Drama

Head of Subject: Mrs Helen McGovern

Welcome to the Drama department, we have a strong reputation as a successful subject across the school and wider community. Encouraging and developing students to grow in confidence, consider life from different perspectives and learn numerous performance skills.

The department is a vibrant, lively and integral part of the school offering a varied and extensive extra-curricular program. The department has had many successes within the school environment but especially within the community as whole.

We have 2 performances spaces:

• D2 – A dance studio with mirrors and changing room
• D1 – Performance space with the lighting and sound equipment. This space is used for School Production

Both spaces have a changing a room where students are expected to leave bags, coast, blazers, shoes and socks. Students work bare feet in the space and can wear a dance/drama/jazz/ballet shoe.

 Projects we participate in are:

• Drama Secondary Showcase at the Hall for Cornwall
• RSC partnership
• School productions
• Redruth’s Got Talent
• Creative arts showcase/evening
• GCSE exam work showcase
• Performances and workshops with The Hall for Cornwall

The department consistently achieves a high level of academic achievements within KS4

The department has 2 members of staff and two technicians:

• Mrs Helen McGovern - Head of drama
• Miss Rachel Barratt – Drama teacher
• Mr Dryburgh – Creative Arts Technician
• Mrs Grose – Creative Arts Technician

Key Stage 3

KS3 has exciting and varied topics whilst learning techniques, styles and genres

Year 7 topics

Term 1 Coast

Team skills – Compromise, listening, cooperation, leading, directing, suggesting and developing ideas.

Basic drama techniques – Using still image, movement, mime and script.

Term 2 The Changeling

Stimulus – Using pictures and story to explore prejudice.

Basic drama techniques – Using still image, thought tracking, defining the space and mime.

Term 3 Space

Character – Creating a character using facial expressions, voice, gestures, movement and space.

Staging and script – Learning the different staging patterns and applying one to a piece of script.

Year 8 topics

Term 1 Secret Agents

Using props, music, different scenarios and a variety of group sizes to devise characters and short scenes.

Term 2 Mime and Movement

 Exploring mime and comedy using the influences of Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy. Creating and choreographing a double act – Can you make us laugh?

Term 3 Script

 Using a range of scripts from Loop script to Shakespeare through these scripts they will explore – Precision, cues, staging patterns and areas, character and adapting script for a modern audience.

Year 9 topics

Term 1 Devising

Using the theme of Gothic Horror to explore and develop their own pieces of theatre.

Term 2 Physical Theatre

Learning to work as an ensemble and create essence machines, personifying objects and script.

Term 3 Conflict and diversity

Applying Forum theatre techniques to explore conflict and different people’s perspective of the same situation. Exploration of diversity using the noughts and crosses play.

Students have folders which include writing in role, assessment and feedback

No homework is set in drama.

Drama Club runs every Wednesday 3-4 pm for KS3 in D2 (This will differ whilst School Production runs)

Tech Club runs every Tuesday lunchtime in D1

All KS3 are welcome to take part in The School Production

Courses taught at Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11):

GCSE Drama (Eduquas/WJEC)

How is the GCSE in Drama assessed?

The GCSE in Drama is made up of 3 units:

• Unit 1 Practical = 10% of Final Grade
• Unit 1 Supporting Evidence = 20% of Final Grade
• Unit 1 Evaluation = 10% final grade
• Unit 2 Practical = 20% of Final Grade
• Unit 3 1 1/2hour written exam = 40% of Final Grade

Year 11

During Year 11 students will have two practical opportunities for friends and family to come and support and watch their performance work.

Students will be expected to find additional rehearsal time after school to work on improving and refining their performance work.

How can I help my son/daughter

• Take them to view live theatre and live streamed performances
• Buy programmes and texts to support their subject knowledge and interest
• Visit websites to explore and research
• Support their commitment in school productions and KS4 rehearsals
• Download apps linked to their learning for example editing apps and music/sound apps

Websites

• www.eduquas
• www.tremough
• www.miracle
• www.hallforcornwall
• www.bbc.bitesize

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