Drama
We are fortunate at KNGS to have students that fully embrace and thrive within drama. Students are very motivated to be creative and perform throughout all key stages and we regularly see them working very well together and encouraging one another. We are passionate about our subject and believe it to be very valuable. Students not only develop performance skills and knowledge but skills that will be useful in many other areas of life, such as team work, organisation and confidence.
Facilities & Accommodation
The drama department boasts an effective drama studio space with lighting and a sound system. The drama studio works very well as a drama classroom with plenty of space and can also be transformed into a small intimate performance space for exams and small showcases.
KS3 Curriculum
In Years 7, 8 and 9 students have drama for approximately 8 weeks and the subject is on a carousel system with Design & Technology. Throughout this time, students are introduced to basic drama skills and techniques which they then apply to their performance work. Drama is also supported through the English curriculum.
Our Key Stage 3 schemes are structured in a way that not only enables students to build upon and develop their drama skills but also offers them the opportunity to explore elements of their personal, health and social development.
Year 7 – Darkwood Manor. We explore the issues of trust, honesty and friendship
Year 8 – ‘Jo’ . We explore the issues of mental health, peer pressure, teen angst, internet safety and family values.
Year 9 – ‘Oppression’. We currently study a topic on oppression and look at a range of issues from slavery to the plight of the suffragettes. We take every opportunity to make cross-curricular links with other subjects.
KS4 Curriculum
Exam board: Pearson Edexcel
Component 1: Devising
Coursework 40% of the qualification – 60 marks
Content overview
- Students will create and develop a devised piece from stimulus
- Performance of this devised piece or design realisation for this performance.
- Analyse and evaluate the devising process and performance
Assessment overview
- Internally assessed and externally moderated.
- There are two parts to the assessment:
- a portfolio covering the creating and developing process and analysis and evaluation of this process (45 marks). The portfolio submission can be typed evidence between 1500–2000 words or can be recorded/verbal evidence between 8–10 minutes
- a devised performance/design realisation (15 marks)
Component 2: Performance from Text
Coursework 20% of the qualification – 48 marks
Content overview
- Students will either perform in or design for two key extracts from a performance text.
Assessment overview
- Externally assessed by visiting examiner.
- The performance/design realisation of each key extract is worth 24 marks.
Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes (40% of the qualification) – 60 marks
Content overview
- Practical exploration and study of one complete performance text
- Live theatre evaluation
Assessment overview
Section A: Bringing Texts to Life (45 marks)
- This section consists of one question broken into five parts (short and extended responses) based on an unseen extract from the chosen performance text.
Section B: Live Theatre Evaluation (15 marks)
- This section consists of two questions requiring students to analyse and evaluate a live theatre performance they have seen.
- Students are allowed to bring in theatre evaluation notes of up to a maximum of 500 words.
Skills required for success
Students need to be:
- Well motivated
- Enthusiastic about creating their own drama work
- Willing to explore a range of issues through drama.
- A good group member
- Confident enough to perform in front of an audience and an external examiner
- A good attender as attendance is vital for success in this subject
The type of learning activities, which will take place in lessons
Students will learn:
- How drama is created, including all the acting and staging skills that help them communicate with an audience.
- How to create a character and play this character in a performance.
- A variety of skills that are highly valued in all walks of life. This includes teamwork and how to confidently present themselves in public.
- Students will develop their ability to analyse and evaluate live theatre.
Homework tasks
Students may be given homework activities to help develop and improve the quality of their drama work. Some of the work may include research, learning lines, sourcing and bringing in props and costume. They will most certainly be expected to rehearse their drama work at home. Many students choose to rehearse as a group during some breaks and lunchtimes as this really helps improve their drama work. Students will also be given writing tasks to ensure their confidence and ability to structure their written work is well established before the written exam.
All coursework is completed under controlled conditions and supervised within lessons.
KS5 Curriculum
Progression routes and careers
Students can progress from this qualification to:
- Drama schools, university courses that relate directly to drama and theatre.
- University courses that will benefit from the skills acquired from this GCE, for example law, human resources and people management.
- Employment where people skills are essential, for example management, retail, nursing, industry and business environments.
- Employment where time management, confidence, the ability to work collaboratively and to meet deadlines are desirable.
Extra-Curricular activities
We provide a range of extra-curricular opportunities in drama. We offer a Key Stage 3 Drama club which is open to students of all abilities and backgrounds. The purpose of the club is to build self-esteem and self-confidence and encourage creativity.
School productions offer students an opportunity to be part of an arts project on a big scale. We try to select performances that will appeal to a range of tastes and talents and over the years have produced everything from The Crucible to Grease! We see productions as an opportunity to promote the Arts and allow students to be independent, expressive and most importantly to build self-confidence.
Additional Information
Over the years the Drama Department have built strong working relationships with outside agencies, theatre companies and professional artists. We have worked with companies such as Geese Theatre Company, Central School of Speech and Drama, Newman College, RPA Theatre Company, Frantic Assembly and RSC Education Programme. We acknowledge and value the contributions that such companies make to the teaching and learning within the department. We believe that these professionals help enthuse and inspire students to be more innovative and creative. These opportunities are particular valuable for our Key Stage 4 and 5 examination groups. It allows them to develop their understanding of the role and value of drama in a greater social context.