Drama Years 7 to 9
GCSE Drama at Church Stretton School is an active and exploratory course that extends the learning undertaken at KS3. Students develop their understanding and skill of theatre making and acting but also have the opportunity to focus their learning on a number of key areas of drama, including non-performed roles such as set design and script writing. Formal assessment is carried out through a combination of the class teacher, a visiting examiner and through a final written examination. Students undertake the programme of study for OCR GCSE Drama and are assessed through 4 components.
- Component 1/2: Devising Drama (30%)
- Component 3: Presenting and performing texts (30%)
- Component 4: Drama: performance and response (40%)
Students study a range of contemporary and classical play-texts and develop techniques for devising original drama from a variety of starting points. Alongside this, students develop transferable skills in speaking and listening, semiotic communication and review and evaluation.
What’s it worth? 1 GCSE
Why do it?
- Drama is a practical and group work based subject.
- You will have the opportunity to develop your creativity, imagination and ability to solve problems as part of a team.
- You will be able to develop your confidence, presentation and interpersonal skills.
It is ideal for students who
- have a good imagination and an interest in working practically and ‘on your feet’
- enjoy expressing themselves in an active and creative way.
- find it stimulating to share ideas, listen to others and work in groups.
- have an interest or talent in theatre, drama and the performing arts.
You will study a range of theatre styles, the works of different playwrights and various ways of making drama. You can choose to be assessed as either a performer (actor) or as a designer (lighting / sound) through practical tasks and reflection records / journals. There is a final written exam at the end of the course. You will have the opportunity to work with well-known plays and to create your own, original drama in a classroom environment that is active, challenging and enjoyable.
What do you need?
- An ability to be responsible for yourself and how you learn
- Good group work skills and to be prepared to work with a variety of different students.
- A positive attitude towards working practically
- Commitment to extending your learning in lunchtime and after-school opportunities.
- Enthusiasm for working with others in groups and whole class activities.
For further details see: Mr Wise
Subject Exam Board Internal Exam Paper
Drama OCR 60% Assessed 40% Written Exam
How to support your child
We are sure that you already do many of these things to support your child but here is a useful reminder for you to refer to:
- Encourage wider reading
- Ask them what they have learnt today
- Help them to structure revision for tests and assessments
- Make good use of BBC Bitesize GCSE Drama
- Discuss current affairs considering a range of viewpoints
- See as much live theatre as possible
- Watch films of differing genres
Web Links
- National Theatre https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/
- Royal Shakespeare Theatre https://www.rsc.org.uk/
- Theatre History Timeline http://www.glencoe.com/theatre/Timeline/timeline_content.html
- Drama GCSE Bitesize http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zbckjxs