If you are considering taking Drama, it is important that you are interested in gaining a greater understanding of how theatre and plays work and that you are keen to be involved with performances and prepared for the rigorous demands of a written paper. The course demands practical and theoretical skills in almost equal measure. You will be required to write analytically about drama and to develop your powers of analysis to become an informed critic. The concise writing technique you will be trained to use is an excellent acquisition in itself. The course will involve taking part in drama productions, as well as studying plays, playwrights and theatre practitioners. The A Level is a two-year course with practical assessments taking place across the two years and the written exam taking place at the end of the second year. Recent students who have taken this course have gone on to study a variety of courses at university and have been offered places at Oxbridge. The subjects include Drama, English, Languages and Geography. It is a fully recognised and valued subject by all universities. It complements a wide variety of subjects and is useful in building confidence and improving presentation, communication and team work skills. At A Level, the specification provides candidates with the opportunity to develop skills and extend knowledge across two years. Candidates will demonstrate a more advanced level of performance and/or production skills alongside the ability to think independently, make judgements and refine their work in the light of research. They will also demonstrate the ability to analyse the ways in which different performance and production elements are brought together to create theatre.
For 16+ entry into our Sixth Form, your daughter will be required to sit three examination papers during the first week of November in the year prior to entry. Two of these papers are in subjects which your daughter is currently studying, or which she wishes to study in the Sixth Form at Downe House, as well as a General paper. These examinations are usually taken at your daughter’s current school and practice papers are available on request. Candidates are required to achieve a minimum of seven I/GCSE examinations at Grade 6 (B) or above, preferably with Grade 9/8 (A*) in those subjects she wishes to study in the Sixth Form. If your daughter does not follow an education system with formal examinations at 16+, further testing may be required and a transcript of grades acquired from their previous school. On completion of examination papers, successful candidates will be invited for an interview by the Head of Sixth Form and the Headmistress at the end of November. Offers will be made in December. There are also a number of scholarships available for pupils joining the Sixth Form. We strongly recommend early registration for your daughter. All offers and places are completed by April of the year prior to entry and availability of places in our Sixth Form is very limited.
Component 1: Devising – non-examined assessment 40% of the qualification – 80 marks Internally assessed by Downe House teachers and externally moderated. 1) A portfolio (60 marks, 40 marks - AO1 and 20 marks - AO4) the portfolio submission will be handwritten/ typed evidence between 2500–3000 words. 2) The devised performance/design realisation - 20 marks. Component 2: Text in Performance Non-examination assessment 20% of the qualification - 60 marks 1) Externally assessed either by visiting examiner or by examiner assessing the recorded live performance. 2) Group performance/design realisation – 36 marks. 3) Monologue or duologue/design realisation – 24 marks. Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes - 40% of the qualification - 80 marks
About Education Provider
| Region | South East |
| Local Authority | West Berkshire |
| Ofsted Rating | |
| Gender Type | Girls |
| ISI Report | View Report |
| Boarding Fee | £47,760 |
| Sixth Form Fee | Day £35,520 |
| Address | Cold Ash, Thatcham, RG18 9JJ |
If you are considering taking Drama, it is important that you are interested in gaining a greater understanding of how theatre and plays work and that you are keen to be involved with performances and prepared for the rigorous demands of a written paper. The course demands practical and theoretical skills in almost equal measure. You will be required to write analytically about drama and to develop your powers of analysis to become an informed critic. The concise writing technique you will be trained to use is an excellent acquisition in itself. The course will involve taking part in drama productions, as well as studying plays, playwrights and theatre practitioners. The A Level is a two-year course with practical assessments taking place across the two years and the written exam taking place at the end of the second year. Recent students who have taken this course have gone on to study a variety of courses at university and have been offered places at Oxbridge. The subjects include Drama, English, Languages and Geography. It is a fully recognised and valued subject by all universities. It complements a wide variety of subjects and is useful in building confidence and improving presentation, communication and team work skills. At A Level, the specification provides candidates with the opportunity to develop skills and extend knowledge across two years. Candidates will demonstrate a more advanced level of performance and/or production skills alongside the ability to think independently, make judgements and refine their work in the light of research. They will also demonstrate the ability to analyse the ways in which different performance and production elements are brought together to create theatre.
For 16+ entry into our Sixth Form, your daughter will be required to sit three examination papers during the first week of November in the year prior to entry. Two of these papers are in subjects which your daughter is currently studying, or which she wishes to study in the Sixth Form at Downe House, as well as a General paper. These examinations are usually taken at your daughter’s current school and practice papers are available on request. Candidates are required to achieve a minimum of seven I/GCSE examinations at Grade 6 (B) or above, preferably with Grade 9/8 (A*) in those subjects she wishes to study in the Sixth Form. If your daughter does not follow an education system with formal examinations at 16+, further testing may be required and a transcript of grades acquired from their previous school. On completion of examination papers, successful candidates will be invited for an interview by the Head of Sixth Form and the Headmistress at the end of November. Offers will be made in December. There are also a number of scholarships available for pupils joining the Sixth Form. We strongly recommend early registration for your daughter. All offers and places are completed by April of the year prior to entry and availability of places in our Sixth Form is very limited.
Component 1: Devising – non-examined assessment 40% of the qualification – 80 marks Internally assessed by Downe House teachers and externally moderated. 1) A portfolio (60 marks, 40 marks - AO1 and 20 marks - AO4) the portfolio submission will be handwritten/ typed evidence between 2500–3000 words. 2) The devised performance/design realisation - 20 marks. Component 2: Text in Performance Non-examination assessment 20% of the qualification - 60 marks 1) Externally assessed either by visiting examiner or by examiner assessing the recorded live performance. 2) Group performance/design realisation – 36 marks. 3) Monologue or duologue/design realisation – 24 marks. Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice Written examination: 2 hours 30 minutes - 40% of the qualification - 80 marks