What you will study?

We will explore all three aspects of Drama and Performing Arts – performing, creating and responding. The content of this course is selected by our specialist teaching staff, in collaboration with you (the students in the cohort). This means we can offer a tailored course to meet your needs and interest.

Performing - You will develop the appropriate skills and techniques in Drama and Physical Theatre. You will participate in regular workshops, classes and exercises where you will acquire, practice and develop the necessary technical, practical and interpretative performance skills to help you succeed when performing live to an audience. You will consider the nature, skills and attributes of the performer’s role. You will work with existing performance works, analysing and interpreting the material in order to understand and apply the relevant skills and techniques appropriate to the style. In practical classes you will demonstrate the discipline, focus and commitment the role of the performer requires. Ongoing review and evaluation will allow you to monitor your progress and set targets for the development of your performance skills.

Responding – You will investigate the work of performing arts practitioners and develop critical analysis skills and contextual understanding of how practitioners communicate themes in their work.

Creating - You will learn how to respond to a given stimulus as part of a group, using research, discussion and practical exploration to develop performance material and later present the work to an invited audience. As a member of a team, you will contribute to the creative development and rehearsal process, shaping and refining the work and applying performance and teamwork skills. You will share responsibility for creative decisions regarding the nature and direction of the intended performance. The performance will be an opportunity to try out the work before an audience to invite discussion and evaluation of its potential. You will reflect on the development process, considering the success and potential of the work for further development, as well as evaluating your own contribution to the process and the product.

How you will be assessed?

The qualification is comprised of 4 units – 2 internally assessed and externally moderated, and 2 externally assessed. 2 of the 4 units allows for you to respond to the task in different ways, for example written report, blog, scrapbook, video evidence. 2 units will be completed in Year 12 and 2 will be completed in Year 13.

Why should you study Drama?

It will increase your self-esteem and confidence. You will learn the skills of listening, negotiating and communicating. It will expand your cultural awareness, exploring theatre work from a range of practitioners and styles. It will increase your ability to think; creatively, imaginatively and divergently. You will learn how to think outside the box and solve problems. Drama requires us to view things from multiple perspectives, which automatically widens our perspectives. You will learn how to be creative and express your creativity in a variety of ways. In drama there is no right or wrong, creative play is encouraged and mistakes are often happy accidents. You will also develop wider transferable skills, such as being able to work collaboratively, personal management and organisation (rehearsals, time-management), being able to give and take direction, confidence in front of an audience, problem solving (refining the process) and teamwork (essential when performing as a group).

Entry requirements - The standard entry for a Sixth Form pathway, Level 3 including A Levels and Vocational subjects, is 5 grade 4s at GCSE including English Language and Maths.

For more information please see: Mrs L Coull - Head of Drama

Mrs A Phillips - Faculty Leader of Expressive Arts