Introduction
The Drama Department at Queen Katharine Academy is part of the Performing Arts faculty and is committed to providing every student with a range of life long experiences. Drama provides essential life skills such as working as part of a team and developing self-confidence and concentration. It stretches your intellectual ability, challenges the way that you view the world and increases your capacity to communicate ideas. Drama is taught in one of three purpose built studios equipped with sound and lighting facilities.
The aim of the Drama Department at Queen Katharine Academy is to encourage and develop:
- Student’s enjoyment and participation in engaging drama
- Sensitivity, creativity and confidence
- An awareness of moral, social, spiritual and cultural change
- An understanding of Drama forms and techniques
- Student's awareness of the technical aspects of Drama including sound, lighting and staging
- An understanding of the importance of team work
- Constructive evaluations of their own work and that of others
- To offer a range of extra-curricular opportunities
- Prepare students for further study of Drama and the Performing Arts
Key Stage Three
Students in Years 7 and 8 all study Drama for one 50 minute lesson each week. The Drama curriculum focuses on developing students confidence and teamwork skills, introducing students to developing their own devised performances, issue based Drama and developing performance work from scripts. Students are encouraged to evaluate their own work and that of others.
Curriculum Pathway: Drama
Links to useful websites for KS3
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/english/speaking_listening/drama/revision/1/
Year 9
Students in Year 9 have the option of studying drama for one double lesson each week. This option provides a foundation for those students that will go on to choose to study GCSE Drama for one of their KS4 options. In Year 9 students will explore a range of dramatic styles and techniques. They will also explore existing written scripts as well as devising their own performance work.
Key Stage Four
At Key Stage 4 students have the option of studying AQA GCSE Drama. This course provides students with the opportunity to develop their understanding of drama, practically explore a script and devise their own performance as well as evaluate live pieces of theatre.
SCHEME OF WORK – AQA GCSE Drama
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Links to useful websites for KS4
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/drama/gcse/drama-8261
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zrnjwty
Key Stage Five
In Post 16 students have the option of studying:
Year 12
Pearson Level 3 Certificate Performing Arts - which is the equivalent to half an A Level. This course has a natural progression from the BTEC Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts. Students explore a range of different drama practitioners, devise work for different audiences and explore live theatre.
Links to useful websites for Year 12
Year 13
Pearson Level 3 Extended Certificate Performing Arts - which is the equivalent one full A Level. Students continue to develop their acting skills and their knowledge of practitioners by demonstrating these through script work and producing written evidence of their knowledge. The course culminates in a small group performance stimulated from a pre-released paper from the exam board.
SCHEME OF WORK – BTEC LEVEL 3 CERTIFICATE/EXTENDED CERTIFICATE PERFORMING ARTS
Links to useful websites for Year 13
Curriculum contact
- Subject Leader for Performing Arts: Tina Allen tina.allen@qka.education
- Leader of Literacy and teacher of Drama: Nicola Daintith nicola.daintith@qka.education (Maternity Leave)
- Teacher of Drama: Holly Kaminski holly.kaminski@qka.education
- Trainee Teacher of Drama: Ryan Gooderham ryan.gooderham@qka.education