Drama Department

Drama operates within the Arts Faculty alongside Art and Music.

Our aims are to provide opportunities for pupils to:

• Explore situations involving human dilemmas through a variety of Drama forms.
• Challenge perceptions of Drama both as a learning medium and an art form.
• Develop and enhance communication and social skills through dramatic experiences.
• Value the experiences they bring to their own learning.
• Understand the artistic process through responding, developing, performing and evaluating.
• Develop the imagination within the dramatic context.
• Be a critical audience.

Through our activities we strive to:

• Stimulate total involvement and commitment from pupils.
• Enable all pupils to succeed and develop self-esteem.
• Show that learning can be fun.
• Encourage respect for other people's contributions.
• Challenge pupils to consider complex issues, thoughts, feelings and actions.

Accommodation & resources

Drama is taught in our drama classroom. School productions, show case evenings and the practical GCSE exam are staged in the school hall.

Organisation

Key Stage 3

Pupils in Year 9 have one 50 minute lesson each week. Pupils are taught in mixed ability groupings of around 25.

Key Stage 4

Drama is a popular option and the pupils study GCSE Drama according to the Edexcel specification. Exam results consistently exceed the national average. Staff are encouraged to contribute their own ideas to schemes of work, taking on board KS3 and KS4 requirements. High expectations and challenge are high priorities in all years.

Extra Curricular

Drama clubs run on a regular basis for all years. Visits to theatres, workshops and master classes support the Drama curriculum. Recent school productions have included 'Mugged', 'Oliver', 'Animal Farm' and 'Grease'.