Drama

Key Stage 3 drama is about two things:

1) Learning and acquiring really key life skills, such as; communication, cooperation, negotiation, presentation and evaluation;

2) Learning about drama and theatre as an art form. The units you will undertake will build your skills, understanding, application and knowledge in these areas.

Homework is set, but not on a weekly basis. Homework may take the form of research, extra rehearsal, writing up rehearsal notes. Sometimes homework can look like an extra rehearsal with your group. There is also our Drama blog with extra drama challenges which can be attempted in learner’s own time. They are beyond curriculum challenges with level 7+ work.

If you would like to do more drama out of lessons- come and see Ms Cook or anyone in the Drama team.

http://jrcsdrama.blogspot.co.uk/

Year 7

The curriculum starts by ensuring our students have the necessary skills they need for successful drama to take place – they are slowly introduced to range of drama skills and techniques both for exploration and performance of drama.

Students study the following topics:

Serious Fun / Darkwood Manor

Games and drama activities that teach the rules of drama and include our baseline assessment. A haunted house (Darkwood Manor) provides the backdrop for learners to explore how to establish location, scene endings, to build tension and how to develop and explore roles.

Evacuation – Right to Write

1940’s the context is World War Two, but we also touch on the idea of displacement and refugees. We teach the drama skills of suspension of disbelief, spontaneous improvisation, thought tracking, dramatic potential, character and monologue. Students begin to develop short performances and we teach them how to evaluate the work both orally and in the written form.

Murder in the Library

A performance unit teaches the genre of murder mystery/ Whodunits’, how to do flashbacks, the idea of multi-rolling and how to put together scenes to structure a performance.

The Tempest

We study Shakespeare’s text to explore the original performance conditions and the conventions and stage craft of the play. E.g. how to use drama to create a storm at sea on stage, how to show magic through drama, students also learn the importance of rehearsal and how to interpret a piece of text in two different ways to create different meanings.

Planet X

This fun unit recaps all the skills acquired in Year 7 and allows students to develop their abilities to assess their own involvement in spontaneous improvisation and improve by use of rehearsal.

Year 8

We build on skills acquired in Year 7 and there is a real focus on acting technique and stagecraft.

Students study the following topics:

The History of British Theatre and Genre (including Right to Write)

These workshops explore the conventions of British theatre and genres including acting styles and theatre practitioners. They learn the history and apply the conventions of medieval drama, Elizabethan theatre, radio drama, pantomime, naturalistic acting (including Stanislavski). They evaluate what they have learned in both the oral and written form.

Sweeney Todd

A text based unit- where students study the play text, explore the conventions, the acting style the piece demands and consider stage design.

Trestle Masks

workshops using masks and movement and ultimately creating a group performance

Antigone to Rosa Parks

Students learn the history of Ancient Greek Theatre and explore structuring their own pieces. They learn GCSE explorative strategies such as Forum Theatre and how to make connections between the two characters.

Day Dreaming

Students have explored a range on non-naturalistic drama skills over Year 8. In this unit they work as small theatre companies and they create a performance. They will perform to Year 7 and will be given a performance deadline. They have to consider, lighting, costume and sound in this assessment too and keep a written log of the process.

Year 9

We work with students to prepare them for GCSE drama in case they might wish to choose this subject as an option

Kerry Smith

This is a GCSE style issue based unit. Students are introduced to some GCSE exercises and expectations which are designed to help them decide if GCSE Drama is the correct option for them!

TIE Project

Students will develop a piece of theatre for a target audience about something they think their target audience should be more aware of. They will have to research and then implement this so their piece is both educative and enjoyable and then they must perform!

Girls Like That and Right to Write

A text based unit where GCSE style exploring strategies are used to explore the world of the play. There are research and performance based opportunities. They have to conduct research and evaluate their learning in the written form.

Monologues and Duologues and design

This is an adapted A level unit- designed to stretch and challenge our learners as much as they feel able to wish to be stretched. Students will choose a performance task, explore the play they are performing from, learn the lines, prepare for performance and perform. They will then complete a design project for their chosen play. All students will carry out research before they embark on design and performance.

There are three categories in which students are assessed they are: making drama, performing drama and evaluating drama. Assessment for learning is at the heart of what we do with our students in supporting them to make progress and attain high levels of achievement.

Currently our department follow the curriculum and exam board specification as below. However the government have changed the look of GCSEs and from September 2016 Year 10 students will embark on a new look drama GCSE Specification. As a department, we are excited about the new specification we plan to follow (currently in draft form) as we think learners will have a much better experience of acting, rehearsing and theatre than previously; the qualification at the same time will be far more academic; as there is written content and a written open book at the end of the course.

More details on this will follow.

Year 10

Year 10 is all about getting used to GCSE Drama and preparing for Year 11. Hopefully, you will gain an understanding of what will be expected of you in Year 11 and be taught how to be at your very best. We want you to have fun in Year 10 and make mistakes- the sort of mistakes you will learn from.

In the spring learners will all attend a live theatre performance of a production and evaluate it’ effectiveness from the point of view of an informed audience member.

Year 11

Learners will take part in practical workshops based on Units 1 and 2 as detailed in the specification below. Unit 1 will be based around the theme of Genocide and Unit 2 will be based on the play text of ‘The Woman In Black.’ These units will be undertaken during Drama lessons, you will be given time and support to write the coursework. Unit 3 will be introduced at the end of January- and you will be assessed as either an actor or a designer. Your teacher will work with you and your group to shape a piece of theatre that you are confident to show to a visiting examiner. These exams usually take place during the second week in May. There will be a showcase for parents and friends a week before your exam date.

GCSE Drama (Single award)

Edexcel

This course is both practical and creative. It also follows on from the work students have done at Key Stage 3 Drama. This course allows students to explore how drama comes to life on stage including; performing, costumes, set design, lighting and sound. Students will enjoy this course if they enjoy working as part of a team as it does involve a lot of group work.

Modules students will study and what they will do, include:

• Exploring a range of issues through drama. E.g. War
• Study a modern playwright and how a whole play could be staged
• Lighting, sound, costumes, technical experience
• Acting /performing skills and techniques

Skills they will develop include:

• Creating and performing Drama
• Technical support skills
• Communication, team work, problem solving
• Drama will help students feel more self-confident and prepare them to deal with a range of different situations and people.

Assessment

• 60% coursework – practical work and supporting notes/diagrams
• 40% final exam – practical performance or technical support

Unit 1

Drama Exploration (30%) Year 10 – War and Year 11 – Genocide

This unit consists of a teacher assessed practical exploration of different stimuli, explorative strategies, drama mediums and elements of drama. Students must provide documentary evidence with a maximum of 2000 words under controlled conditions.

Unit 2

Exploring Play Texts (30%)

Year 10 – Blood Brothers and Year 11 – The Woman In Black

This unit consists of a teacher assessed exploration of a play text involving, exploration of character, interpretation of the play and design implications of the play. Students must provide documentary evidence with a maximum of 1000 words. Students will also visit and see a live theatre performance after which they will write a theatre review with a maximum of 2000 words under controlled conditions.

Unit 3

Drama Performance (40%)

Externally assessed practical examination of a devised or scripted play performed to an audience including a visiting examiner. Students may offer:

Acting skills or performance support and design skills

Careers and further study

The study of Drama can help students develop transferable skills, which they can take into any career or job. The skills and confidence developed through Drama will be especially useful in any career that involves meeting people face to face and working as part of a team.

Students could go on to take an A/S or A Level in Drama and Theatre Studies, a vocational A level in Performing Arts or a BTEC National Certificate or Diploma in Performing Arts or Performance Design and Technology.

At Key Stage 4, students receive one piece of homework every week, this is usually completing questions in their Drama Handbooks based on practical work undertaken in their Drama lessons. They will have coursework to do but this is completed under controlled conditions. When we are doing extended work on Unit 3, homework will be the expectation that students will spend at least an extra hour per week with their group devising, rehearsing and refining their pieces in readiness for performance. In Sixth Form students may receive a homework or study task from each teacher they have- they will be expected to manage this, however if they are struggling we will provide support.

Currently our department follow the curriculum and exam board specification as below. However the government have changed the look of GCE’s and from September 2016 new Year 12 students will embark on a new look Drama GCE Specification. As a department, we are excited about the new specification we plan to follow (currently in draft form) as we think learners have a much better experience of acting, rehearsing and theatre than previously; whilst the qualification time will also be far more academic; there is written content and a written open book at the end of the course.

In the Sixth form we offer our students two level 3 courses; AS/A2 Drama and Theatre Students.

AS/A2 Drama and Theatre studies

Edexcel

Outline of the course

Drama is about instinct and the human condition; plays and the world of theatre reflect this. This course combines the activities of exploring plays, creating theatre, the performing of plays, the analysis of theatre and the critical evaluation of all these elements.  This course provides the right balance between practical and theory work and the course content and units of assessment are appropriate and accessible to all levels of ability.

What do I need to know before taking the course?

To complete this course a GCSE in Drama is desirable but not a necessity. However, to get the most from this course you need to possess a keen interest in seeing live performance and care about making drama.

Skills you will develop include:

• A thorough understanding of drama and the theatre through participation in productions, seeing performances, research and workshop exploration
• Highly toned analytical skills
• Highly toned creative and performing skills
• An ability to communicate effectively with others

Is this the subject right for me?

You need to be curious about issues and ideas and have a creative instinct for communicating your views through drama. You may be keen on acting, writing or on the visual and technical side of theatre and wish to develop your skills in some or all of these areas. Equally you will be interested in going to the theatre to see plays performed by different theatre companies.

KS5 Drama Assessment Overview

Careers and further study

• This course works well in combination with several AS/A2 level subjects but particularly compliments English, Media Studies, Music, Dance, History and Sociology based subjects.
• This course has the support of higher education institutions as a specialist qualification for drama, theatre or performing arts related courses but equally it provides a worthwhile experience for students wishing to use it as part of the entry requirements into other subject areas.
• It is an excellent qualification for students wishing to pursue a career that involves communication and people orientated skills.
• This course is designed to be part of the Edexcel Level 3 Performing Arts sector suite of qualifications by providing a general qualification route into higher education.

Drama remains a popular choice in Sixth Form. Please see the gallery for pictures of productions.

**Link to picture gallery**

This year we are working with the Dance and Music departments to stage a musical production of Oliver!

Year 7 and 8 Drama Club

This after school club will commence as soon as Oliver is over. From Feb half term

Donmar Warehouse

We have strong links with this London based theatre. Last year 12 AS students participated in a series of workshops based on their successful productions of Henry IV and City of Angels.

This year we have maintained our links and students will enjoy a bespoke workshop and the seeing a production of Teddy Ferrara

At the core of our approach to marking at JRCS is task marking.

In non-practical subjects one substantial piece of work will be task marked at least once every eight hours of teaching. Students will respond to the tasks and they will be checked by staff. In between that time students’ work may be peer or self-assessed or briefly checked by staff.

It is likely the same piece of work will be assessed for literacy. Staff will mark work using the literacy marking code: 

Levelling and Assessment

KS3

To develop a growth mindset and reflect ‘life after levels’ work in KS3 books will not usually be levelled; assessment will be formative and highlight how students can improve. Students will record areas of strength and development on their ‘reflection sheets’ which will be at the front or back of the book. At the end of each term a level is reported for students in each subject, which reflects all their work over that term. These are found on students’ pale yellow progress cards, which are stuck into their planners. These cards show students whether they are in line to meet their end of key stage target. With the move away from National Curriculum levels, the school is trialling a new ‘skills thermometer’ and 1 to 9 levelling in English. Other KS3 subjects will be using NC levels for the remainder of this year.

KS4

KS4 practice exam questions and mock exams are likely to be graded. This work might not be in student books. Students will record grades and areas of strength and development in their ‘reflection sheets’ which will be at the front or back of the book. All students receive an attainment and predicted grade at the end of each term. These are found on their pale yellow progress cards, which are stuck into their planners. These cards show students whether they are in line to meet their end of key stage target.

KS5

At KS5 students take a series of VIMAs (Sixth Form Milestone Assessments) during their course. Students receive developmental comments to help them improve their work. Each VIMA result includes four parts: the grade for that assessment, a comparison of the grade with their expected progress grade (EPG), a Learning Capability mark and a prediction of their end of year grade (PEG). The outcomes of these assessments and other graded work will be in student folders. They are also sent home to parents. A summary of VIMA marks and the students’ expected progress grade is also recorded in their planner.

Further Information

The Drama Department follows the whole school marking policy, with Assessment for Learning and reflection at the heart of what we do. Students work is marked and assessed and students have the opportunity to have peer and 1:1 feedback on their work with the focus being how they can learn from any marked work to improve their own abilities.