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Buxton Community School

Buxton Community School

Drama

Head of Department: Lorraine Cushnie (lorraine.cushnie@buxton.derbyshire.sch.uk)


Key Stage 3

At KS3 we aim to give students a wide range of experiences through a variety of topics and stimuli to develop their skills as performers, theatre makers and critical audience.

In each unit there are at least 2 assessment objectives that are assessed with all assessment objectives being covered over the year. At the end of each unit, students reflect on their work and assessments recording marks and feedback, identifying areas of strength and improvement and setting targets to focus on in the next unit. This is completed on Microsoft Teams and will be completed independently as homework.  For those students who may need additional help or require access to IT there will be an additional lunchtime session that students are able to attend if they wish.

To support your child, you can talk to them about what they are doing in lessons, take them to the theatre or watch streamed theatre at home, help them with their homework or check their understanding of what they need to do.

Year 7

Drama Expectations and Basic Skills

In this unit students will learn the expectations for all future Drama lessons – lesson routines, how to work in a group and discuss work, and being respectful. They will also develop basic performance skills such as voice and physicality and learn about staging, still image and body as a prop.

Assessment will be on AO1 – group work and AO2 – baseline performance

Darkwood Manor

This unit looks at Mrs Brown’s attempts to sell her haunted house, Darkwood Manor, bringing to life local characters in the nearby village. The focus is also on how to create atmosphere and develop characterisation. Students will learn about soundscapes, mime, improvisation and thoughts aloud.

Assessment will be on AO2 – group performance and designing and making a prop and AO3 – justifying design decisions of prop

Eric

This unit focuses on a young boy called Eric, who is bullied at school. Students will respond to visual and textual stimulus while gaining an understanding of empathy, learn about monologues and non-naturalistic movement in performance as well as conscience corridors, spotlighting and verbal machine. Students will also develop their evaluation skills and learn how to improve their work after receiving feedback.

Assessment will be on AO2 – group performance and AO4 – self and peer evaluation

Commedia dell’arte

In this unit students will learn about this Italian theatre style’s origins, history, influence, stock characters, and use of mask. They will also develop their improvisation skills and comic performance and carry out independent research.

Assessment will be on AO2 – group performance and AO3 – independent research

Storytelling

In this unit students will develop their creativity, narration and storytelling skills. They will explore extracts from the play Sparkleshark by Phillip Ridley. This unit aims to bring together all the skills and techniques learned across the year into an extended devised performance as well as introducing new techniques such as slow motion, transitions and creative use of props and objects.

Assessment will be on AO1 – group work, AO2 – group performance AO4 – self and peer evaluation

Year 8 

Drama Expectations and Basic Skills

In this unit students will learn the expectations for all future Drama lessons – lesson routines, how to work in a group and discuss work, and being respectful. They will also develop basic performance skills such as voice and physicality and learn about staging, still image and body as a prop.

Assessment will be on AO1 – group work and AO2 – baseline performance

The Truth Is Out There

This unit looks at aliens and conspiracy theories in a lighthearted manner. Students will learn about different types of comedy such as character driven comedy and physical comedy while developing their own comedic skills. They will begin to learn about how to read a script and the idea of interpretation as well as the techniques of marking the moment, soundscape and body as a prop.

Assessment will be on AO1 group work and AO2 – group performance

Treasure Island

During this unit students will explore elements of the story of Treasure Island, looking at extracts from a play adaptation. They will develop their characterisation skills and learn about character motivation and how to communicate this in performance. Techniques such as soundscape, body as prop, choral movement, hotseating and still image will be used in the exploration of the play and characters. Students will learn about set design, the idea of a design concept and the world of the play.

Assessment will be on AO2 – group performance and set design and AO3 – set design justification

Greek Theatre

In this unit students will learn about the conventions of Greek Theatre, its history and influences. They will work on chorus and explore some Greek stories such as Prometheus.

Assessment will be on AO2 – group performance AO4 – self and peer evaluation

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Students will explore the story and characters of the Shakespearian comedy while learning about cross cutting, word fighting, status, and dramatic irony.  They will explore the different worlds of the play – Athens, the Fairies, the Lovers and the Mechanicals. Throughout the unit students will also be developing their evaluation skills.

Assessment will be on AO2 – group performance AO4 – self and peer evaluation

 

Year 9

Drama Expectations and Basic Skills

In this unit students will recap basic performance skills such as voice and physicality and previously taught techniques. Students will complete a skills audit and set targets for the rest of the year.

Assessment will be on AO1 – group work and AO2 – baseline performance

Themes

This unit focuses on the themes of power and freedom through a variety of stimuli - Denis Kelly’ play DNA, images, poems and an installation.  Students will revisit the techniques of cross cutting, word fighting, levels and marking the moment while learning about given circumstances, sub text and character objective and developing their understanding of symbolism. They will develop their ability to justify their work and consider what is being communicated to an audience and how.

Assessment will be on AO2 – group performance AO3 – justification of performance choices

Face the Play by Benjamin Zephaniah and Ricard Conlon

Students will explore the themes, characters, devices, structure and storyline of this play. They will develop their understanding of how to read, explore and perform a play text, working on chorus, staging, set design and character development. Evaluation skills will be a focus throughout the unit helping students to improve their work.

Assessment will be on AO2 – group scripted performance and set design AO3 – character profile and AO4 self and peer evaluation

Theatre Company

Students will learn about the different roles within a theatre company/theatre organisation – performers, designers, administration, directors and producers.  They will then form their own small theatre companies and take on one or two roles within the company to stage a devised performance.  This unit will allow all students to develop those transferable skills embedded in the subject – organisation, creativity, time management, teamwork, communication and planning while also developing their Drama skills.

Assessment will be on AO1 – group work AO2 – group performance or design

Key Stage 4

EDUQAS’s GCSE (9 – 1) in Drama

In year 10 students will be building on the skills and knowledge to prepare them for coursework, practical performances and examination in year 11 by working practically exploring play texts, themes and theatre styles. During the course students need to see at least one piece of live theatre for their written exam, a specific theatre trip will be organised for this purpose.

SUMMARY OF ASSESSMENT AND CONTENT OVERVIEW:

Component 01  Devising Theatre

Non-exam assessment:  internally assessed, externally moderated

30% of qualification                                                                                                    60 MARKS

  • Learners will research and explore a stimulus, work collaboratively and create their own devised drama.

Component 02: Performing from a Texts

Non-exam assessment: (Visiting examination)

30% of qualification                                                                                                   60 MARKS

  • Learners develop and apply theatrical skills in acting or design by presenting a showcase of two extracts from a play text.

Component 03:  Interpreting Theatre

Written examination:  1 hour 30 minutes

40% of qualification                                                                                                   60 MARKS

Section A - Learners will explore practically a play text to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of drama. They will need to be able to answer exam questions on their design, performance and directing choices for the set play text.

Section B - Learners will analyse and evaluate a live theatre performance.

For Components 1 & 2 students will be given the opportunity to be examined as a performer or a designer – including set, costume, lighting and sound.

To support your child, you can talk to them about what they are doing in lessons, take them to the theatre or watch streamed theatre at home, help them learn lines or check their books and understanding of what they are doing. You could also read the play texts they are studying so you have more of an understanding of what they are doing. It would also be helpful to ensure they are attending any additional revision or rehearsal sessions.