Drama

What Is Special About This Subject?

It aims to inspire students curiosity through collaborative exploration and expression of performance. Students learn skills of teamwork, delegation, communication and confidence. Students’ creativity is encouraged in a safe space where ideas are welcomed and challenged by others in a supportive and caring way.

What Is The Learning Journey Through This Subject?

Key Stage 3 – Drama

WHAT WILL I LEARN IN THIS SUBJECT?

Drama is taught because the skills you learn in Drama will enable you to become a more confident and well-rounded individual and help with your personal development. You will be given a chance to express your thoughts and feelings and explore these through thought-provoking topics, plays and performances.  You will enhance your speaking and listening skills with others and develop vital communication skills in a supportive and inclusive environment.

WHAT KNOWLEDGE AND THEMES ARE COVERED?

The following areas are covered during the Key Stage:

• Introduction to Drama and Dramatic Skills
• Commedia Del Arte
• Darkwood Manor (Story Telling)
• Masks Performance
• Physical Theatre
• Spies (Looking at Stanislavski techniques)
• Media Mayhem (Theatre Styles)
• Slow Time (Scripted performance)
• Cluedo (Characterisation)
• Slapstick Performance (Performance Style)
• Blood Brothers (Play Study)
• Let Him Have It (Story of Craig and Bentley)
• Discrimination (key skills including– marking the moment, monologue, thought tracking)c                                                                                                                                                         

HOW IS IT ASSESSED?

Drama is assessed using the NTC Standards guidelines.  All students are assessed once per term and given a progress level.

WHERE DOES THIS TAKE ME?

You will be able to transfer the skills you learn in Drama and complete a BTEC in the subject if you wish starting in Year 9. From this you will be able to study Drama and Dramatic performance at KS5.

Key Stage 4 - BTEC Drama

WHAT WILL I LEARN ON THIS COURSE

The BTEC First Award in Performing Arts (Acting) programme is a hands-on course that focuses on developing and honing your dramatic skills through a variety acting workshops, rehearsals and performances.

The course consists of 3 Units that concentrate on building a broad set of dramatic skills that will prepare you to work through scripted performances and scene study. This creative process lays the foundation for you to create and perform your own original theatre pieces to live audiences.

The course is made up of the following units of study:

• Unit 3: Acting Skills
• Unit 2: Preparation, Performance, and Production
• Unit 1: Individual Showcase (Externally Assessed)

HOW IS THIS QUALIFICATION TAUGHT AND ASSESSED?

The BTEC First Award is a practical work-related drama course where you learn by completing projects that are based on realistic work place situations, activities, and demands in the theatre industry. You will attend acting workshops to improve your skills, engage in scene study, build ensemble with your classmates, develop your own devised theatre pieces, and even learn how to ace an audition!

There are no written exams in this course. Units 2 and 3 are assessed through the evidence you produce during workshops, rehearsals, and performances. These may include rehearsal logs, reflections of your creative process and learning journey, and audio and video recordings. Unit 1 is assessed on your individual performance and audition application which take place at the end of the course.

WHAT QUALIFICATION WILL I ACHIEVE?

You will gain a BTEC Level 1 / 2 Award in Performing Arts (Acting) by Edexcel (equivalent to 1 GCSE).

What extra-curricular activities can students get involved in?

We offer two whole school performances a year that all students can be involved in as well as offering two theatre visits each year. We also offer a visit to Disneyland Paris.

What can my child do at home to improve his progress in this subject?

Background reading on theatre and styles and use of BBC Bitesize is a good idea. We also provide homework once every two weeks in Drama.

WHERE WILL THIS QUALIFICATION TAKE ME?

A BTEC First in Performing Arts (Acting) provides a good grounding to go on to a more advanced theatre and drama course in our sixth form. With further training or study, students may enter careers in the Performing Arts industry, such as acting, theatre, dance, entertainment or film/television.

This course also prepares you for employment and supports your work in other subjects giving you the skills to work collaboratively with others, improve public speaking and presentations, and gain self-esteem and confidence.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE?

See Mr Keating or Ms Hull (keatingd@ntc.kent.sch.uk, hullg@ntc.kent.sch.uk)