GCSE DRAMA (AQA) Course Aims The Drama GCSE course aims to develop students’ creativity, self-confidence, concentration, self-discipline and communication. It should encourage a development of self and group awareness, together with the ability to appreciate and evaluate the work of others including the ways playwrights achieve their effects. To achieve the highest grades, it is necessary for students to be capable of expressing themselves clearly both ‘on stage’ and ‘on page’. Course Content ● Understanding Drama: Students will learn about characteristics of Drama such as genre, style and period, social, historical and cultural context, stage types, roles and responsibilities within the theatre and how meaning is communicated. They will practically explore a set text from a technical, directorial and actor perspective in order to write confidently in their exam. Students will see a variety of live performances which are not only used as inspiration for future work but help to develop their understanding of performance work in order to successfully respond to the live review section of their written examination. ● Devising Drama: Students build on prior knowledge and learn new techniques of Frantic Assembly, Kneehigh and Artaud during Year 10 and are given regular opportunities to devise original material before they begin their final devised performance in the summer of Year 10 through to Year 11. From a range of stimuli such as news articles, songs, film clips and images pupils develop a performance piece and document their process from start to end. This unit is challenging, exciting and we push our students to use imagination, creativity and take risks, questioning what theatre is and what it can be. ● Texts in practice: In the final term, the students will prepare and perform two extracts from a script. This really brings together all they have learned over the two years and pushes our students to apply their knowledge to script work. We work hard as a department to match scripts to the students we have and find that our students relish this aspect of the course and prove to be very successful in this unit. Assessment Written examination (1 hour 45 mins): 40 % of GCSE. This is externally set and marked and includes ● multiple choice section based on knowledge and understanding of Drama ● a play studied and workshopped in class ● responses to live productions seen during the course Practical examination: worth 60% of GCSE. ● Devised thematic work with an accompanying devising log. Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) (30- 35 hours). This is assessed internally and moderated by the examination board. ● Text in Practice: scripted work, the study of two scripts and performance of two extracts. This is performed to and marked by a visiting examiner. Subject Pathways Whilst this course will equip students with the basics to further pursue a career in Drama and the Arts at A-Level and degree level it also complements other subjects such as History, Psychology, English Literature and Language to name but a few. Universities and employers value the project focus, creativity and team working aspects of this subject, and this course would be of particular value to students considering future careers in law, therapy, marketing, HR and project management.
About Education Provider
| Region | West Midlands |
| Local Authority | Walsall |
| Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Gender Type | Girls |
| Address | Upper Forster Street, Walsall, WS4 2AE |
GCSE DRAMA (AQA) Course Aims The Drama GCSE course aims to develop students’ creativity, self-confidence, concentration, self-discipline and communication. It should encourage a development of self and group awareness, together with the ability to appreciate and evaluate the work of others including the ways playwrights achieve their effects. To achieve the highest grades, it is necessary for students to be capable of expressing themselves clearly both ‘on stage’ and ‘on page’. Course Content ● Understanding Drama: Students will learn about characteristics of Drama such as genre, style and period, social, historical and cultural context, stage types, roles and responsibilities within the theatre and how meaning is communicated. They will practically explore a set text from a technical, directorial and actor perspective in order to write confidently in their exam. Students will see a variety of live performances which are not only used as inspiration for future work but help to develop their understanding of performance work in order to successfully respond to the live review section of their written examination. ● Devising Drama: Students build on prior knowledge and learn new techniques of Frantic Assembly, Kneehigh and Artaud during Year 10 and are given regular opportunities to devise original material before they begin their final devised performance in the summer of Year 10 through to Year 11. From a range of stimuli such as news articles, songs, film clips and images pupils develop a performance piece and document their process from start to end. This unit is challenging, exciting and we push our students to use imagination, creativity and take risks, questioning what theatre is and what it can be. ● Texts in practice: In the final term, the students will prepare and perform two extracts from a script. This really brings together all they have learned over the two years and pushes our students to apply their knowledge to script work. We work hard as a department to match scripts to the students we have and find that our students relish this aspect of the course and prove to be very successful in this unit. Assessment Written examination (1 hour 45 mins): 40 % of GCSE. This is externally set and marked and includes ● multiple choice section based on knowledge and understanding of Drama ● a play studied and workshopped in class ● responses to live productions seen during the course Practical examination: worth 60% of GCSE. ● Devised thematic work with an accompanying devising log. Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) (30- 35 hours). This is assessed internally and moderated by the examination board. ● Text in Practice: scripted work, the study of two scripts and performance of two extracts. This is performed to and marked by a visiting examiner. Subject Pathways Whilst this course will equip students with the basics to further pursue a career in Drama and the Arts at A-Level and degree level it also complements other subjects such as History, Psychology, English Literature and Language to name but a few. Universities and employers value the project focus, creativity and team working aspects of this subject, and this course would be of particular value to students considering future careers in law, therapy, marketing, HR and project management.