throughout the year to develop their practical and technical skills.

Year 7 topics – Greek / Bullying / Medieval Theatre and Mystery Plays / Shakespeare

Year 8 topics – Commedia Dell ‘Arte / Pantomime / Devised: The Stones / Stanislavski / Let Him Have it

Year 9 topics – War and conflict / Holocaust / Brecht and Epic Theatre

 

Key Stage 4

During the course you will learn how drama is created, both from an acting and technical perspective, and discover the journey it takes to go from ‘page to stage’.  You will learn about the historical and cultural context of our set plays and the playwrights’ aims and intentions.  You will use themes, issues and stimulus to create your own pieces of drama and employ the techniques of a range of practitioners including Stanislavski and Brecht.  You will also have the opportunity to see productions in both local and West End theatres.

Unit of Study

Component 01/02 Devising Drama: using stimulus, students devise and perform a piece of drama, or take the role of a designer, and create a written portfolio (30%)

Component 03/04 Presenting and Performing Texts: Students explore a text and perform two scenes to a visiting examiner.  Students can work as either performers or designers completing a pro forma and a final piece showcase (30%)

Component 05 Drama: Performance and Response, Written examination: Students will answer questions on a set text and write an evaluation of a play they have been to see (40%)

 

Method of Assessment

Exam Board: OCR

Practical: 60%

Written Examination: 40%

 

Pathways after Year 11

Drama is a subject that is celebrated and appreciated in all walks of life and proves advantageous to an eclectic range of careers.  Universities and employees widely acknowledge that Drama is the unification of both an academic and practical subject, and one which helps empower people by improving their written and oral communication, self-confidence and empathetic skills.  Successful Drama students have gone on to use their skills in Acting and Technical Theatre, Law, Medicine and Health Service, Public Relations, Teaching, The Police, Tourism, Journalism, Presenting, Management to name but a few.

 

Course Contact

Ms G Sinnott

Drama Subject Leader