Drama

The Drama curriculum includes a range of different topics. Students begin the year with Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ where they are taught how an actor uses their voice and body to create a believable performance.

🎭The LAMDA qualification is run once a week for both Key Stage 3 and 4 students.
🎭 CPA have been accredited with the Gold Artsmark award by the Arts Council
🎭 The annual school show takes place every year in July
🎭 In partnership with The Royal Exchange Educational Programme.

Year 7

Students are introduced to drama with a series of workshops which will give them the foundations to confidently perform throughout the rest of key stage three.

Students begin with characterisation, learning how to vary their voice and body to create characters different from themselves, before devising with an array of drama conventions.
They continue to deepen their understanding of drama conventions through script, ‘The Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty’ a script that enables students to relate to the plays themes of family, bullying, social media and the transition to high school.
Students go on to devise their own plays using the genres of sci fi and murder mystery
Finally, using their knowledge and understanding of drama so far, students are given props as stimulus to devise their own plays, whilst being guided how to create different narrative structures, atmospheres and interesting dialogue.

Year 8

Students are taught ‘The History of Theatre’
Topics include Sophocles Oedipus Rex, Medieval Drama, Commedia D’ell Arte, Shakespeares ‘The Tempest’, Silent Movies, Melodrama, song and dance and a scripted Pantomime.
Students are then introduced to theatre practitioners to influence their devised performances
Stanislavski conventions are taught and applied whilst devising their own Soap Opera and Brechts conventions to create a political piece of drama.

Year 9

Students enter their final year of Key Stage 3 Drama by exploring dramatic play texts from different eras.
Plays texts include ‘Teechers’ by John Godber, DNA’ by Dennis Kelly and a ‘Taste of Honey’ by Shelagh Delaney

Students use their skills and understanding of theatre which they have learnt in previous lessons, to bring scripted extracts to life considering characterisation, atmosphere and to create meaning for an audience.

Students also experience recorded live theatre to analyse and evaluate how a performer uses their characterisation skills to create an engaging performance.

Year 10

The course is run by AQA. The course is designed to engage and encourage students to become confident performers with the skills they need for a bright and successful future.

During their time in GCSE Drama, students to do what they like best – participate in performance.

  • All students devise drama.
  • All students explore texts practically and work on two text-based performances.
  • All students watch live theatre.
  • Students can be sure to gather many invaluable skills, both theatrical and transferable, to expand their horizons. Drama in Key Stage 4 ensures continuity for students progressing from GCSE Drama to AS and A-level.

Year 11

Component 1: Understanding drama what’s assessed.

  • Knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre.
  • Study of one set play.
  • Analysis and evaluation of the work of live theatre makers how it’s assessed.
  • Written exam: 1 hour and 45 minutes.
  • Open book.
  • 80 marks.
  • 40% of GCSE.

Component 3: Texts in practice (practical) what’s assessed.

  • Performance of two extracts from one play (Contrast of set play chosen for Component 1) how it’s assessed.
  • Performance of Extract 1 (20 marks) and Extract 2 (20 marks).
  • Analysis and evaluation of own work how it’s assessed.
  • Devising log (60 marks).
  • Devised performance (20 marks).
  • 40 marks in total.
  • 20 % of GCSE.