Drama
The Drama department is made up of the Head of Drama and 1 full-time Drama and English teacher. The teaching spaces include a theatre that seats 300, complete with full sound and lighting rigs. This performance space provides unique opportunities for our young Drama students, allowing them to perform in a professional environment. The dedicated drama studio along with the adjacent school hall provide additional teaching spaces for our drama courses, each complete with a smaller lighting and sound rig. The Drama department is an active and energetic department with regular productions and events taking place throughout each academic year, along with regular trips to the theatre, designed to engage all students with drama and the theatrical arts. As a department our aim is for all students to enjoy Drama, to understand its significance to them and see it as a link to engaging with their world in a rich and meaningful manner. We seek to develop lively, enquiring minds with an ability to question, analyse and discuss rationally and effectively. We aim to offer students a rich and diverse learning environment so that we can inspire them in many different ways.
Links to SMSC and British Values
The Drama department is passionate about delivering a rich curriculum of SMSC through Active Learning and deep thinking. We seek to help students to apply their creative skills, investigate the world around them, build confidence in their own abilities and take pride in their own work.
Spiritual
Spiritual learning is embedded within the curriculum through the experience and emotion of response to the creative process. Students are required to create work from a stimulus that could range from a series of thought-provoking images, poetry, newspaper articles, and an extract from a play or a particular theme. In doing this, students have to engage with a wide range of issues sensitively and maturely, thus, encouraging students to explore their own beliefs and understand perspectives of others. These skills are essential for our students to be successful within the subject and we feel are fundamental in preparing our students for life beyond the classroom. Through a sensual approach to feeling, seeing and hearing, our learners respond creatively themselves and we aim to nurture feelings, enhance moods and enable students to reflect on the world around us more deeply and effectively. As part of their spiritual learning our drama students are also required to reflect on their learning and progress continuously throughout the term. This self-reflection allows students to be more open to the challenges the face within their learning and promotes independence and resilience.
Moral
Moral education in Drama, allows our students to express their own response to many sensitive topics that expose moral dilemmas and a wide range of opinions and emotions. In doing this, students expand their tolerance and can appreciate the work of practitioners in expressing justice and injustice. Throughout their learning across all key stages, students will be expected to engage in critical discussion in response to challenging topics and we feel that this is an integral process in their learning and development. Within the reflective element students will also take part in peer assessment and therefore will ensure reflections are justified and offer others positive steps on how to improve. All students at Ralph Thoresby have the opportunity to take part in various extracurricular productions and projects. Through doing this, students develop a strong understanding of the consequences of their actions and how they can impact on others; they also develop a sense of teamwork working towards shared goals and success.
Social
Social education at Ralph Thoresby provides an individual and collective experience that contributes to a students’ social development. Through collaboration in all lessons students develop essential social skills as they experience the necessity of pooling ideas, then selecting and developing them using effective co-operation and mutual agreement. Similarly, when students prepare for a performance they are required to develop the ability to work within an ensemble, whether it is the lead role or a supportive role. Students are reminded that they have a responsibility to the rest of the group and must work collaboratively to achieve success. Performing to an invited audience also encourages community cohesion and promotes a social identity. All students studying Drama in have the opportunity to explore and express ideas and feelings. Throughout this process, students will develop their ability to identify, listen to, understand and respect the views and values of others in discussion. In addition, our students regularly perform to each other and share their reflections of their own progress and that of others. In improving their drama skills students also gain confidence in their social skills. Students acquire these from the collaborative nature of the subject and the essential communication skills the subject requires.
Courses available to take at KS4 and KS5:
- KS4: Pearson Edexcel Level 1 / Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Drama
- KS5: Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Drame and Theatre
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Year 7 Overview
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01
Course Topic(s)
Drama Skills
Content / Learning Outcomes
All students will take part in a baseline assessment in one of their first three drama lessons.
The rest of the term, lessons will look at:
Focus and Movement
Development of performance skills.Assessment
Baseline Assessment. Formative Assessment
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02
Course Topic(s)
Drama Skills
Content / Learning Outcomes
Students will continue to work on their Drama skills in particular:
Improvisation
Storytelling
CharacterisationAssessment
Summative Assessment
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03
Course Topic(s)
Drama Style
Content / Learning Outcomes
During their lessons, students will learn and use a variety of Drama conventions:
Soundscape
Slow motion
Conscience alley
Telephone Conversation (vocal expression)Assessment
Formative Assessment
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04
Course Topic(s)
Drama Style
Content / Learning Outcomes
During their lessons, students will learn and use a variety of Drama conventions:
Mime (physical expression)
Forum Theatre (Boal)
Thought-trackingAssessment
Summative Assessment
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05
Course Topic(s)
Drama Text
Content / Learning Outcomes
During their lesson students will work with a script in detail with the focus on:
On and Off text improvisation
Performance Skills
Scripted PerformanceAssessment
Formative Assessment
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06
Course Topic(s)
Drama Text
Content / Learning Outcomes
During their lesson students will work with a script in detail with the focus on:
On and Off text improvisation
Performance Skills
Scripted PerformanceAssessment
Summative Assessment
How can I support my child?
Regular activities to undertake:
To enable students to develop skills as theatre-makers, directors and performers, it is important for students to see as much theatre as possible.
Homework Information
Although much of Drama is practical in lesson, there are some elements of written work throughout the year both in lesson and at home. It is vital that students complete all homework tasks set by their teacher to the best of their ability
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01
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Year 8 Overview
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01
Course Topic(s)
Konstantin Stanislavski
Content / Learning Outcomes
During their lessons, student will be introduced to the practitioner:
Konstantin Stanislavski
Students will focus on creating reality on stage using Stanislavski’s different theories and techniques
Assessment
Formative Assessment
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02
Course Topic(s)
Konstantin Stanislavski
Content / Learning Outcomes
Students will study the script Blood Brothers by Willy Russell and use techniques to create a naturalistic performance to their peers
Assessment
Summative Assessment
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03
Course Topic(s)
Steven Berkoff
Content / Learning Outcomes
During their lessons, student will be introduced to the practitioner:
Steven Berkoff
Students will focus on using their bodies as objects developing the skills and techniques of Physical Theatre
Assessment
Formative Assessment
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04
Course Topic(s)
Steven Berkoff
Content / Learning Outcomes
During their lessons, student will be introduced to the practitioner:
Steven Berkoff
Students will focus on using their bodies as objects developing the skills and techniques of Physical Theatre
Assessment
Summative Assessment
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05
Course Topic(s)
Bertolt Brecht
Content / Learning Outcomes
During their lessons, students will learn the skills and techniques of:
Bertolt Brecht
Students will learn the skills of Brecht and produce a piece of Theatre to Educate their audience
Assessment
Formative Assessment
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06
Course Topic(s)
Devising
Content / Learning Outcomes
During their lessons , students will work to become practitioners and devise their own drama performance devising from a photo stimulus
Assessment
Summative Assessment
How can I support my child?
Regular activities to undertake:
To enable students to develop skills as theatre-makers, directors and performers, it is important for students to see as much theatre as possible.
Homework Information
Although much of Drama is practical in lesson, there are some elements of written work throughout the year both in lesson and at home. It is vital that students complete all homework tasks set by their teacher to the best of their ability
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01
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Year 9 Overview
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01
Course Topic(s)
Skills Workshop
Content / Learning Outcomes
Workshops on theatre-making, focusing on different theatre styles, companies and practitioners
In groups, students will create a new piece of theatreAssessment
Self/ Peer assessment ongoing in lesson
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02
Course Topic(s)
Skills Workshop
Content / Learning Outcomes
Workshops on theatre-making, focusing on different theatre styles, companies and practitioners
In groups, students will create a new piece of theatreAssessment
Formative assessment with feedback throughout lessons
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03
Course Topic(s)
Scripted Project
Content / Learning Outcomes
Students will work on a scripted project and will need to learn lines, develop their character and complete all rehearsals
Assessment
Self/ Peer assessment ongoing in lesson
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04
Course Topic(s)
Scripted Project
Content / Learning Outcomes
Students will work on a scripted project and will need to learn lines, develop their character and complete all rehearsals
Assessment
Formative assessment with feedback throughout lessons
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05
Course Topic(s)
Devising Techniques
Content / Learning Outcomes
Students will complete workshops with various stimuli and texts to encourage their analytical ability as well as their ability to stage and direct work
Assessment
Self/ Peer assessment ongoing in lesson
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06
Course Topic(s)
Component Three
Content / Learning Outcomes
Students will perform the set text DNA by Dennis Kelly
Assessment
Formative assessment with feedback throughout lessons
Useful Links
How can I support my child?
Revision materials/support for any exams:
Visit the theatre! The more live theatre seen, the better
Discuss performance work with student; analyse and evaluate work
Reading evaluations aloud to ensure they read well. Discussing the way in which performances will be realised on stage
Encourage students to research and revise. Practise paragraphs
Regular activities to undertake:
To enable students to develop skills as theatre-makers, directors and performers, it is important for students to see as much theatre as possible.
Homework Information
Although much of Drama is practical in lesson, there is a substantial amount of written assessment, in both controlled assessment and examined assessment form. It is vital that students complete all homework tasks to ensure they are fully prepared.
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01
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Year 10 Overview
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01
Course Topic(s)
Skills Workshops
Content / Learning Outcomes
Workshops on theatre-making, focusing on different theatre styles, companies and practitioners
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02
Course Topic(s)
Devising
Content / Learning Outcomes
In groups, students will create a new piece of theatre and complete portfolio questions as a mock of the Component One requirements
Assessment
Component One mock
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03
Course Topic(s)
Scripted
Content / Learning Outcomes
Students will learn a monologue (solo) and work as part of an ensemble to bring a piece of text to life in a group
Students will participate in character, text exploration and directorial workshopsAssessment
Component Two mock
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04
Content / Learning Outcomes
Detailed study of set text ‘DNA’ by Denis Kelly
Assessment
Component 3 mock
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05
Content / Learning Outcomes
Beginning to explore stimuli in preparation for the real Component One
Rehearsals for performance of devised piece -
06
Content / Learning Outcomes
Component One:
Students to complete supporting portfolio
Students will perform to an audience and the work will be recorded and sent to the exam boardAssessment
Component One
Useful Links
How can I support my child?
Revision materials/support for any exams:
Visit the theatre! The more live theatre seen, the better
Discuss performance work with student; analyse and evaluate work
Reading evaluations aloud to ensure they read well. Discussing the way in which performances will be realised on stage
Encourage students to research and revise. Practise paragraphs
Regular activities to undertake:
To enable students to develop skills as theatre-makers, directors and performers, it is important for students to see as much theatre as possible.
Homework Information
Although much of Drama is practical in lesson, there is a substantial amount of written assessment, in both controlled assessment and examined assessment form. It is vital that students complete all homework tasks to ensure they are fully prepared.
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01
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Year 11 Overview
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01
Course Topic(s)
Scripted workshops
Content / Learning Outcomes
Students will participate in character, text exploration and directorial workshops
Assessment
Self/ Peer assessment ongoing in lesson
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02
Course Topic(s)
Component Two
Content / Learning Outcomes
Component Two: Selection of script extracts, rehearsals for performance
Assessment
Formative assessment with feedback throughout lessons
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03
Course Topic(s)
Component Two
Content / Learning Outcomes
Component Two: Rehearsals for and performance of two text extracts
Students will need to learn lines and develop their character and interpretation of the text
Students will perform to an external examinerAssessment
Component Two
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04
Content / Learning Outcomes
Component Three: Revision of ‘DNA’ by Denis Kelly
Live theatre trip, and lessons on how to analyse and review live theatreAssessment
Exam paper revision marked and feedback given
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05
Content / Learning Outcomes
Component Three: Revision of ‘DNA’ by Denis Kelly
Live theatre trip, and lessons on how to analyse and review live theatreAssessment
Exam paper revision marked and feedback given
Useful Links
How can I support my child?
Revision materials/support for any exams:
Visit the theatre! The more live theatre seen, the better
Discuss performance work with student; analyse and evaluate work
Reading evaluations aloud to ensure they read well. Discussing the way in which performances will be realised on stage
Encourage students to research and revise. Practise paragraphs
Regular activities to undertake:
To enable students to develop skills as theatre-makers, directors and performers, it is important for students to see as much theatre as possible.
Homework Information
Although much of Drama is practical in lesson, there is a substantial amount of written assessment, in both controlled assessment and examined assessment form. It is vital that students complete all homework tasks to ensure they are fully prepared.
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01
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Year 12 Overview
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01
Content / Learning Outcomes
The Creativity Assignment:
Where does creativity come from? Are you born with it?
Or is it something you develop? What inspires your Creativity?Assessment
Group presentation Individual Essay
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02
Content / Learning Outcomes
Detailed study of ‘Woyzeck’ by Georg Buchner, focusing on exploring stage space, setting, character relationships, actor-audience relationships, directorial vision, costume and props, performance space, exit and entrance points, vocal and physical skill and the play’s socio-political context
Workshops on Bertolt Brecht and how this links to the play text, and / or how it may be directed in his style
Assessment
Self/ Peer assessment ongoing in lesson
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03
Content / Learning Outcomes
Detailed study of ‘That Face’ by Polly Stenham, focusing on exploring stage space, setting, character relationships, actor-audience relationships, directorial vision, costume and props, performance space, exit and entrance points, vocal and physical skill and the play’s socio-political context
Developing a new piece of theatre in the style of a given practitioner or company
Assessment
Self/ Peer assessment ongoing in lesson
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04
Content / Learning Outcomes
Component One: Developing ideas
Mock of Component Two: Developing characters and interpreting two key extracts for a scripted performance
Assessment
Formative assessment with feedback throughout lessons
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05
Content / Learning Outcomes
Component One: Rehearsal
Mock of Component Two: Developing characters and interpreting two key extracts for a scripted performance
Assessment
Formative assessment with feedback throughout lessons
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06
Content / Learning Outcomes
Performance of Component One
Supporting portfolio to be completedAssessment
Component One
How can I support my child?
Revision materials/support for any exams:
Visit the theatre! The more live theatre seen, the better
Discuss performance work with student; analyse and evaluate work
Reading evaluations aloud to ensure they read well. Discussing the way in which performances will be realised on stage
Encourage students to research and revise. Practise paragraphs
Regular activities to undertake:
To enable students to develop skills as theatre-makers, directors and performers, it is important for students to see as much theatre as possible.
Homework Information
Although much of Drama is practical in lesson, there is a substantial amount of written assessment, in both controlled assessment and examined assessment form. It is vital that students complete all homework tasks to ensure they are fully prepared.
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01
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Year 13 Overview
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01
Content / Learning Outcomes
Intensive rehearsal for Component Two (both extracts)
Theatre trip*, with lessons focused on analysing live theatre, and understanding and interpreting a director’s vision
Assessment
Self/ Peer assessment ongoing in lesson
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02
Content / Learning Outcomes
Intensive rehearsal for Component Two (both extracts)
Occasional revision lessons
Assessment
Self/ Peer assessment ongoing in lesson
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03
Content / Learning Outcomes
Performance of Component Two to visiting examiner and live audience
Assessment
Component Two
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04
Content / Learning Outcomes
Revision of both set texts and live theatre production
Assessment
Exam paper revision marked and feedback given
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05
Content / Learning Outcomes
Revision of both set texts and live theatre production
Assessment
Exam paper revision marked and feedback given
How can I support my child?
Revision materials/support for any exams:
Visit the theatre! The more live theatre seen, the better
Discuss performance work with student; analyse and evaluate work
Reading evaluations aloud to ensure they read well. Discussing the way in which performances will be realised on stage
Encourage students to research and revise. Practise paragraphs
Regular activities to undertake:
To enable students to develop skills as theatre-makers, directors and performers, it is important for students to see as much theatre as possible.
Self-study Information
Although much of Drama is practical in lesson, there is a substantial amount of written assessment, in both controlled assessment and examined assessment form. It is vital that students complete all homework tasks to ensure they are fully prepared.
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01