Drama

Drama at Wade Deacon High School

Every Year 7 and 8 student at Wade Deacon High School studies Drama once a fortnight. The Drama lessons in Years 7 and 8 are exciting and engaging, teaching students valuable life skills as well as preparing them for the GCSE specification if they wish to further their Drama careers. The curriculum is varied with them learning how to study and perform from a script, ‘Blood Brothers’, learn about the style of Commedia dell‘arte as well as work in groups to devise their own performances. Drama lessons are taught in a purpose built Drama Studio which is fully equipped with state of the art sound and light systems.

GCSE Drama students begin the course in Year 9; it involves many areas of study involving a variety of practical modules and theory topics. Drama at GCSE is an optional subject; students’ performances in Foundation lessons determine their suitability for the course.

Throughout the three years, students will study a variety of practical options.

Drama is assessed on a devised drama piece (either performance or as a designer) with written log worth 40%, a scripted piece worth 20% and a written exam at the end of Year 11 worth 40%. This new specification engages and encourages students to become confident performers and designers with the skills they need for a bright and successful future. The course also prepares pupils for the transition to the A-Level course.

The confidence, creativity levels and skills students develop throughout the Drama GCSE course will equip them for numerous careers. The study of Drama also gives students the opportunities to perform in front of a live audience. Even if students don’t continue Drama as a GCSE Option, there are plenty of opportunities for students to get involved in extra-curricular Drama. Every year we perform a school musical and prepare a Christmas Concert that includes all elements of performing arts. The drama department has its own set of student leaders who organise fun extra-curricular opportunities, lead others through the performance rehearsals and support the department on a daily basis. Through the support of our leaders we were awarded Platinum Artsmark status.

Curriculum Aims

In performance subjects, students are exposed to a vibrant and exciting curriculum based around the development of practical music and drama skills in KS3. This fosters confidence and a love of the performance which enables students to continue their journey in KS4 in a much more personalised manner.

Curriculum Overview

Year 9

Autumn Term

Study of a live play
Study of selected set play
Devising performances

Spring Term

Devised performances
Scripted performances
Study of selected set text

Summer Term

Devised performances
Scripted performances
Exam Skills – full theory paper

Year 10

Autumn Term

Devised rehearsal
Section 1 of the log
Exam Skills – theory paper

Spring Term

Devised rehearsal
Section 2 of the log
Exam Skills – theory paper

Summer Term

Devised performance
Completed log
Exam Skills – theory paper

Year 11

Autumn Term

Scripted: Performances
Exam Preparation
Exam skills - Theory paper

Spring Term

Exam preparation
Exam skills - Theory paper
Completion and finalisation of logs

Summer Term

Exam preparation
Exam skills - Theory paper

Reporting

At GCSE, our students are taught to develop a series of Drama theory skills which are displayed in the written work. To arrive at the P2S grade, this will be combined with a piece of GCSE Drama practical coursework. As the course progresses, more practical and theory skills are learnt and the students’ grade can increase.  As there is only one tier for the GCSE Drama paper, students can be graded A*-G.

Year 9

P2S1

Written Examination and practical piece.

Students are assessed on an improvisation piece using GCSE success criteria and a modified version of Section A exam paper, testing their theoretical knowledge and understanding of skills required to perform.

P2S2

Written Examination and practical piece.

Students are assessed using GCSE devised thematic performance and Section A of a past exam paper, testing their theoretical knowledge and understanding of skills required to perform.

P2S3

Written examination and practical piece.

Students are assessed using a full exam paper, testing their theoretical knowledge and understanding of skills required to perform, combined with their first practical assessments (scripted and devised).

Year 10

P2S1

Written examination and devised mock and section 1 of log

Students are assessed using a past exam paper, testing their theoretical knowledge, construction of drama.

P2S2

Full written examination and mock of performance and log.

Students are assessed using a past exam paper, testing their theoretical knowledge including section B of the paper focusing on Blood Brothers.

P2S3

Full written examination and mock of performance

Students are assessed using a past exam paper, testing their theoretical knowledge, construction of drama.

Year 11

P2S1

Full written examination last years devised performance and log and mock scripted.

P2S2

Full written examination last years devised performance and log and scripted examination teacher estimate. 

P2S3

The latest written examination plus the completed coursework.