Drama GCSE

Our main aim for students who choose Drama GCSE are to provide them with the tools to develop self-confidence and self-esteem. By working together in pairs and groups, drama students learn vital life skills of co-operation, compromise and communication.

We put in place opportunities for all students to:

Take a professional approach to lessons and rehearsal time
Build confidence to take risks in their work
Co-operate and respect each other so that the work moves forward positively and creatively
Develop a sense of responsibility and resilience towards rehearsals and polished work to the benefit of the ensemble
Evaluate each other’s work constructively, and so create a culture of collective peer-support.

We instil students with a sense of professional pride in their drama work. This has inspired many to go on to study drama at college, both through performing arts and theatre studies. While there are many career opportunities in the entertainments business, in the wider world of work, employers value the transferable skills and confidence that drama gives young adults.

OCR’s GCSE (9–1)

Apply knowledge and understanding of drama when making, performing and responding to drama
Explore performance texts, understanding their social, cultural and historical context including the theatrical conventions of the period in which they were created (a performance text is one that has been written specifically for theatrical performance)
Develop a range of theatrical skills and apply them to create performances
Work collaboratively to generate, develop and communicate ideas
Develop as creative, effective, independent and reflective students able to make informed choices in process and performance
Contribute as an individual to a theatrical performance
Reflect on and evaluate their own work and that of others
Develop an awareness and understanding of the roles and processes undertaken in contemporary professional theatre practice
Adopt safe working practices.

Course Overview

Topic	Overview
Drama Year 7 Autumn Term
Darkwood Manor (devised)	Incorporating a range of drama skills and strategies to develop storytelling Working independently and as part of a group Using elements of drama and drama medium in order to show tension and create believable characters Developing understanding of physical theatre and its effective use in performance
Drama Year 7 Spring Term
Topic	Overview
Evacuation (scripted)	Incorporating a range of drama skills and strategies to develop storytelling Working independently and as part of a group Using elements of drama and drama medium in order to show empathy and create believable characters Developing understanding of scripted work and its effective use in performance
Drama Year 7 Summer Term
Topic	Overview
Titanic (devised)	Incorporating a range of drama skills and strategies to develop storytelling Working independently and as part of a group Using elements of drama and drama medium in order to show empathy and create believable characters Developing understanding of verbatim theatre and its effective use in performance
Drama Year 8 Autumn Term
Topic	Overview
Zorkons (devised)	Incorporating a range of drama skills and strategies to develop storytelling Working independently and as part of a group Using elements of drama and drama medium in order to show empathy and create believable characters To develop understanding of melodrama and its effective use in performance
Drama Year 8 Spring Term
Topic	Overview
Romeo and Juliet (scripted)	Incorporating a range of drama skills and strategies to develop storytelling Working independently and as part of a group Using elements of drama and drama medium in order to modernise language and create believable characters To develop understanding of scripted work and its effective use in performance
Drama Year 8 Summer Term
Topic	Overview
Detectives (devised)	Incorporating a range of drama skills and strategies to develop storytelling Working independently and as part of a group Using elements of drama and drama medium in order to create believable characters To develop understanding of melodrama and its effective use in performance

Year 9

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-tech-awards/performing-arts.html

Topic	Overview
Drama Year 9 Autumn Term
Explorative Strategies	Understanding the importance of the explorative strategies in both making theatre and exploring a subject using drama Applying and incorporating explorative strategies in both making theatre, creating a character and explaining a subject through drama Responding creatively to a variety of stimuli Developing and refining performance skills
Drama Year 9 Spring term
Topic	Overview
Developing skill and technique in the Performing Arts	Developing performing arts skills and techniques Reproducing existing acting repetoire Participating in workshops and classes to develop technical, practical and interpretive skills
Drama Year 9 Summer term
Topic	Overview
Exploring the Performing Arts	Analysing how performance work is made Exploring creative intentions of repetoire Practically exploring professional repetoire Presenting research findings
Drama Year 10 Autumn Term
Topic	Overview
Unit 1: Individual Showcase	Developing methods of communicating perfomance skills Selecting and responding to one of the given progression opportunities Preparing and performing 2 monologues in response to a stimulus Writing a letter of application to a director od a performing arts company
Drama Year 10 Spring Term
Topic	Overview
Unit 2: Preparation, Performance and Productions (Learning Aim A)	Developing a performance of a scripted play Participating in practical workshops to explore and develop the performance material Demonstrating personal management skills
Drama Year 10 Summer Term
Topic	Overview
Unit 2: Preparation, Performance and Productions (Learning Aim B)	Responding to direction and instructions Demonstrating teamwork and communication skills Improving and refining performance skills
Drama Year 11 Autumn Term https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/drama-j316-from-2016/
Topic	Overview
Component 2: Presenting and Performing Texts	Interpreting playwright's intentions Demonstrating performance skills Applying knowledge of genre, style and theatrical conventions Developing a character Presenting a performance of 2 key extracts
Drama Year 11 Spring Term
Topic	Overview
Component 3: Performance and Response (Section A)	Defining how the social, historical and cultural context have an effect on a chosen performance Exploring and identifying the characteristics of a text Identifying how meaning is communicated within the performance text Evaluating the roles of theatre makers
Year 11 Drama Summer term
Topic	Overview
Component 3: Performance and Response (Section B)	Discussing, analysing and evaluating a live theatre performance Selecting and incorporating subject specific terminology Justifying personal responses to a live theatre performance

Drama Teaching Facilities

Our drama studio provides a quiet, well-equipped space for students to develop their skills and confidence in drama. We have excellent digital stage lighting which students can access easily. Our studio has a black out wall and carpeted stage area for performance.

BTEC Level 2 Performing Arts

Overview

First Award in Performing Arts (Acting)
Unit 1: Individual Showcase (internally assessed)
Unit 2: Preparation, Performance and Production (internally assessed)
Unit 3: Acting Skills (internally assessed)

Unit 1: Individual Showcase

This unit covers what to include in a letter of application and how to prepare audition pieces or presentations that demonstrate your relevant skills and knowledge. Learners will choose one from a number of possible progression opportunities as the basis for their work. Responding to the opportunity will provide learners with a clear focus for the unit. The presentation aspect of the unit will give learners knowledge and experience of the audition/presentation process.

Unit 2: Preparation, Performance and Production

In this unit you will learn how to develop a performance piece as a member of a fictional performance company. You will take on a specific performing or production role and will prepare for, and produce, a performance by carrying out tasks that are appropriate to your role. No matter what role you undertake, you will also need to explore the performance piece you are working on.

Unit 3: Acting Skills

This unit is about building your foundations as an actor; it is not just about performance. As well as undertaking a programme of practical classes to develop your physical and mental acting skills, you will be required to demonstrate progress throughout the unit.

BTEC Performing Arts Assessment

Unlike GSCE Courses the BTEC Level 2 First Award is assessed through internally set, marked and moderated tasks and assignments. Each unit has a set of assessment criteria of which all must be fulfilled. A unit may be assessed through a single assignment or a number of assignments. Assignments will take many forms including videoed presentations, practical workshops, performances, interviews, reports, role play, diary logs and test papers. Once a unit has been completed the scores for all the assignments will be entered onto an assessment sheet. A grade will then be given for the unit.

Drama GCSE

OCR’s GCSE (9–1)

Course Overview

Drama Year 7 Autumn Term

Drama Year 7 Spring Term

Drama Year 7 Summer Term

Drama Year 8 Autumn Term

Drama Year 8 Spring Term

Drama Year 8 Summer Term

Year 9

Drama Year 9 Autumn Term

Drama Year 9 Spring term

Drama Year 9 Summer term

Drama Year 10 Autumn Term

Drama Year 10 Spring Term

Drama Year 10 Summer Term

Drama Year 11 Autumn Term

Drama Year 11 Spring Term

Year 11 Drama Summer term