Drama

sandbach high school

Curriculum Intentions

“Ambition and Attitude: raising aspiration through Drama”
At Sandbach High School and Sixth Form College we are passionate about providing a Drama curriculum that is inspiring to our students, with opportunities for students to engage with performing, making theatre, responding to theatre and designing for theatre. We want to develop in our students skills that would prepare them for any career and their future aspirations; skills such as team work, creativity and empathy are at the heart of what we do. From the very beginning, in Year 7, students are encouraged to develop skills in performance and design allowing them plenty of opportunity to engage with an area of the theatre that interests them. The work we do in Drama is largely practical allowing students a wealth of opportunities to create work that they are passionate about.

Curriculum Lead

Mr David Valentine: dvalentine@sandbachhigh.co.uk

Key Stage 3

Curriculum Intentions

“Ambition and Attitude: raising aspiration through Drama”

At Sandbach High School and Sixth Form College we are passionate about providing a Drama curriculum that is inspiring to our students, with opportunities for students to engage with performing, making theatre, responding to theatre and designing for theatre.  We want to develop in our students skills that would prepare them for any career and their future aspirations; skills such as team work, creativity and empathy are at the heart of what we do.  From the very beginning, in Year 7, students are encouraged to develop skills in performance and design allowing them plenty of opportunity to engage with an area of the theatre that interests them.  The work we do in Drama is largely practical allowing students a wealth of opportunities to create work that they are passionate about.

Key Stage 3

The National Curriculum states that students should be given “opportunities to improvise, devise and script drama for one another and a range of audiences, as well as to rehearse, refine, share and respond thoughtfully to drama and theatre performances.” Our KS3 curriculum allows students to engage with a range of scripts as well as creating their own theatre in a range of styles.  At the end of Year 9 all students have engaged in Live Theatre both by watching their peers perform and through recording professional productions.

Year 7

Topic

Skills

Introduction to Mime

Physical performance skills.

Creating a mimed performance.

Understanding the needs of an audience.

Evaluation of performance.

Darkwood Manor

Introduction to Mood and Atmosphere.

Building Tension.

Introduction to lighting.

Creating a short performance from a stimulus.

Puppetry in Performance

Vocal performance skills.

Designing and making a puppet for performance.

Theatre from across the globe.

Developing a character for performance.

Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty

Performing from a script.

How theatre can be used for education. (Anti- Bullying)

Year 8

Topic

Skills

Devising Theatre

Theatre Techniques.

Creating theatre for an audience.

Rehearsal techniques.

Performance skills.

Creating performance from a range of stimuli.

Creating a Monologue

Writing a script for performance.

Developing and Embodying a character.

Performing for an audience.

PSHCE link- Anti Social Behaviour

Roles in the Theatre- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Different roles within the theatre: Set Designer, Lighting Designer, Costume Designer, Performer.

Symbolism

Creating Mood and Atmosphere.

Theatre in Education

Using theatre as an educational tool.

Understanding Desired Audience response and creating theatre for a target audience.

Performing and Creating Theatre

Year 9

Topic

Skills

Practitioner Focus:

Frantic Assembly and Bertolt Brecht

Understanding practitioner methodologies.

Workshop style learning of techniques.

Creating performance in the style of theatre practitioners.

Noughts and Crosses: Analysing Text for Performance

Interpreting scripts for performance.

Understanding the role of a director.

Rehearsal techniques for developing character.

Radio Play

Creating a script for performance.

Designing sound for theatre.

Analysing Live Theatre

Understanding what makes an effective performance.

How different elements can enhance performance: Design and Performance.

Analysis and Evaluation.

 

Key Stage 4

Curriculum Intentions

“Ambition and Attitude: raising aspiration through Drama”

At Sandbach High School and Sixth Form College we are passionate about providing a Drama curriculum that is inspiring to our students, with opportunities for students to engage with performing, making theatre, responding to theatre and designing for theatre.  We want to develop in our students skills that would prepare them for any career and their future aspirations; skills such as team work, creativity and empathy are at the heart of what we do.  From the very beginning, in Year 7, students are encouraged to develop skills in performance and design allowing them plenty of opportunity to engage with an area of the theatre that interests them.  The work we do in Drama is largely practical allowing students a wealth of opportunities to create work that they are passionate about.

Key Stage 4

GCSE Year 10 into Year 11

Year 10

Content

The Identification

Introduction to the Course and Devising.

Understanding the Devising process.

Set Text: Analysing Text For Performance

(Component 3)

Introduction to the set text.

Scene by scene analysis.

Roles in the theatre: Performer, Director, Sound, Lighting, Set Design, Costume Design.

 

Analysing Live Theatre (Component 3)

Preparation for Theatre Trip: What to look for in the performance.

Analysis of performance and design elements.

Devising Performance

(Component 1)

40% of the overall grade.

Creating a devised performance with a group (pathways for performers or designers)

Documenting the devising process through a written portfolio.

Performance/ realisation of work.

Evaluation of work created.

Year 11

 

Revision of Component 3

Revision of set text and analysing live theatre in preparation for Trail Examinations.

Text in Performance

(Component 2)

20% of the overall grade.

Selection of suitable texts for monologue/ duologue and or group performance.

Rehearsal of two extracts for performance.

Performance examined by external examiner.

Revision of Component 3

Preparation for Theatre Trip: What to look for in the performance.

Analysis of performance and design elements.

Revision of set text and analysing live theatre in preparation for Component 3 examination: 40% of the overall grade

 

Key Stage 5

Curriculum Intentions

“Ambition and Attitude: raising aspiration through Drama”

At Sandbach High School and Sixth Form College we are passionate about providing a Drama curriculum that is inspiring to our students, with opportunities for students to engage with performing, making theatre, responding to theatre and designing for theatre.  We want to develop in our students skills that would prepare them for any career and their future aspirations; skills such as team work, creativity and empathy are at the heart of what we do.  From the very beginning, in Year 7, students are encouraged to develop skills in performance and design allowing them plenty of opportunity to engage with an area of the theatre that interests them.  The work we do in Drama is largely practical allowing students a wealth of opportunities to create work that they are passionate about.

Key Stage 5

A Level Year 12 into Year 13

Year 10

Content

Introduction to the course and Practitioner Workshops

Understanding the demands of the A Level course.

An introduction to a range of practitioners.

Methodologies of practitioners and how they can be used in performance.

Set Text: Accidental Death of an Anarchist

(Component 3B)

Introduction to the set text.

Scene by scene analysis.

Roles in the theatre: Performer, Director, Sound, Lighting, Set Design, Costume Design.

Exam Question practice.

Devising Performance

(Component 1)

40% of the overall grade.

Study of a chosen text as a stimulus.

Using the methodologies of a practitioner in performance.

Creating a devised performance with a group (pathways for performers or designers)

Documenting the devising process through a written portfolio.

Performance/ realisation of work.

Evaluation of work created.

Live Theatre Analysis

(Component 3A)

Preparation for Theatre Trip: What to look for in the performance.

Analysis of performance and design elements.

Set Text: Woyzeck

(Component 3C)

Introduction to the set text.

Scene by scene analysis with practitioner focus.

Roles in the theatre: Performer, Director, Sound, Lighting, Set Design, Costume Design.

Exam Question practice.

Year 12

 

Component 3C Consolidation and Revision

Revision of set texts and analysing live theatre.

Practice questions and writing technique.

Text in Performance

(Component 2)

20% of the overall grade.

Selection of suitable texts for monologue/ duologue and group performance.

Rehearsal of two extracts for performance.

Performance examined by external examiner.

Revision of Component 3

Preparation for Theatre Trip: What to look for in the performance.

Analysis of performance and design elements.

Revision of set texts and analysing live theatre in preparation for Component 3 examination: 40% of the overall grade

For further information about this course click this link to the Sandbach College course website https://www.sandbachcollege.co.uk/drama-theatre-studies/ 

Qualifications

GCSE Drama (Edexcel)

A Level Drama and Theatre Studies (Edexcel)

Wider curriculum

We want to provide our students with plenty of opportunity to take part in Extra Curricular Drama with frequents clubs, ran by staff and upper school students as well as performance opportunities at school events and our whole school musical which takes place every other year. We have links with professionals who are currently working within the theatre industry and provide students opportunity to connect with these professionals through Q&A sessions.  We are passionate about giving students to opportunity to engage with live performance and where possible we provide the students with this opportunity through theatre trips, opportunity to watch in school productions and GCSE and A Level performances.

 

 

Useful links

Key Stage 3 - 5 ways to help your Child 

BBC Bitesize

Physical Skills: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zpfk6sg/revision/1

Vocal Skills:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z3c2yrd/revision/1

Analysing Theatre

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zxs9xnb/revision/1

There is lots of excellent information on BBC Bitesize. The majority of the information Is for GCSE learners but can be applied to the topics we learn at KS3.

Youtube

Roles within the Theatre (A YouTube series on the making of Shrek the Musical)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOyJ-n-mQEE&list=PL74103C89A85F6DB6

Props in Hamilton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D7xNAsi0uo

Making Puppets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYwNuP7cwJs

There are fantastic resources on YouTube that explore backstage at the theatre.  These are just a small selection of what is available.

Streaming Sites

Disney +

Hamilton

Newsies

Hamilton In-Depth With Kelley Carter

Netflix

Grease Live

La La Land

Sky Arts

Updates regularly

Live Theatre Performances/ Musicals/ Documentaries to watch via streaming services. Engaging with live theatre can help students to develop their own ideas and analyse live theatre.

 

The Stage

https://www.thestage.co.uk/

Industry magazine with recent news, auditions and reviews.

Frantic Digital

https://www.franticassembly.co.uk/frantic-digital

A collection of activities, information and exercises to help with devising in the style of Frantic Assembly.

Key Stage 4 - 5 ways to help your Child 

BBC Bitesize

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zkvm2sg

BBC bitesize resources which are tailored to Edexcel, the specification that we follow.

There is lots of excellent information on BBC Bitesize.

National Theatre Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDq1XzCY0NIOYVJvEMQjqw

Fantastic resources created by the National Theatre. “How we made it” and “How you can make it” resources are very interesting.

Streaming Sites

Disney +

Hamilton

Newsies

Hamilton In-Depth With Kelley Carter

Netflix

Grease Live

La La Land

Sky Arts

Updates regularly

Live Theatre Performances/ Musicals/ Documentaries to watch via streaming services. Engaging with live theatre can help students to develop their own ideas and analyse live theatre.

 

The Stage

https://www.thestage.co.uk/

Industry magazine with recent news, auditions and reviews. Reviews will help students to be critical and evaluative.

Frantic Digital

https://www.franticassembly.co.uk/frantic-digital

A collection of activities, information and exercises to help with devising in the style of Frantic Assembly.

Key Stage 5 - 5 ways to help your Child 

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zkvm2sg

BBC bitesize resources which are tailored to Edexcel, the specification that we follow.

There is lots of excellent information on BBC Bitesize. This is for GCSE but the information is all still relevant and would be useful for students who have not taken GCSE.

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDq1XzCY0NIOYVJvEMQjqw (National Theatre)

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=knnehigh (Kneehigh)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGp7pHcEQep8lEebqtk_H-g (Theatre Beard)

Fantastic resources availiable on Youtube from the National Theatre, Kneehigh Theatre Company and Drama Teachers.

Streaming Sites

Disney +

Hamilton

Newsies

Hamilton In-Depth With Kelley Carter

Netflix

Grease Live

La La Land

Sky Arts

Updates regularly

Live Theatre Performances/ Musicals/ Documentaries to watch via streaming services. Engaging with live theatre can help students to develop their own ideas and analyse live theatre.

 

The Stage

https://www.thestage.co.uk/

Industry magazine with recent news, auditions and reviews. Reviews will help students to be critical and evaluative.

Frantic Digital

https://www.franticassembly.co.uk/frantic-digital

A collection of activities, information and exercises to help with devising in the style of Frantic Assembly.