Drama

The Performing Arts department here at The Wilnecote School has one simple aim, to find and nurture talent. Through work in lessons and a range of extra-curricular opportunities the department provides a platform for students to share and develop their talents.

Both the Music and Drama departments work collaboratively to ensure that students talents are recognised, appreciated and celebrated. Students have many opportunities to perform both in and out of lessons with the annual school production and Drama performance evenings and Music Concerts. The department also hosts GCSE performance evening’s which provide a great opportunity for GCSE students to share their talents and for younger students to be inspired by their peers.

In addition to this the Performing Arts department runs an annual Arts Festival towards the end of the summer term. This is a series of trips, workshops and activities that allow students to build on their interest in and knowledge of the arts. Highlights of this include The Physical Fellowship project, which involves students working with professionals from the company Highly Sprung and performing live at the Belgrade theatre in Coventry and a trip to Touch FM where students get to see behind the scenes at a local radio station.

The department also runs a variety of other trips and workshops throughout the year so there is always something for students to get involved in. One of our most celebrated activities is the annual Christmas concert which takes place at Holy Trinity Church in Wilnecote and sees students from The Wilnecote School performing alongside students from Dosthill and Wilnecote Primary schools. The department is very proud of the collaboration with local primary schools and the local community.

We also offer instrumental lessons and have a Tech Club which runs every day during tutor time and provides a fantastic opportunity for students who are interested in the technical, behind the scenes aspects of the Performing Arts. Members of Tech Club provide fantastic technical support for all productions and performances, enabling them to develop a range of skills from lighting and sound to photography.

 

In KS3 students are introduced to and develop their skills in the three components that make up the new GCSE Drama specifications; devising from a stimulus, performing play extracts and studying plays from the point of view of performers, directors and designers. Each component is covered at least once in every year and they are re-visited throughout the key stage to enable students to develop their skills and track their progress throughout KS3.

In the Spring term students also study Theatre History and the ideas of some key theatre practitioners in order to gain an understanding of the History and Theory that underpins theatre.

The aim of KS3 Drama is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills required for KS4 Drama and provide a broad and balanced curriculum, incorporating a range of themes and issues, which embeds teamwork, leadership and public speaking skills.

Year 7

Introduction to Drama – Skills Workshops.

Devising – Whole Class Drama – Evacuation.

Theatre History.

Devising from a stimulus – Fairy tales.

Performing, Designing and Directing – Alice in Wonderland.

Performing a play – Bright Lights.
Year 8

Devising from a Stimulus – Skills Workshops.

Devising – Whole Class Drama – Refugees.

Practitioners 1 – Stanislavski, Brecht and Boal.

Devising from a stimulus – The Identification.

Performing, Designing and Directing – 100.

Performing a play – Gladiator Games.
Year 9

Devising from a Stimulus – Skills Workshops.

Devising – Whole Class Drama – Slavery.

Practitioners 2 – Artaud, Berkoff and Brook.

Devising from a stimulus – Mental Health.

Performing, Designing and Directing – Chatroom.

Performing a play – Punk Rock.

In KS4 students have the opportunity to develop and build on the skills they gained at KS3 and the curriculum is organised around the three components that make up the Edexcel GCSE Drama Specification. In Year 10 students complete a mock version of each component including a mock component three written exam in June, this prepares them for Year 11 when they will complete each component for real.

 

Subject Topics Covered Possible further study
GCSE Drama The topics covered are governed by the requirements of the exam specification and are therefore subject to change. Current topics include:

Component 1: Devised group performance – Mental Health and Witchcraft.

Component 2: Scripted group performance – Students perform two extracts from chosen play texts.

Component 3: Section A: Exploration of Text – DNA by Dennis Kelly. Section B: Live theatre evaluation.

 A level Drama and Theatre Studies.

A level Performing Arts.

 
Assessment
 

Component 1 (internally assessed and externally moderated) Total mark is out of 60. This is made up of a mark out of 15 for the final performance and a mark out of 45 for the log book.

This component is worth 40% of the final GCSE Grade.

 

Component 2 (externally assessed by a visiting examiner) Total mark is out of 48. This is made up of a mark out of 24 for each extract.

This component is worth 20% of the final GCSE Grade.

 

Component 3 (externally assessed written examination) Total mark is out of 60. This is made up of a mark out of 45 for Section A and a mark out of 15 for Section B.

This component is worth 40% of the final GCSE Grade.

 

 

 

 

 

.

School Production

Working with the rest of the Performing Arts faculty we have a strong tradition of producing an annual show which all students are encouraged to audition for.

Drama Performance Evenings

Throughout the year there are opportunities for students to perform to friends, family members and the local community during Drama Performance Evenings. These evenings showcase students talents and work both in and out of lessons. All students are encouraged to participate.

Trips and visits

Throughout the year the Drama department organises a variety of trips and visits to enhance students work in lessons and give them experience of professional theatre.

Keys Stage 3

In KS3 students are introduced to and develop their skills in the three components that make up the new GCSE Drama specifications; devising from a stimulus, performing play extracts and studying plays from the point of view of performers, directors and designers. Each component is covered at least once in every year and they are re-visited throughout the key stage to enable students to develop their skills and track their progress throughout KS3.

In the Spring term students also study Theatre History and the ideas of some key theatre practitioners in order to gain an understanding of the History and Theory that underpins theatre.

The aim of KS3 Drama is to provide students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills required for KS4 Drama and provide a broad and balanced curriculum, incorporating a range of themes and issues, which embeds teamwork, leadership and public speaking skills.

Year 7

Introduction to Drama – Skills Workshops.

Devising – Whole Class Drama – Evacuation.

Theatre History.

Devising from a stimulus – Fairy tales.

Performing, Designing and Directing – Alice in Wonderland.

Performing a play – Bright Lights.
Year 8

Devising from a Stimulus – Skills Workshops.

Devising – Whole Class Drama – Refugees.

Practitioners 1 – Stanislavski, Brecht and Boal.

Devising from a stimulus – The Identification.

Performing, Designing and Directing – 100.

Performing a play – Gladiator Games.
Year 9

Devising from a Stimulus – Skills Workshops.

Devising – Whole Class Drama – Slavery.

Practitioners 2 – Artaud, Berkoff and Brook.

Devising from a stimulus – Mental Health.

Performing, Designing and Directing – Chatroom.

Performing a play – Punk Rock.
Key Stage 4

In KS4 students have the opportunity to develop and build on the skills they gained at KS3 and the curriculum is organised around the three components that make up the Edexcel GCSE Drama Specification. In Year 10 students complete a mock version of each component including a mock component three written exam in June, this prepares them for Year 11 when they will complete each component for real.

 

Subject Topics Covered Possible further study
GCSE Drama The topics covered are governed by the requirements of the exam specification and are therefore subject to change. Current topics include:

Component 1: Devised group performance – Mental Health and Witchcraft.

Component 2: Scripted group performance – Students perform two extracts from chosen play texts.

Component 3: Section A: Exploration of Text – DNA by Dennis Kelly. Section B: Live theatre evaluation.

 A level Drama and Theatre Studies.

A level Performing Arts.

 
Assessment
 

Component 1 (internally assessed and externally moderated) Total mark is out of 60. This is made up of a mark out of 15 for the final performance and a mark out of 45 for the log book.

This component is worth 40% of the final GCSE Grade.

 

Component 2 (externally assessed by a visiting examiner) Total mark is out of 48. This is made up of a mark out of 24 for each extract.

This component is worth 20% of the final GCSE Grade.

 

Component 3 (externally assessed written examination) Total mark is out of 60. This is made up of a mark out of 45 for Section A and a mark out of 15 for Section B.

This component is worth 40% of the final GCSE Grade.

 

 

 

 

 

.

Extra Curricular
School Production

Working with the rest of the Performing Arts faculty we have a strong tradition of producing an annual show which all students are encouraged to audition for.

Drama Performance Evenings

Throughout the year there are opportunities for students to perform to friends, family members and the local community during Drama Performance Evenings. These evenings showcase students talents and work both in and out of lessons. All students are encouraged to participate.

Trips and visits

Throughout the year the Drama department organises a variety of trips and visits to enhance students work in lessons and give them experience of professional theatre.