Drama
"Theatre is about challenging how we think and encouraging us to fantasise about a world we aspire to"
WILLEM DAFOE
Performing Arts at Kings Langley School
Drama is an exciting, experimental and inspirational subject and we teach with the aim to inspire young adults. This practical subject encourages and develops creativity, teamwork, self-confidence, communication and resilience. Drama helps students to develop tolerance and empathy and they will learn to express themselves creatively and imaginatively and to communicate confidently and effectively with others. Dramatic exploration can provide students with an outlet for emotions, thoughts, and give them a chance to participate in a range of practical activities that they might not otherwise have means to express. Students will get the opportunity to develop a practical understanding of the world of theatre; what it is like to step into the shoes of an actor, director and designer.
The drama curriculum at school enables all students to gain a practical and a theoretical understanding of a variety of play texts, playwrights, theatre companies and practitioners from different historical periods and contexts. As well as this, they can create their own original work through devising projects. Whether our learners wish to become professional actors, designers or simply wish to develop their presentation, speech and communication skills, our diverse curriculum will be stimulating and of great value in the world beyond education.
Drama is compulsory for all key stage 3 students, it is then optional to continue to study for key stage 4 and key stage 5. Each programme of study will follow a different set of skills and objectives and will vary throughout the year ensuring that a range of assessment skills are covered.
Subject specific vocabulary, design and technical language and different styles of theatre have been embedded during the students’ journey through Key Stage 3. This ensures they have a good understanding for both the practical and written work in preparation for KS4; ultimately leading to KS5.
Key Stage 3
Students join Kings Langley School with a varied knowledge and understanding of Drama, therefore we set out to provide a challenging and enjoyable curriculum for all. We follow a similar pattern that is covered in the GCSE and A Level specifications throughout KS3 and build upon these skills each term.
Curriculum overview for Year 7
Curriculum overview for Year 8
Curriculum overview for Year 9
Key Stage 4:
Drama is an exciting and wide-ranging subject at GCSE level. Students will develop skills of creativity, self-confidence, concentration, self-discipline, and communication. The course will appeal to those who are interested in performing and/or the technical side of theatre. The content of the course in this subject encourages students to develop their interest in the enjoyment of drama and theatre, both through their development as performers and through experience as audience members. They will gain an understanding of a wide range of play texts and other styles of dramatic presentation. There is also the opportunity to study set design, lighting, sound, makeup and costume.
At GCSE we follow the AQA specification.
There are three components:
Component 1: Understanding drama (40%)
Component 2: Devising drama (40%)
Component 3: Texts in practice (20%)
Students sit a written exam which is 1 hour and 45 minutes long and is split into three sections. They will be assessed on the process of creating devised drama. Students will be awarded marks for the performance of the devised piece and their analysis and evaluation of their own work. Students must choose to be assessed as a performer or a designer (lighting designer, sound designer, set designer, costume designer or puppet designer). Students will learn how to contribute to text-based drama in a live theatre context for an audience. Students perform two extracts from one play to an external examiner. They can contribute as a performer or a designer.
Curriculum overview for Year 10
Curriculum overview for Year 11
Key Stage 5
This innovative and creative course allows students to explore a wide range of theatre developing the skills they have been introduced to at GCSE and the foundation skills taught at KS3. They will explore classical and contemporary texts and continue to be introduced to a variety of dramatic styles, theatre companies and practitioners. Our aim is to expose students to cutting edge contemporary performances allowing them to work in the way of current theatre makers.
On the course they will have the opportunity to see a variety of live theatre productions. Students can develop their interest in the enjoyment of drama and theatre, through their development as directors, performers, designers and educated spectators.
At A Level we follow the AQA specification.
There are three components:
Component 1: Drama and theatre (40%)
Component 2: Creating original drama (30%)
Component 3: Making theatre (30%)
Staff:
Miss L Abbott (Subject Leader) - abbottl@kls.herts.sch.uk
Miss V Little - littlev@kls.herts.sch.uk
Mrs M Carr - carrm@kls.herts.sch.uk
