Head of Drama: Laura Blake (l.blake@swr.gloucs.sch.uk)

Teacher of Drama: Mrs Katie Williams (k.williams@swr.gloucs.sch.uk)

Our Intent

To provide a drama curriculum that encourages our students to be aspirational, resilient, and collaborative. We aim to embrace every student’s ability and challenge them to be the best version of themself.

Extra-Curricular

We strive to provide a variety of extra-curricular activities to allow students to embrace all areas of drama from acting to directing to devising and designing. Students can participate in our Drama Club ‘Drama lama’, the SWR Arts Star and can audition for our productions. We have offered a range of productions for students to participate in, from whole school productions to whole school musicals to productions for the Shakespeare School Foundation.

Key Stage 3 Drama

An introduction to Drama

We cover a variety of areas of Drama and Theatre which prepares students with the necessary background knowledge and experience to approach Drama GCSE. In addition, it contributes to key skills that are necessary in other curriculum areas and enhances life skills. Lessons are structured focusing on a practical learning style, along with reflection and analysis of the work of others.

Please see detailed information for each year group below.

Unit Y7
1 Drama Conventions

Students are introduced to basic drama conventions and terminology via practical tasks

2 Genre

Students explore Genre and the changes in performance style to communicate genre effectively

3 Character Presentation

Students explore voice, movement, facial expression, costume, and gesture to create and present character.

4 Text Study: Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations By Alan Ayckbourn

Students explore an entire text considering the directors, designers, and actor’s approaches

5 Status

Students are introduced to basic performance strategies (proxemics, levels, semiotics) through an exploration of character status

6 Design

Students explore and utilise theatrical design elements: Lighting, Sound, Set, Costume, Make-up, Props and Special effects

Unit Y8
1 Theatre Spaces

Students develop an understanding of a variety of Theatre Spaces via practical application

2 Approaching Script

Students explore a variety of script types by interpreting, directing, designing and performing extracts

3 Physical Theatre

Students study the art of physical theatre via practical application

4 Travel

Students focus on sustaining character through basic improvisation

5 Text Study: Our Day Out By Willy Russell/Chicken by Mark Wheeller

Students explore an entire text considering the directors, designers and actors approaches

6 Media

Students explore the impact of drama on an audience using media forms and media stimuli

Unit Y9
1 Directing

Students develop an understanding of the role of a director, focusing on directorial approaches and practitioners

2 Improvisation

Through spontaneous and planned improvisation, student utilise the 5 key improvisation skills

3 Text Study: Mugged By Andrew Payne

Students explore an entire text considering the directors, designers and actors approaches

4 Theatre in Education

Utilising the ‘knife crime’ theme, students explore and create a piece of Theatre-in-Education

5 Devising

Students develop an understanding of the process of devising via plot, character and theme driven drama

6 Speech and Language

Students explore the strategies used to develop confidence in approaching speech and language

Key Stage 4 Drama

GCSE follows the specification as set out by OCR. The course focuses on six areas of study and is split into three separate units.

Please see detailed information about the GCSE Drama qualification below.

Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6
Year 10 Theatrical Conventions and Terminology

Students focus on recapping, developing and securing the Theatrical conventions and terminology through practical workshops, independent study and focusing of theatre practitioners.

Unit 3: Performance and Response: Section A Blood Brothers By Willy Russell

Students explore the set text through practical workshops considering the text from an actors, designers and directors perspective.

Unit 3 Performance and Response: Section B Theatre Review

Students view and review live theatre as a holistic process. This is completed through discussion, analysis, research and written response.

Unit 1 Devising Drama: Preparation

Students will explore the stimuli provided by OCR via practical workshops.

Unit 1 Devising Drama: Practical

Students will select one stimuli to workshop. The outcome will be the creation of their own drama. Students will focus on a clear intention for their drama and consider the impact they wish to achieve for their audience.

Unit 1 Devising Drama: Written Response

Students will complete their written portfolio that tracks the process of their devised drama.

Year 11 Unit 3 Performance and Response: Section A and B

Students revisit the set text, exploring key scenes through practical and written response. Students will also revisit the drama terminology in preparation for the theatre review.

Unit 2 Presentation and Performance: Preparation

Students will explore a variety of texts to identify specific genre, performance style and character.

Unit 2 Presentation and Performance: Practical

Students will study their set text and focus on showcasing two extracts.

Unit 2 Presentation and Performance: Written response and Performance

Students will identify their intention for their text performance and will present their work to a visiting examiner from OCR.

Unit 3 Performance and Response: Revision Section A and B

Students will review the set text and the theatre visits completed during the course in preparation for the written paper.