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Drama lessons contribute to students’ social, moral and cultural education, as well as to developing the skills of communication, teamwork and creative problem solving. Through drama students are able to explore issues and problems that help them to understand themselves and those around them. Students are given the opportunity to experience the historical, cultural and practical aspects of drama and theatre. Drama classes are taught in the Drama Workshop and School Hall that are both equipped with lighting and sound facilities. Drama lessons contribute to students’ social, moral and cultural education, as well as to developing the skills of communication, teamwork and creative problem solving. |
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BA(Hons) Dramatic Art majoring in English PGCE English & Drama MA Drama & Applied Theatre in Education – Central School of Speech & Drama |
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BA(Hons) Literature PGCE (Cantab) |
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Visiting Staff
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BA Drama PGCE Drama |
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Students participate in weekly lessons of about forty minutes, with approximately twelve students in each group. Year 7: The course begins with whole group work: the teacher’s first aim is to integrate the pupils, then to promote self-discipline, confidence and control. The teacher sometimes works in role with the students on important themes, which may range from history to literature, from peer pressure to movement and mime projects. The emphasis is on participation on all levels, and on extending creative and imaginative ideas. The pupils are occasionally asked to perform to an audience of peers. All students will be given the opportunity to do a Year 7 scripted performance for an invited audience of family and friends. Year 8: The course builds on the skills acquired in Year 7. Thematic lessons require students to solve problems, to reflect, to make decisions and to evaluate their work. There may be opportunities to participate in movement and mime projects, to make a video, to work with the teacher in role, and to work in large and small groups. Lesson content may be stimulated by literature, music or any other resource which gives rise to valuable learning experiences. Students are taught how to create, perform and respond to drama. This involves practical thinking, problem solving and an ability to express and negotiate ideas when working in a group. Greater importance in Year 8 is placed on written accuracy for homework. All Year 8 students will be given the opportunity to perform a devised piece to an invited public audience. Year 9: Students are given the opportunity to experience the type of work that will enable them to make an informed choice at GCSE level. They will be encouraged to gain hands-on experience with technical resources, such as the lighting, sound system and video equipment. Also, there may be an opportunity to integrate with the Music Department and the Girl’s PE Department during their Dance term. There will be an opportunity for all Year 9 students to perform Drama and Dance to an invited public audience. Students will be expected to build on skills and experiences from Year 8, the emphasis is on extending confidence, control, creative skills and fluency. They will be given more responsibility for the outcome of their work. The themes will be more pupil-centred in preparation to meet the demands of the GCSE specification and skills. |
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Syllabus Years 10 and 11 - GCSE
| The Drama Course is mostly practical, although there is a written course work element. The majority of the examination takes the form of polished and spontaneous improvisation, study of texts and the performance of a final group piece to an external examiner.
The Drama course is valued by employers and by universities. Drama students develop fluency, organization skills and the ability to work as a team. Confidence and “people skills” will develop throughout the course.
Drama helps with all professions which require confidence and the ability to integrate with people. It is a lively, enjoyable course in which students can achieve excellence.
Assessment: Practical Paper 1: 60% Unit 1: Drama exploration 1 Improvisation work exploring the elements of drama within a theme. Unit 2: Drama exploration 2 Through improvisation and performance students develop an understanding of how a playwright records ideas and how directors, designers and performers realise their ideas in performance. This is a practical workshop element. For each Unit of Paper 1 three pieces of coursework dealing with response, development and evaluation are required. (Internally moderated) Performance Paper 2: 40% Drama Performance Option (a) Devised performance Option (b) Performance support (technical) Option (c) Scripted performance (Externally examined) The results of GCSE drama have been pleasing with all students achieving grades A to C and many gaining grades A*- B. The course is disciplined, enjoyable and highly rewarding. |
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AS/A Level Theatre Studies (GCE) Examination Board: Edexcel
AS/A Level Performing Arts (applied GCE) Examination Board: EdexcelEntry Requirements: A*-C grade GCSE in English. It is useful but not essential to also have A*-C grade GCSE in Drama and/or Music. However, a real love of performing and of the performing arts and a desire to achieve the very best through hard work and dedication is required. Assessment: This is a 6 Unit course over AS and A2. Units 1 and 6 are assessed by examination. The other units are assessed by your teachers and moderated by other assessors. You will be expected to produce portfolios on topics discussed with your teacher, complete a practice diary and perform as part of a group in front of an audience and a visiting examiner. What will you study? You must specialise in a career pathway: • Music • Dance • Drama • Music Technology • Arts Administration and Marketing. Higher Education Opportunities and Related Careers: The Applied Performing Arts GCE qualifies for UCAS points. It gives students a wide choice of progression options into further study, training or relevant employment. Students will be well equipped to move onto degrees in Performing Arts. |
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Click on the "News & Events" link above for latest performance dates and times.
Click here for reports and photographs of Music and Drama productions: Music and Drama News
School Musical. Every year in the Autumn Term we work together with the Music Department to produce a school musical. In 2006 we performed Grease - which proved to be a high energy and entertaining production, including our very own horror movie which we filmed for the drive-in scene. In 2007 we did a moving production of Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers.
National Theatre Connections Festival Every year we participate in the National Theatre Connections Festival which is a high profile, exciting event. Ten established theatre and/or TV/Film scriptwriters are commissioned to write a play for a young people. We then select a script to work on for our in-house production which is assessed by a professional theatre director. We have been selected in the past to showcase our production at a Regional Theatre.
Performing Arts Soiree Annually we put on an evening of entertaining around a theme such as Love. This year our theme was People and Places and the program included monologues, duologues, dance drama, original creative writing, music and singing as well as some dance. We ended the evening with some outrageous and fun improvisations along the lines of Whose Life is it Anyway and Chicago’s Second City. Theatre Visits Drama students have the opportunity to take part in theatre visits. We have seen some innovative work this year including Spies by Alibi Theatre Company, the West End production of Blood Brothers performed at The Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple and A Midsummer Night’s Dream by the RSC performed at Stratford. Drama Club Every week we run a drama club open to all students in the Senior School. The club is run on a voluntary basis and we do an eclectic mix of drama games, improvisations, some script work and opportunities to develop performance techniques. The club this year has been great fun and Gemma Donovan, lead many of the sessions to the delight of the participants. Speech and Drama Extra-curricular Speech and Drama lessons to prepare students for Lamda Examinations and the North Devon Performing Arts Festival are run by Peter Burford and Michele Borsten. Students can also take these lessons to gain extra tuition, experience and guidance to develop their performance skills.  |
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Click on the links below to visit some worthwhile web resources.
www.stellaadler.com/stanislavski.html |
Tel: 01237 472212 email: registrar@grenvillecollege.co.uk
Grenville College is a Woodard School
