Drama
Head of Drama - Miss H Lacey
Drama Teacher - Miss E Gregson
At Key Stage 3 students follow two periods of Drama per fortnight.
At Key Stage 4 we follow the Edexcel Specification and invariably generate sufficient interest to run two groups.
At Key Stage 5 we follow the Edexcel Specification.
Results in the department remain amongst the best in the school with consistently over 75% of GCSE Drama students achieving an A*-C grade and 100% pass rate at A Level.
At Key Stage 3 the academic year in Drama is split into 6 units of work rather than 3 i.e. after every half term a new unit of work is started. The titles of the work are:
Year 7
| Term One Unit One | Establishing a positive working environment / cooperation and group work |
| Term One Unit Two | Greek monsters & Myths |
| Term Two Unit One | Silent Movie |
| Term Two Unit Two | Masks |
| Term Three Unit One | Character |
| Term Three Unit Two | Developing & performing monologues |
Year 8
| Term One Unit One | Introducing script work |
| Term One Unit Two | Process drama developing improvisation skills (Darkwood Manor) |
| Term Two Unit One | Studying a play |
| Term Two Unit Two | Puppetry and storytelling |
| Term Three Unit One | Exploring Shakespeare |
| Term Three Unit Two | Exploring Issues through drama |
Year 9
| Term One Unit One | Mime & movement |
| Term One Unit Two | Shakespeare - revisited and reenergised |
| Term Two Unit One | Radio plays and sound |
| Term Two Unit Two | Victorian Twists |
| Term Three Unit One | Lighting & monologue |
| Term Three Unit Two | Issue based: ‘I don’t like Mondays’/ she’s leaving home |
At KS4 Yr 10 is an experimental year developing practises and skills in preparation for Year 11 and the exams. The Edexcel Drama GCSE is practical with supporting coursework. There is no final written exam. For an outline of the course, see Edexcel’s website which gives an overview for both GCSE and A Level.
Each year the Drama Department offers the chance for students to participate in a number of extra-curricular activities and performance opportunities. This includes an annual School production which regularly attracts the participation of over 50 students who develop and show off their skills as actors, singers, musicians, dancers and the essential support team of lighting and sound technicians, set designers and so forth.
The drama department has two dedicated teaching spaces which are very different in terms of style. Both spaces are large and afford a good deal of room for students to develop their work in safety. We have recently acquired new staging. In addition students have supervised access to the re-vamped lighting rig in the Chapel, which enhances their work and the quality of their drama experience.
Drama is an essential subject in any school. It develops social and communication skills and allows students to express themselves and explore ideas in a richly creative, physical and emotional way. Drama has become a key subject which many employers look for on a CV.
