“All the world's a stage.” - William Shakespeare, As You Like It
At Ashfield Girls’ High School, we believe Drama is a dynamic practice that introduces students to a world of wonder and play. We encourage our pupils to continue questioning, exploring and teasing out new ideas and ways of living and thinking.
We currently teach all girls in Years 8 – 10 and offer the BTEC Level 1 Level 2 First Award in Performing Arts (Acting) NQF to the Year 11 and Year 12 pupils.
Drama is an important tool for preparing students to live and work in a world that is increasingly team-ordinated rather than hierarchical. Drama also helps students develop tolerance and empathy.
Studying Drama requires emotional maturity and gives pupils a deep understanding of themselves. It involves using not only their voices and bodies, but also emotions and creativity, and engenders a deep sense of self-esteem. It is also a subject that requires a great deal of peer trust and so it plays an important role in teaching communication, listening and empathy skills. Studying Drama is demanding and teaches pupils that success only comes from hard work.
At Key Stage 3 the pupils explore a wide range of topics:
Year 8
• Using voice to communicate emotion
• Improvisation
• Movement
• Mirror work
• ‘Space’ Performances
• Tableau
• Shakespearean Language
• Macbeth/Witches scene/Lady Macbeth
• Modern adaptations of Shakespearean plays
Year 9
• Theatre Styles/Genres involving masks
• Comedy/Tragedy masks
• Greek Theatre & Choral movement
• Tribal masks and folklore
• Role play exploring characterisation
• Hot seating
• TV News reporting
• Script writing
Year 10
• The importance of Drama
• Future careers
• Interview skills
• Costume Design
• Improvisation
• Duologues
• Understanding mannerisms, movement and props
• Conflict monologues
• Pitch, pause, tone and pace
• Page to stage
BTECs are vocationally related qualifications, where learners develop knowledge and understanding by applying their learning and skills in a work-related context. Additionally, they are popular and effective because they engage learners to take responsibility for their own learning and to develop skills that are essential for the modern-day workplace. These skills include: team working; working from a prescribed brief; working to deadlines; presenting information effectively; and accurately completing administrative tasks and processes. BTEC Firsts motivate learners, and open doors to progression into further study and responsibility within the workplace. (Pearson)
Unit 3: Acting Skills – Internally assessed
Pupils will:
• Explore and develop their acting skills and review their own practice.
• Use their acting skills within rehearsal and performance.
Pupils will identify their strengths and areas for development by carrying out skills audits, responding to teacher/peer feedback and reviewing video work. Pupils will set both short term and long term goals, using specific exercises to improve skills.
Learners will track their progress by keeping an actor’s log, measuring ‘distance’ travelled towards goals and updating targets.
All assessments have Level 1 and Level 2 marks available.
Unit 1: Individual Showcase – Externally assessed
Pupils will complete a letter of application and a presentation/audition in response to a selected progression opportunity. The pupil will choose from a selection of four pre-released progression opportunities. The assessment activity will take place under controlled conditions.
Unit 2: Preparation, Performance and Production – Internally assessed
Pupils will:
• Pupils prepare for live performances and demonstrate performance skills and techniques
• Take part in the preparations for a live performance.
• Demonstrate performance or production skills and techniques in a performance.
Drama students enjoy visits from professional theatre companies performing at our school as well as visiting numerous theatres in N. Ireland.
