Drama

In the Drama Department at Bishop Ramsey we aim to open and offer a world of encouragement and creativity, whereby students can embrace their imaginations, growing in confidence and the skills needed to succeed in all areas of life. We are an inclusive department, supporting talents in both performance and production and offering a range of materials that supports the curriculum and that of the Bishop Ramsey’s values of Learning, Loving and Living.

Key Stage 3

In Year 7 students follow a programme called “An Introduction to Drama” which helps  students to learn skills such as Hot Seating, improvisation and Role Play.  Throughout the year they can explore these skills using a wide range of materials and lessons including, Shakespeare, scriptwriting and a creative scheme based around Toys. In the term before Christmas, students also get to work on creating their own pantomime, which the students really enjoy. Year 7 also takes part in a cross Curricular project based on Matilda the Musical, where work is shared with Art, Music and Dance. This is showcased for parents and friends at the end of the Summer Term. We aim to work on the skills needed to settle into high school successfully, encouraging confidence, collaboration and speaking and listening.

In Year 8 students cover more specific drama techniques such as Abstract Theatre, Practitioners and how to put a unique performance together through the devising process. In Year 8 they work on a script called 'The Riots,' based on the London Riots in 2011 and a cross-curricular project based on the effects of social media. Many current issues are explored within Year 8, to evoke discussion and the ability to express feelings through practical work.

In Year 9, we offer students the opportunity to work on topics and skills that would apply in both the Performing Arts and Drama GCSE. Students work on scripts such as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and Noughts and Crosses. This enables students to tackle subjects such as asperges syndrome and black lives matter through practical work. They also work on creating their own theatre company, taking on the role of a performer and choosing an area of the Production team, to gain an understanding of life backstage. This year prepares students for the GCSE but also allows them to develop as young people creatively, enhancing fundamental life skills.

Key Stage 4 Drama

Edexcel GCSE 1DR0

Component 1 – Devising 40%/60 marks

Students work as a performer or designer to work in a group and create and develop an original piece of theatre in response to a stimulus. Alongside the practical element of the course, students need to present a written/typed or recorded portfolio documenting their creating process.

Component 2 – Performance from Text 20%/48 marks

Students work as a performer or designer and explore 2 key extracts from a published play. This is performed to a visiting external examiner and is a completely practical component that the students thoroughly enjoy.

Component 3 – Theatre Makers in Practice 40%/60 marks

This creative written exam is split into two sections:

Section A – Bringing texts to life which is based on the play DNA by Dennis Kelly. This play focuses on themes of friendship, bullying, gang crime and deception. Students answer set questions in the shoes of a performer, designer and director

Section B – Live theatre evaluation which assesses students' ability to analyse and evaluate a piece of live performance that they have gone to see.

Edexcel GCSE Drama 1DR0

Key Stage 4 Performing Arts

This qualification is with the exam board EDUQAS, but led through WJEC. It is composed of 3 units.

Unit 1: Performing

• This unit is internally assessed within the Drama and Performing Arts department.
• Here students recreate a piece of existing performance. This can be a segment from a play, musical, film, tv show, a dance, a song (singing or playing a musical instrument).

Unit 2: Creating

• This unit is internally assessed within the Drama and Performing Arts department.
• Here students devise/create their own performance. They can either create a piece of theatre, a dance/movement piece or a song using either music technology or in the usual way.

Unit 3: Performing Arts in Practice

• This unit is externally assessed by an examiner.
• Here students are given the opportunity to plan and create various pieces of work by responding to industry commissions. They will work to a brief commissioned by an arts organisation to plan a performance. For them to be successful in securing paid commissions, they will need to have a good understanding of the business and management sector of the performing arts industry.

WJEC ENTRY LEVEL PERFORMING ARTS SPECIFICATION 

Key Stage 5 A Level Drama

Edexcel 9DR0

The A Level consists of 3 components which mirrors the GCSE course but is more advanced and expectations of creativity in theory and practical are much higher.

Component 1 Devising – 40%/80 marks

Students work as a performer or designer to work in a group and create and develop an original piece of theatre in response to a stimulus and by using the methodologies of a chosen Practitioner. Alongside the practical element of the course, students need to present a written/typed or recorded portfolio documenting their creating process.

Component 2 – Text in performance – 20%/60 marks

Students work as a performer or designer and explore 2 published plays. Students are required to perform a group piece and a monologue or duologue. This is performed to a visiting external examiner and is completely practical.

Component 3 – Theatre Makers in Practice – 40%/80marks

This written exam paper is split into 3 sections, allowing students to show the examiner their creative understanding of performing, designing, directing and reviewing live theatre.

Section A – Students watch a piece of live performance and are offered a choice of 2 questions to write a review about (20 marks).

Section B – Students study ‘Machinal’ by Sophie Tredwell, which is a feminist piece written in 1920’s New York. This question is split into two and students must write in the shoes of a performer and designer (38 marks).

Section C – Students study ‘Dr Faustus’ by Christopher Marlow and are given the opportunity to create their own concept of the play for a modern audience, explaining to the examiner how as a director they would stage this performance (22 marks).

Edexcel GCE Drama 9DR0

Extra-Curricular

As a department, we pride ourselves on the quality of our extra-curricular activities, offering the students a range of clubs throughout the year. These include

• Tech Club
• Drama Club
• The big school production
• Cabaret performance
• Expressive Arts Club
• KS3 summer performance