Drama
Teacher contact details
| Ms C Perera, Head of Drama | chanika.perera@southfieldsacademy.com |
| Mr D Whitfield | david.whitfield@southfieldsacademy.com |
| Mr R Hurst | ryan.hurst@southfieldsacademy.com |
What knowledge and skills will students develop at KS3?
Drama
Contact Teacher:
Ms C Perera (Head of Drama):
chanika.perera@southfieldsacademy.com
Grouping/organisation/setting/teaching time:
Students are taught in tutor groups 1 hour per week. There is no setting by ability.
Course Content/Skills Learnt:
Explorative schemes of work focus on clear artistic intentions that explore social and political issues in the wider world. The expressive arts programme of study draws upon cross curricular links with P.S.H.E, History and English, encouraging and developing a range of interpersonal skills, and presentation skills. Our schemes of work foster empathy, imagination, confidence, cooperation and thinking/problem solving skills. Students will study topics such as asylum seeking, discrimination based on race, gender and homosexuality and also the dangers of drunk driving. Due to the current climate the Expressive Arts department have included lessons which address issues relating to the Black Lives Matter and Me Too movements. As well as this the students will learn specific performance skills such as mime, theatre in education, forum theatre and practitioners such as Stanislavski, Brecht and Boal.
What to expect in Key Stage 3 drama lessons;
- Practical workshops and lessons
- Structured rehearsals (This will happen in lessons for now)
- Explorative schemes of work with a clear artistic intention that explore social and political issues and the wider world
- Introducing theory learning with a practical approach
- Many performance opportunities (Which will happen without a live audience)
- Evaluation present in every lesson
- Energetic approach to teaching that is rooted in modelling and demonstration, teaching aims to be inspiring
- Expectations of high quality performance
Assessment:
Assessment in Years 7 & 8 is based on internally devised criteria made up of two pathways; interpersonal skills and presentation skills as well as reflection tasks set as homework.
Assessment in Year 9 is categorised into four areas; Knowledge, Ideas, Communication and Reflection. This enables development of all round skills that are required for Key Stage 4 Drama / Performing Arts.
Books/other materials/useful websites to visit/field trips etc.:
Google Classroom is used as a virtual platform to introduce students to online theatre and live stream theatre, ensuring the love of performing arts is still thriving.
Many Key Stage 3 students are representatives around the Academy as Arts and Dance Ambassadors. Students are responsible for leading activities and promoting a love for the arts during lessons and creating enrichment opportunities.
Homework:
Homework will be set once a week or fortnight depending on the needs of the class.
How parents can help:
Encourage and accompany students to take an interest in current affairs, general reading, watching theatre shows with their children and discussion content in order to promote interest in the arts.
What knowledge and skills will students develop at KS4?
Drama GCSE
|
Level |
Level 2 |
|
Qualification type |
GCSE |
|
For more information speak to |
Ms Perera |
WHAT AND HOW WILL YOU LEARN?
GCSE Drama is split into three components:
Component 1/2 - Devising
Students will devise their own performance piece based on their chosen stimulus whilst monitoring and reflecting on the process. Students are expected to critically analyse the communication of artistic intentions during practical explorations and the development of performance pieces.
Component 3 - Presenting and performing text
Students will study a chosen play and perform two contrasting extracts to a visiting examiner. Students will be expected to complete the concept proforma consisting of four questions which will accompany their performance pieces. The component will explore social historical context, artistic intention, artistic vision and an understanding of why the playwright wrote the studied play.
Component 4 - Performance and response
The final component will be completed at the end of Year 11. Students will complete a final exam worth 40% of the GCSE. Students will practically explore a performance text to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of drama. They will then have to analyse and evaluate a live theatre performance.
Each component will focus on developing skills such as critical analysis, research skills, evaluative skills and performance skills. The content taught in drama is transferable to any other subject, supporting academic structuring as well as practical application.
Dance Level 2 BTEC
|
Level |
Level 2 |
|
Qualification type |
BTEC First Award |
|
For more information speak to |
Ms Perera |
WHAT AND HOW WILL YOU LEARN?
The Dance course is highly practical in nature and has a clear vocational focus; this means that it is about the skills that are relevant to the Performing Arts / Dance industry.
You will study three core units. In the first unit, Dance Skills you will learn about the specific demands and skills needed to be a dancer. You will focus on versatility as a dancer and learn a variety of different styles of dance including urban (street dance styles such as waacking, vogue, breaking, hip hop and house), contemporary and/or jazz.
As well as learning the various elements of these styles you will also develop interpretive skills, looking at how the choreography of a dance can communicate with your audience. 
You will then apply these skills in the study of the unit Individual Showcase in which you will prepare and audition performance and a letter of application, as if you were applying for a dance job in the Performing Arts industry.
The final core unit you will study: Preparation, Performance and Production, will have you working as part of a fictional dance company developing a performance both as a dancer and a member of the production team. You will learn about the different production roles necessary for a performance to be 
successful.
What knowledge and skills will students develop at KS5?
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Performing Arts
Course Leader
Ms C Perera, chanika.perera@southfieldsacademy.com
Exam Board
Edexcel
Qualification
601/7233/2
Specification
Course Description
You will study this course as a drama specialist.
This is a four unit course, three are mandatory units set by the exam board:
- Investigating practitioners’ work
- Developing skills and techniques for live performance
- Group performance workshop
Two of these units are assessed externally, they are:
- Investigating practitioners’ work
- Group performance workshop
There is an optional fourth unit which will be practical and chosen in light of the group of students we have on the course, this may be an area of the performing arts the class particularly enjoys or is keen to explore further.
Learners will gain a taste and an appreciation of performing arts, through knowledge and experience of the performance process. Learners will also have the opportunity to develop a range of skills, techniques and personal attributes which will be valuable across all areas of future study and work. Practical skills and techniques in a range of performing arts disciplines as well as critical analysis skills and a contextual understanding of practitioners’ work will underpin each unit.
Entry requirements
5 GCSEs or more including English.
Experience in dance and or drama is helpful but not essential, experience could be a performing art subject that was studied at key stage three or GCSE or if dance or drama was taken up as a hobby.
Assessment
50% external assessed (practical and written work completed under controlled conditions).
50% internally assessed (practical and ongoing reflections completed throughout the units).
Future Opportunities
The combination of mandatory content and optional units means that the qualification in Performing Arts can be tailored to suit all sector needs from acting and dance to musical theatre to community-focused projects. All of the mandatory units can be delivered as a specialist route or across a broader discipline. With this in mind this qualification can lead to professional work in all areas of the industry as well as for study at higher education. The demands within the performing arts industry mean learners need to be able to manage deadlines well, work effectively with others and communicate their ideas in different ways. This assessment methodology now more closely matches experiences learners will have in employment and thus increases their chances of successful progression.
Further information
For more information please arrange a time to meet with Ms Perera in the drama department.
For information about the course and it’s units: