Years 10 and 11 Drama Curriculum Plan

Overview

The Drama Department follows the new AQA course for GCSE Drama in Year 10 and the AQA legacy GCSE Drama specification in Year 11. The course is taught in 5 lessons per fortnight. NAW teaches Year 10 and two teachers (NAW & IRC) deliver the course in Year 11. In choosing texts for coursework and examination, the Department endeavours to engage the students' interest, while making work challenging for the most able, yet accessible to all. The decision has been taken to enter students for the written examination in Year 11 when their knowledge of Drama and Theatre has developed as much as possible.

For detailed information about the GCSE Drama Specification, please go to the AQA website (www.aqa.org.uk)

GCSE Drama Overview - Year 10

Autumn Term

The focus of the work in Year 10 is largely practical. This is necessary as some students have a very limited knowledge of theatre at this stage and are thus in no position to approach the written examination work.

The initial half term of Year 10 are spent giving students the confidence and skills to perform with the level of maturity and sophistication required at GCSE level. This is done by providing students with a range of improvisations as well as asking them to perform and comment upon some scripted work. There is a focus on evaluation and developing students' ability to criticise their own work, and that of their peers, constructively.

When it is felt appropriate, students will begin a devised, thematic piece of Drama. As a first piece of Drama, this is often based upon the themes behind a play, novel or film. Students use the theme as a starting point before going on to create an original piece of devised Drama, working in groups of four or five

Spring Term

Students should complete their first piece of devised practical coursework (to be assessed before the February half term.

They should then spend time creating a portfolio of notes, critically evaluating the rehearsal process as well as their own contribution and performance. These notes should be detailed and thorough to provide opportunity for revision later in the course. Time will be spent explaining the level of detail required as well as the best form in which to lay out the information for ease of revision.

Students should then embark upon their first piece of scripted practical coursework. Students should work in groups, preparing an extract for performance.

Summer Term

Students should complete their scripted performance coursework, with assessment taking place before half term. The same procedure of evaluation and analysis should be undergone, but this time it should be ongoing during the piece so that only an evaluation of final performance needs completing after the rehearsal period.

Students should then be shown the requirements of the written examination and given the opportunity to sit a mock examination paper.

Throughout Year 10, students should have opportunities to see a range of live theatrical performances and time will be given in class to analyse and evaluate before making detailed notes. This will be fitted in as appropriate, according to the programmes of local theatres.

Year 11 Overview (Legacy Specification)

Autumn Term

NAW - Practical Scripted Performance Coursework& Practical Devised Coursework

IRC - Blue Remembered Hills & Live Performances seen.

NAW to work in a similar way to the ways outlined for NAW to work in a similar way to the ways outlined for Year 10 except that the practical pieces will be compared to another text of students choice and a written coursework piece will be completed once the practical work has been completed.

IRC will work on approaches to Blue Remembered Hills as a set text for the written exam, ensuring that students write about how a performance should be delivered (i.e. what techniques must be used to convey the necessary emotion on stage) and why the role should be performed that way (focusing on the desired effect upon the audience and the reasons why this effect would be appropriate at the specified moment in the play.)

IRC will also spend time with students revising and adding to their live performance notes.

Spring Term

NAW - Mock Examination feedback, Practical Devised Coursework & Final Practical Coursework piece.

IRC - Blue Remembered Hills & Live Performances seen.

IRC to work as above.

NAW to feedback from the written mock examination paper, before finishing and marking the Devised Coursework piece as set out above, also completing a piece of written, comparative coursework.
In discussion with students, NAW will then work on a final practical piece according to the students' needs (remembering that one scripted and one unscripted practical mark must be put forward for each candidate). This will be performed at the beginning of the summer term.

Summer Term

Both teachers:

Preparation for external moderation of practical work & preparation for written exam should be undertaken. Revision of Blue Remembered Hills and final organisation of live performance notes.