Topic outline
KS3 - Years 7
The KS3 curriculum largely follows Joss Bennathan's 'Developing Drama Skills 11 - 14'.
In Year 7 there are five units and are constituted as follows:-'Serious Fun' - A two-lesson introductory unit which introduces students to the ground rules of conduct and work in Drama lessons. Four four-lesson units follow.
'It Was Terrifying' - which introduces the collaborative nature of Drama, and techniques such as freeze-frame and monologues.
'Haunted and Hunted' - concentrating on story-telling, creating atmosphere and soundscape.
'Evacuation' - a dramatic examination of the evacuation of children during WW2, highlighting research for documentary drama and group images.
'The Tempest' - a study of the opening scene of the play and the relationships between Prospero, Miranda, Caliban and Ariel. There is also the opportunity for some set design.
KS3 - Years 8
The KS3 curriculum largely follows Joss Bennathan's 'Developing Drama Skills 11 - 14'
In Year 8 there are four units which each take up 4 or 5 sessions and are constituted as follows:-'Status' - an examination of the role of status-based relationships in creating drama, which highlights the processes involved in improvised theatre.
'Jo' - role-play and hot-seating in order to gather information about a troubled teenager called Jo, and his story, which features non-naturalistic devices and flashback.
'Reportage' - creating improvised theatre from documentary sources, revising flashback and monologue.
'Old Man' - character creation and development, using observation of elderly people as a means of story-telling.
KS3 - Years 9
The KS3 curriculum largely follows Joss Bennathan's 'Developing Drama Skills 11 - 14'
In Year 9 there are four units which each take up 4 or 5 sessions and are constituted as follows:-'Shakespeare' - a production exercise culminating in a performance of the opening scene from 'Macbeth' - complete with props, costume, lighting and sound.
'Human Rights' - an issue-based unit, in which previously-learnt techniques are used to create drama suggested by a teenage curfew, Antigone's defiance and Rosa Parks.
'Rites of Passage' - using the Seven Ages of Man speech, a dramatic study of important moments in life, with an emphasis on ritual.
'Soap Opera' - a larger-group unit, in which students create the opening episode of a brand-new soap-opera, set in a small town in the Fens. Characterisation and setting are particular features of this unit, which also serves as an introduction to the processes followed at GCSE.
KS3 Drama Activities
For two days in June 2011, a group of more than 40 students worked with Drama teachers to create a Play in 2 Days. They produced an original and challenging piece of theatre based upon the theme of Money. Click the link below to view photos showing our students at work.
KS4 Drama Activities
Year 10 Drama students are currently preparing for some work based on the theme of loyalty. These images show the students creating freeze frames depicting 'split loyalties'. The students created their freeze frames in any way they wished and then modified them to make the gestures and expressions 'bigger', more subtle and then varied the levels and made greater use of space to make them more interesting. Click the link below to view photos showing our students at work.
We were recently treated to an exceptional performance from students at Impington Village College's Performance School where students take A levels in Dance, Drama, Music and Performing Arts. Every year some of our Year 11 students choose to go to Impington to continue their studies and we are always delighted when they come to visit us.
We hope to work more closely with the Performance School in the future as it will give our students something to be inspired by and to aim for. Click the link below to view photos showing our students at work.
GCSE Drama
Click the logo or link below if you would like to view the full course specification from the Exam Board website.
Exam Board Qualification Specification 
GCSE Drama 2DR01 Assessment
The GCSE Drama specification is made up of the following three units –
Unit 1: Improvisation (30% of GCSE)
You take part in a series of assessed practical workshops exploring an idea or theme through drama. This year's theme is that of "Separation". You will be given a variety of stimuli i.e. photographs, poems and objects and will have the opportunity to use drama to explore your ideas.Overview of assessment
Six-hour practical exploration
Documentary response (recommended maximum 2000 words)
Unit 2: Workshop of a full play text (30% of GCSE)
You take part in a series of assessed workshops on a play text and complete a portfolio of work on the work covered. Both marks for these two sections combine and make up 30% of the GCSE. You will also watch a live theatre performance and write a review on it.Overview of assessment
Six-hour practical exploration of the play text
Documentary response to practical exploration (recommended maximum 1000 words)
Documentary response to live theatre (recommended maximum 2000 words)Unit 3 – Practical exam (40% of GCSE)
You will rehearse and perform a script extract in front of an examiner. Scripts will be selected for you that give you opportunites to use your skills as an actor developed during the course. The performance normally takes place in the first two weeks of May in year 11.
Overview of assessment
Students will present their work as performers or performance in a single performance to an examiner.Key Terms used in GCSE Drama include:
The Explorative Strategies The Drama Medium & Elements of Drama - Hotseating
- Cross Cutting
- Role Play
- Thought tracking
- Still Image
- Narrating
- Forum Theatre
- Marking the moment
- Space, Movement and Levels
- Voice and MovementSet Design
- Mime and Gesture
- Space and Levels
- Climax and Anti Climax
- Contrasts
- Use of Sound and Music
- Symbols
BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Performing Arts (Acting)
Click the logo or link below if you would like to view the full course specification from the Exam Board website.
Exam Board Qualification Specification BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Performing Arts (Acting) 600/47859 BTEC Performing Arts (Acting) is a highly practical course that will not only develop your performance and theatrical skills, but will also prepare you for higher level courses or employment in the Arts. During the course you will often work collaboratively as you devise your own plays and rehearse from scripts and you will even create your own theatre company with complete responsibility for planning, rehearsing and putting on a performance for invited audiences. You will also learn how to promote yourself in letters of application, presentations and auditions – learning skills that will help you after you have left school and prepare to enter the world of work. This qualification is equivalent to GCSE and whilst it does contain some externally assessed units, it is still largely a practical course that encourages and rewards independent learning and allows you to keep track of your progression and development.
Individual Showcase (Externally Assessed – 30 Marks)
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Produce a letter of application for job or training opportunity explaining how your skills relate to those required by the employer
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Presentation of experiences and understanding or audition that demonstrates your skills
Preparation, Performance and Production (Internally Assessed – 30 Marks)
Your company has been commissioned to create a humorous performance piece aimed at a teenage audience. You will work as members of a theatre company in an assigned production or performance role.
Acting Skills (Internally Assessed – 60 marks)
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As a member of a youth theatre company you are required to attend a series of acting workshops, keeping record of your progress and identifying your strengths/areas for development and setting targets for your improvement.
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Demonstrate your skills in a short performance piece. Working in small groups prepare and perform an extract from a script given to you by your company Director.
What you will study:
Physical and vocal skills used by actors to create character in performance;
How to explore and develop ideas for staging and performing the piece, drawing upon knowledge and understanding of the themes/issues of a play and its historical/social backgroundYou will learn the following skills:
Vocal and movement skills in workshop sessions (e.g. breath control, projection, accent, use of pause, awareness of surroundings and other performers, facial expressions, pace, physicalisation of internal feelings). Developing material by rehearsing, practising, designing or constructing. Research and development in response to ideas that arise out of rehearsal process. Team working skills – respecting ideas of others, supporting colleagues, showing trust and sensitivity towards others. Willingness to try things out and become more confident in your abilities
Assessment
25% External Assessment: Letter of application for arts related job/course; Audition or presentation.
75% Internally Assessement: Practical performance based coursework.Other Information
It is likely that most students will wish to develop acting skills and undertake performance roles within practical work, however, there will be opportunities for students to undertake one or more of the following roles: Other performance (dancer, singer, musician), Production (lighting, sound, costume, props, make up, set) No previous or extra-curricular experience of Performing Arts necessary.
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BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Performing Arts (Dance)
Click the logo or link below if you would like to view the full course specification from the Exam Board website.
Exam Board Qualification Specification BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Performing Arts (Dance) 500/7427 BTEC Performing Arts (Dance) is a highly practical course that will not only develop your performance and theatrical skills, but will also prepare you for higher level courses or employment in the Arts. During the course you will often work collaboratively as you devise your own plays and rehearse from scripts and you will even create your own theatre company with complete responsibility for planning, rehearsing and putting on a performance for invited audiences. You will also learn how to promote yourself in letters of application, presentations and auditions – learning skills that will help you after you have left school and prepare to enter the world of work. This qualification is equivalent to GCSE and whilst it does contain some externally assessed units, it is still largely a practical course that encourages and rewards independent learning and allows you to keep track of your progression and development.
Individual Showcase (Externally Assessed – 30 Marks)
-
Produce a letter of application for job or training opportunity explaining how your skills relate to those required by the employer
-
Presentation of experiences and understanding or audition that demonstrates your skills
Preparation, Performance and Production (Internally Assessed – 30 Marks)
Your company has been commissioned to create a humorous performance piece aimed at a teenage audience. You will work as members of a theatre company in an assigned production or performance role.
Acting Skills (Internally Assessed – 60 marks)
-
As a member of a youth theatre company you are required to attend a series of acting workshops, keeping record of your progress and identifying your strengths/areas for development and setting targets for your improvement.
-
Demonstrate your skills in a short performance piece. Working in small groups prepare and perform an extract from a script given to you by your company Director.
What you will study:
Physical and vocal skills used by actors to create character in performance;
How to explore and develop ideas for staging and performing the piece, drawing upon knowledge and understanding of the themes/issues of a play and its historical/social backgroundYou will learn the following skills:
Vocal and movement skills in workshop sessions (e.g. breath control, projection, accent, use of pause, awareness of surroundings and other performers, facial expressions, pace, physicalisation of internal feelings). Developing material by rehearsing, practising, designing or constructing. Research and development in response to ideas that arise out of rehearsal process. Team working skills – respecting ideas of others, supporting colleagues, showing trust and sensitivity towards others. Willingness to try things out and become more confident in your abilities
Assessment
25% External Assessment: Letter of application for arts related job/course; Audition or presentation.
75% Internally Assessement: Practical performance based coursework.Other Information
It is likely that most students will wish to develop acting skills and undertake performance roles within practical work, however, there will be opportunities for students to undertake one or more of the following roles: Other performance (dancer, singer, musician), Production (lighting, sound, costume, props, make up, set) No previous or extra-curricular experience of Performing Arts necessary.
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