Year 7s study an introduction to Drama looking at initial skills and characterisation. They then continue to develop this through the style of pantomime exploring melodrama and stock characters. throughout the year students have exposure to devising schemes which develop their improvisation, creativity and characterisation. In exploration of scripts students work on their vocal skills and the implementation of facial expressions before culminating in exploration of physical theatre and how they can use their body and physical movement in a stylistic way. 

Year 8 students begin with an exploration of the classic plays of Shakespeare further developing their year 7 recall and crossover of stock characters. They also look into the cinematic revolutions of silent movies and how this style of melodrama is developed into more modern adaptations of radio plays and soap operas. students also begin to explore the technical side of theatre and learn about the industry as well as roles and responsibilities. They apply this knowledge to a wide variety of theatre styles from scripted performances to physical theatre practitioners. 

In Year 9 students begin to get a taste of the GCSE specification with schemes of work centring around devising, Theatre in Education and Scripted performances which explore social and cultural topics. Students also complete a theoretical unit on Live Performance Review where they evaluate the physical and vocal skills of the National Theatre's production of Streetcar Named Desire. 

In Year 10 students begin with the preparation for Component 1 of the AQA GCSE specification and their set text Blood Brothers. They explore this text practically and consider the staging, physical and movement skills they would use to support their theoretical exam. Students then move onto Component 2 Devising where they respond to a stimulus in the style of a chosen practitioner. Students research their chosen practitioner and make stylistic choices that they will justify in their devising log. 


For KS4 the information could follow as such:

Component 1: Understanding drama

What's assessed
•    Knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre
•    Study of one set play from a choice of nine
•    Analysis and evaluation of the work of live theatre makers
How it's assessed
•    Written exam: 1 hour and 45 minutes
•    Open book
•    80 marks
•    40% of GCSE
Questions
•    Section A: multiple choice (4 marks)
•    Section B: four questions on a given extract from the set play chosen (44 marks)
•    Section C: one question (from a choice) on the work of theatre makers in a single live theatre production (32 marks)

Component 2: Devising drama (practical)

What's assessed
•    Process of creating devised drama
•    Performance of devised drama (students may contribute as performer or designer)
•    Analysis and evaluation of own work
How it's assessed
•    Devising log (60 marks)
•    Devised performance (20 marks)
•    80 marks in total
•    40% of GCSE
This component is marked by teachers and moderated by AQA.

Component 3: Texts in practice (practical)

What's assessed
•    Performance of two extracts from one play (students may contribute as performer or designer)
Free choice of play but it must contrast with the set play chosen for Component 1
How it's assessed
•    Performance of Extract 1 (20 marks) and Extract 2 (20 marks)
•    40 marks in total
•    20% of GCSE
This component is marked by AQA.

 

The Learning Partnership