Drama
"We must all do theatre to find out who we are, and descover who we could become"
Augusto Boal
The Drama department strives to produce creative and confident speakers, performers and theatre-makers through a curriculum that enables students to acquire skills, knowledge and understanding of Drama and Theatre.
The curriculum will develop students' ability to work effectively as part of a team, an ensemble and as part of a performance. Students will develop analytical and evaluative skills through the role of audience members. The curriculum will ensure students can articulate their experiences of the world they live in and establish an environment where students can develop empathy and an understanding of the world from a range of viewpoints, fostering an appreciation and lifelong interest in the arts.
KS1
Children are given regular opportunities to present their ideas in front of their peers in classroom practice and in assemblies to develop their confidence and mastery of language. Opportunities for drama are interwoven across the curriculum to provide a rich context to explore new skills.
Children participate in a Christmas production and also visit local theatres to see performances linked to their learning.
KS2
In KS2 children continue to develop their performance skills and opportunities for debate form an important part of the English curriculum. Opportunities continue to be provided throughout other areas of the curriculum in addition to the requirements of the English curriculum.
This ensures that children's confidence continues to develop to prepare them for specialist teaching in KS3. Children participate in a production and regularly visit the drama performances by KS3 and KS4 to enhance their understanding.
KS3
What do we want our students to have achieved/developed by the end of KS3?
-
To develop skills, acquire fundamental knowledge and understanding within drama
-
To become creative and confident performers / theatre makers through deliberate practice
-
To be able to work as a team
-
To develop confident speakers
-
Analyse and evaluate their own work and the work of others
-
To be able to create theatre with a clear message
-
To demonstrate an understanding of the world around them through theatre
-
To be able to express an opinion / offer ideas and listen to others ideas and opinions
-
To love drama and know its worth
The Drama department uses 4 assessment objectives to focus our work at KS3 and encompass what we want the Drama curriculum to provide:
A01 - Create and develop ideas to communicate meaning for theatrical performance
A02 - Apply theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions in live performance.
A03 - Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how drama and theatre is developed and performed.
AO4 - Analyse and evaluate their own work and the work of others.
These AO’s continue to be built upon in KS4 if students continue to pursue Drama at GCSE Level. They also adequately prepare students for BTEC Performing Arts should that be the route they choose. Students half termly assessments use these AO’s to develop their understanding of what is required in terms of assessment in KS3.
Enrichment: Students are given opportunities to join Year 7 Drama club, Year 8/9 Shakespeare Society, the Whole School Musical (every other year) both on stage and backstage, alongside one off workshop opportunities and theatre performance that arise throughout the year.
KS4
At KS4 we follow the Edexcel specification for GCSE Drama. This consists of 3 components;
-
Devising
-
Performance from a Text
-
Theatre Makers in Practice (Written Exam)
What do we want our students to have achieved/developed by the end of KS4?
-
To develop their skills and knowledge gained at KS3
-
To develop performance skills through different styles and genres of performance
-
To be able to work as a team, taking on different roles within a group structure
-
To further develop confident speakers
-
Analyse and evaluate their own work and the work of others through the study of set texts and as audience members watching live theatre
-
Understand key roles within theatre and be able to confidently answer questions as a director, designer and performer
-
To demonstrate an understanding of the world around them through theatre
-
To love drama and know its role in wider society.
The Edexcel specification examines the following 4 Assessment Objectives across the 3 components. Students will be used to the language and specific requirements of these AO’s as they used them throughout KS3 in each of their assessments.
A01 - Create and develop ideas to communicate meaning for theatrical performance
A02 - Apply theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions in live performance.
A03 - Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how drama and theatre is developed and performed.
AO4 - Analyse and evaluate their own work and the work of others.
At KS4 we also offer a BTEC Tech award in Performing Arts. This is also broken down into 3 components:
-
Exploring the Performing Arts
-
Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts
-
Responding to a Brief
The three components focus on the assessment of knowledge, skills and practices. Students are given the opportunity to build their confidence in understanding the sector, vocational contexts and vocational attributes throughout the course.
This award gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific knowledge and skills in a practical learning environment. The initial assessment objective covered at KS3 support the following:
-
The development of key skills that prove aptitude in Performing Arts such as reproducing repertoire or responding to stimuli
-
The process that underpins effective ways of working in the Performing Arts, such as development of ideas, rehearsal and performance
-
The attitudes that are considered most important in the Performing Arts, including personal management and communication
-
The knowledge that underpins effective use of skills, process and attitudes in the sector such as roles, responsibilities, performance disciplines and styles.
Enrichment: Students have the opportunity to apply to be part of the Old Vic Schools Club and access four performances and four workshops across the year. They can also take part in the Whole School Musical (every other year) both on stage and backstage. Students in exam classes are top priority for sporadic theatre and workshop opportunities we receive throughout the year which includes the Young Vic, the Donmar Warehouse, the National Theatre, Brixton House, CSSD, Royal Academy of Music.
KS5
At KS5 we follow the Edexcel specification for Drama and Theatre. This consists of 3 components;
-
Devising
-
Performance from a Text
-
Theatre Makers in Practice (Written Exam)
These components are a natural progression from GCSE and follow a similar structure. They continue to build on prior knowledge and develop students skills and understanding of each of the components they studied at GCSE.
What do we want our students to have achieved/developed by the end of KS5?
-
To develop their skills and knowledge gained at KS4 by making connections between theory and practice
-
To develop performance skills through studying a range of theatre practitioners
-
To be able to work as a team, taking on different roles within a group structure and to build on independence within rehearsal
-
To further develop confident speakers
-
Analyse and evaluate their own work and the work of others through the study of set texts and as audience members watching live theatre
-
Understand and take on key roles within theatre and be able to confidently answer questions as a director, designer and performer
-
To understand the context and messages within piece of theatre
-
To demonstrate an understanding of the world around them through theatre
-
To become avid theatre goers
-
To love drama and look at future careers/study within the industry
The Edexcel specification examines the following 4 Assessment Objectives across the 3 components. Students will be used to the language and specific requirements of these AO’s as they used them throughout KS3 and 4 in each of their assessments.
A01 - Create and develop ideas to communicate meaning as part of the theatre-making process, making connections between dramatic theory and practice
A02 - Apply theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions in live performance
A03 - Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how drama and theatre is developed and performed.
AO4 - Analyse and evaluate their own work and the work of others.
Enrichment: Students have the opportunity to apply to be part of the Old Vic Schools Club and access four performances and four workshops across the year. They can also take part in the Whole School Musical (every other year) both on stage and backstage. Students in exam classes are top priority for sporadic theatre and workshop opportunities we receive throughout the year which includes the Young Vic, the Donmar Warehouse, the National Theatre, Brixton House, CSSD, Royal Academy of Music.
Curriculum Maps
Year 10 Drama GCSE Curriculum Year Map
Year 10 BTEC P A Curriculum Year Map
Year 11 Drama GCSE Curriculum Year Map
SEND and Inclusion
As in all areas of the curriculum, teachers should deliver ‘quality-first’ teaching and adapt lessons to support children with barriers to learning. On an individual basis, teachers should consider any limitations that a child has in accessing the planned lesson and provide: Adapted tasks and correct adult support Lesson broken down into chunks to support working memory Oral communication, as mentioned above, is the basis of promoting speaking and listening. This is incorporated into the lessons daily, to give all children the ability to express their thoughts. Visual cues are incorporated into each lesson, to create a link between prior learning and the task set. Regular opportunities to reuse/recap key concepts and vocabulary.
Drama is about collaboration and negotiation, our mixed-ability groups can act as a bridge between children with SEND and others in their peer group. It enables students with particular difficulties and provides an ideal environment to encourage students to work together and to develop trust and friendships.
Staff professional learning
Regular staff CPD, which is informed by our Excellence Plan and pupil need. Drama staff continuously seek out CPD opportunities in within the theatre industry to keep up with developments and further subject knowledge.
Regular meetings with the Creative Arts leaders and staff to support subject knowledge, development and planning.
Impact
At Dunraven, Drama students begin their development of the key Drama skills all the way back in EYFS with the building of teamwork, confidence and the ability to share ideas with others. These skills are used throughout their time at Dunraven and beyond. We believe that Drama equips young people with elements that are required to succeed in life but we also want students to love Drama and know its worth.
Students that choose GCSE and A Level Drama have great success evidenced by an excellent track record of results. Last year, 2022, we had our largest A Level cohort to date with 33% achieving an A*-A grade and securing excellent places at some of the top Universities to study a range of degree subjects from Medicine to Pyscology and of course Drama and Theatre studies. Our extensive extra curricular programme strives to ensure all students see live theatre during their time at Dunraven, through multiple professional connections we are able to offer theatre tickets to West End productions such as Frozen, The Lion King and Hamilton as well as productions and workshops at The Young Vic, The Old Vic, The Donmar Warehouse, Southwark Playhouse and the National Theatre.
Our whole school musical runs once every 2 years and involves students from year 7-13 both onstage and a large offering of backstage roles. Drama at Dunraven is a crucial part of our holistic education of the whole child and opportunities inside and outside the classroom create confident, articulate, creative young people who develop empathy and a wider understanding of the world around them.
