Drama
Welcome to the Kingsmead School Drama Department.
As students arrive at Kingsmead with very little experience of Drama, the basic skills need to be introduced straight away and this has been taken into consideration, particularly within the Year 7 schemes of work. In Year 7 and Year 8 the students will explore mostly Naturalism and Physical Theatre, whilst developing important life skills such as working together, being creative, presenting ideas and building confidence within themselves. By using their imaginations students can put themselves in other people’s shoes, become more empathetic and therefore understanding of themselves and others.
Key Stage 3
In Year 7, students start the Winter Term with a Scheme of Work on Evacuees using Naturalism, in the Spring Term they develop their Physical Theatre skills with Haunted House and in the Summer Term will be Storytelling.
In Year 8, Students begin the Winter Term devising the Story of Oedipus using Physical Theatre, in the Spring Term they work on combining Naturalism and Physical Theatre to do a short, scripted version of Macbeth before in the Summer Term doing their performances of Macbeth and a shortened unit of Storytelling, building on the skills from Year 7. Although the focus is on the practical skills within Drama, there are moments for written work to support students understanding, reflection and literacy skills.
Key Stage 4
AQA GCSE Drama begins in Year 9 and sees them through to Year 11. Devising and Script work are the pillars upon all drama education is built, (which is reflected in the AQA GCSE Drama exam.) The course over the 3 years tries to give students the opportunity to experience being part of a Theatre Company. In Year 9, they come together as an ensemble, decide on their Theatre Company name and logo and begin their journey together. They will work towards two performances in that first year, one scripted, the other devised. In Year 10, students do the same three components as the Year 11’s, however in Year 10 this is very much Teacher lead, whereas in Year 11 the students must work far more independently. The Course is made up of Component 1: Understanding Theatre, which is a written exam and 40% of the final grade. Component 2: Devising is a written log and performance, also 40% of final grade. Component 3: Texts in Practice is two short performances of script extracts from a play, 20% of the final grade.
Drama Trips
Throughout students' time at Kingsmead School there are plenty of opportunities to visit theatres and see productions both locally and nationally. As part of the GCSE Drama course, students are required to watch live theatre as part of the written exam. We have both the Brewhouse and Tacchi-Morris Theatres in Taunton so will look to see productions there in the future, as well as going further afield like Bristol, Plymouth and London.
Extra Curricular Opportunities
Students are offered a range of opportunities throughout their time at Kingsmead School. Starting in Year 7 and 8 with the Year 7 Youth Theatre (7YT) and Year 8 Youth Theatre (8YT.) Both Youth Theatres work towards ensemble, scripted performances. There is also the Kingsmead Open Stage event which gives students a platform to show a variety of talents from singing, stand-up comedy, dance and lots more! A highlight of the school calendar is our big School Production each year working alongside the Music Department and spanning across Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 students. We all work together as one enormous ensemble that allows us to showcase the wealth of talent we have here at Kingsmead School, across the Performing Arts.
KS3 curriculum – sequence of Learning in Drama
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Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
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Year 7 |
Evacuees Students will explore the issues around evacuation during WW2 using drama. |
Evacuees cont. Assessment performances
School Production Students explore a scene from the play to develop character and use script extract. |
Haunted House Students will explore Physical theatre through the narrative of a haunted house. |
Haunted House cont. Students continue to rehearse and shape work ready for performance.
Assessment performances |
Theatre Techniques Introduction to some techniques that can be used across different styles
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Storytelling and Site Specific Students will explore using storytelling and Site Specific. Students continue to rehearse and shape work ready for performance.
Assessment performances |
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Year 8 |
Oedipus Students explore the basic story of Oedipus to develop characterisation and mime.
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Oedipus cont. Assessment performances
School Production Students explore a scene from the play to develop character and use script extract. |
Macbeth Students explore a shortened version of the script of Macbeth. Learning lines and rehearsing to create a performance. |
Macbeth cont. Students continue to rehearse and shape work ready for performance.
Assessment performances |
Storytelling and Site Specific Students will explore using storytelling and Site Specific. |
Storytelling and Site Specific cont. Students continue to rehearse and shape work ready for performance.
Assessment performances |
KS4 curriculum – sequence of learning in Drama
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Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
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Year 9 |
Intro to Drama GCSE Overview of the course, expectations and requirements for qualification.
Becoming a Theatre Company. Group will work together to create Drama using an ensemble ethos. Acting Workshops and development of Theatre practice. |
Isonation The New Theatre Companies debut productions. Using the script of ‘Isonation’ by Samuel Denslow, the group will work together towards performing the play in the Spring Term.
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Isonation cont. Rehearsals continue as the term progresses. Working towards Technical and Dress Rehearsals |
American Civil Rights Students explore the issues of racism, equality and respect through Drama. Looking at the American Civil Rights movement and devising. |
Watching Live Performance Students will watch live theatre and learn how to review and analyse.
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Written Exam – Blood Brother’s Students will explore the Musical of Blood Brothers both practically and through written tasks.
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Autumn 1 |
Autumn 2 |
Spring 1 |
Spring 2 |
Summer 1 |
Summer 2 |
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Year10 |
Introduction to Drama GCSE; Components 1,2 &3. Component 2 Devising Research and Development |
Component 2 Filmed and devising log completed |
Component 3 Section C: Performance skills Mock using 'Bouncers & Shakers' |
Component 3 Rehearsal and Preparation for performance. Component 1 Revision of all sections. |
Component 1 Revision of all sections. Component 1 Section B: Set text 'Blood Brothers' |
Component 1 Section C: Live Theatre Performance and design skills |
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Year 11 |
Component 2 Devising Research and Development |
Component 2 Filmed and devising log completed |
Component 3 Rehearsal and Preparation for performance Component 1 All Sections Revised |
Component 1 Section C: Live Theatre Performance and design skills |
Component 1 Revision of all sections |
Component 1 Summer Exam |
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Top 5 Websites
For additional learning and revision in this subject, see these websites:
Top 5 useful websites:
All theatre websites
- BBC Bitesize www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/gcse/drama
- Plays Magazine www.playsmagazine.com
- The Stage www.thestage.co.uk
- Theatre - The Guardian www.theguardian.com/stage/theatre
- Shakespeare's Globe www.shakespearesglobe.com
Drama Progress Overviews
These are designed to outline the progression of Drama based learning within each year group. They make clear the skills, understanding and knowledge within each category of our language for learning