Drama
Drama in schools allows learners to become confident, creative and insightful. The subject is an exploration of culture and will always be organic and evolving. Drama encourages learners to have empathy, contextual understanding and awareness of audience, both as an actor and as an audience member. Drama promotes the art of theatre and the skills needed within this discipline.
At Meadowhead, all pupils study Drama at KS3 once a week in Y7 and Y8, and on rotation with Music in Y9. At KS4, students have the opportunity to opt for Drama GCSE and then further continue into BTEC Level 3 Performing Arts at KS5 should they choose. The drama curriculum at KS3 works on a 5 topic model and covers drama assessment areas in performing texts, devising and performance response. The KS4 and KS5 curriculums are built around OCR GCSE and Level 3 BTEC Performing Arts. The Drama curriculum covers all aspects of creating, rehearsing, performing, evaluation and knowledge, drawing on a wide range of drama forms, styles, conventions, texts and genres.
The KS3 curriculum directly feeds into the demands of GCSE Drama at KS4 and beyond. For the Knowledge Organisers, please go to the foot of this page.
The study of Drama can allow a person to. . .
Become culturally rich
Develop empathy and understanding
Develop skills in performance and performance appreciation
Explore the processes of creating and refining theatre
Gain knowledge that underpins theatre forms
Reflect on our own performances and the work of others.
Key Stage 3 (7-9)
Table Heading | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
---|---|---|---|
Term 1 |
Physical Theatre Mime and Masks |
Noughts and Crosses-play text by Dominic Cook/RSC |
Practitioners-Brecht and Brechtian Theatre and Augusto Boal and Theatre of the Oppressed |
Assessment |
Performance Assessments |
Performance assessment Evaluation and Knowledge Assessment |
Performance Assessment ‘Exam style’ question |
Term 2 |
‘The Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty’ – play text David Calcutt
|
The Haunted School Rights |
Off the Rails-script work |
Assessment |
Performance assessment Evaluation and Knowledge Assessment |
Performance Assessments |
Performance Assessments |
Term 3 |
Slapstick Greek Theatre |
Dr Faustus-Christopher Marlowe African Theatre |
Devising Performance |
Assessment |
Performance Assessments Evaluation and Knowledge Assessment |
Performance Assessment (joint across Drama and Music) Exam style question |
Performance Assessment |
Key Stage 4 (Y10-11) GCSE Drama - GCSE Drama (23/24 onwards, BTEC L1/2 Tech Award Y11 23/24)
Year 10 | Year 11 | |
---|---|---|
Term 1 |
Sheffield Theatre Project and Drama Performance and Response |
BTEC: C2 Developing Skills and Techniques GCSE: Devising Drama-exam performance |
Assessment | N/A |
BTEC: C2 Performance Assessment (externally moderated) GCSE: Process and Performance Assessment- (NEA) externally moderated |
Term 2 | Drama Performance and Response: study of live performance and the exam set text: Blood Brothers |
BTEC: C3 Responding to a brief GCSE: Performing Texts- exam performance |
Assessment | GCSE Mock exam paper |
BTEC Performance Assessment: Externally marked GCSE Performance Assessment-visiting examiner |
Term 3 | Devising Drama |
BTEC: C3 Responding to a brief GCSE: Drama Performance and Response-written exam: Blood Brothers and live theatre analysis |
Assessment | GCSE Process and Performance assessment (NEA)-on-going |
BTEC Performance Assessment: Externally marked GCSE Exam paper 1hr 30mins-externally marked |
Key Stage 5 (12-13) BTEC Level 3 Performing Arts
The course is taught in vertical groupings and the order of the units will vary from year to year.
Year 12 | Year 13 | |
---|---|---|
Term 1 |
Unit 1 - Investigating Practitioners' Work |
Unit 3 - Group Performance Workshop |
Assessment | External assessment – 3 hour written examination | External assessment –Performance and three written controlled assessments |
Term 2 |
Unit 2 - Developing Skills and Techniques for Live Performance |
Unit 21 – Improvisation |
Assessment |
Performance Assessment Reflective Journal / Process Journal Externally moderated |
Performance Assessment Reflective Journal / Process Journal Externally moderated |
Term 3 | Unit 2 - Developing Skills and Techniques for Live Performance (continued) | Unit 21 – Improvisation (continued) |
Assessment |
Useful websites
Performing Arts (2022) | BTEC Tech Awards | Pearson qualifications
GCSE - Drama (9-1) - J316 - OCR
BTEC Nationals | Performing Arts (2016) | Pearson qualifications
Extra-curricular / enrichment
- Y9 Drama and Music Club
- School Production/performance opportunities throughout the year
- KS4 and KS5 after school rehearsal and coursework support
Beauty and the Beast whole school production