Drama is serious fun!
Drama is taught as a discrete subject at Oldfield School and all students have weekly drama lessons throughout KS3 with an option to study GCSE, AS and A2 at KS4 and 5.
Studying drama requires emotional maturity, and gives students a deep understanding of themselves. Because it involves using not only their voices and bodies, but also emotions and creativity, it is able to engender 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 students that success only comes from hard work.
The skills that are learnt by studying drama are invaluable in later life. For example, being able to speak and present confidently in front of people, and the skill of planning that is required in any production, are useful in many careers. Drama can be a good basis for a career not only in the theatre, but in advertising, the film industry and even in events planning, among many others.
KS3 Drama at Oldfield
At KS3, all students have one drama lesson a week and are taught a varied and engaging curriculum. Students will develop personal and social skills and try to learn about a wide range of situations through exploring perspectives other than their own. They also learn theatre and performance skills and explore different theatrical genres and conventions.
Level descriptors such as those used by all curriculum subjects are used to assess students and help them achieve their potential. By Year 9 students should have developed interpersonal skills and a thorough grounding in many theatre techniques. Drama is taught in tutor groups in Year 7 and in mixed teaching groups in Years 8 and 9.
- Term 1 – Drama is Serious fun – an introduction to Drama
- Term 2 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – working from page to stage
- Term 3 – Evacuees – devising theatre and exploring issues
- Term 4 – Storytelling – an introduction to Physical Theatre
- Term 5 – Oldfield Manor – Using technical theatre
- Term 6 – Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations – working with text.
- Term 1 – Melodrama and Silent Film – exploring theatrical conventions
- Term 2 – The Tempest – Creating context and characterisation
- Term 3 – Stolen Lives – Exploring different dramatic stimuli and stylized performance techniques
- Term 4 – Blood Brothers
- Term 5 – Devising Theatre
- Term 6 – Stanislavski
- Term 1 – Lord of the Flies – Exploration of a theme using theatrical techniques
- Term 2 – ‘Lost’ – a Devising Theatre project
- Term 3 – ‘The Stones’
- Term 4 – Missing Dan Nolan – Verbatim and documentary theatre
- Term 5 – Theatre in Education project
- Term 6 – Devising from a stimulus
Students follow the WJEC/ Edquas Drama specification which assesses them both practically and through written controlled assessments and examination. It follows on from what has been studied previously but with improvisation and acting skills developed to a higher degree. Students devise their own theatre and look at plays, finding different ways of bringing a script alive on stage. As a part of their course, students have opportunities to take part in theatrical performances, work with theatre professionals and take part in trips and visits to see professional theatre.
AS and A Level Drama
Students follow the Edexcel Drama specification which assesses them both practically and through written controlled assessments and examination.
Extra Curricular Opportunities
There are lots of opportunities for students to extend and enrich the work they do with a wealth of opportunities. Theatre visits are regularly arranged for GCSE and A level students and all KS3 students are given at least one opportunity to see a live performance.
There is an annual school production in which between 40 and 80 students take part. In previous years we have produced popular shows like ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Fame’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and ‘Scrooge’. Students are encouraged to get involved through performance (acting, dancing, singing) as well as being given opportunities to direct, stage manage, help with technical support, help backstage, help design and make set and costume and help front of house amongst other things.
There is a junior Drama club which runs weekly and uses drama games and improvisation activities to help students develop their skills and confidence.
Shakespeare Schools Festival
Every year Year 10 Drama students take part in the Shakespeare School Festival and perform their work at the Egg Theatre.