Drama and Theatre Studies

2011 Examination Results

Drama in the Lower School

In the Years 7 and 8, students have one lesson per week and study a synoptic course with an emphasis on practical exploration and the development of mental, physical and vocal skills. This is supported by students' reflective writing, through project work and some extension tasks. Work includes improvisation, drama skills games, response to a range of scripts including Shakespeare, a pantomime project, semiotics, shadow puppetry and melodrama. Although there is no curriculum provision in the third year, the provision of a dedicated drama club, organised by members of the Sixth Form, encourages students' interest.

Aims

Through their work, students should:

become increasingly aware of dramatic conventions and aim to observe them;
use a range of forms to express their ideas and feelings;
select and shape material for dramatic effect;
develop an understanding of practical theatre, aspects of theatre history and the language of drama;
explore a variety of emotions;
learn to respect others and their contribution;
become aware of the ways in which groups work and what aids/ hinders progress;
gain a sense of achievement from their ability to communicate verbally and physically within a group and to an audience;
gain a sense of achievement from their ability to complete tasks for which they have some responsibility;
appreciate drama in performance as a performer and audience member;
describe, analyse and evaluate their own work and that of others.

Objectives

By the end of their Lower School course, students should be able to:

identify with characters and their actions as performers and audience;
work together in order to solve problems and explore issues;
communicate a point of view with increasing confidence;
recognise that individuals may have differing opinions, that compromise does not necessarily equate with defeat and that there is not always a right or wrong solution;
structure dramatic sequences in order to convey meaning;
respond to a range of stimuli, including literary and non-literary texts;
work with control over movement and voice;
explore the rights and wrongs in moral dilemmas explored through drama work;
respond critically to their own work and that of others, recognising good work through oral/ written observation of the characters created, the issues involved and the methods used.

In Years 10 and 11, students are able to choose from a wide range of activities and subjects which are pursued for approximately one term. In Drama, the emphasis is on fun and much of the time is given to drama games and improvisational work; students work in a variety of groups and develop ideas for informal performance amongst themselves.

Head of Drama and Theatre Studies - Ms S Tickle
Courses Offered	GCSE (AQA)	A2 / AS (AQA)
	Drama	Theatre Studies

Drama and Theatre Studies

2011 Examination Results

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