Within the Drama Department at St John’s our objective within key stage is to develop a child as an individual; in Drama we strive to develop students by encouraging them to use their creativity with true passion and confidence. Our subject is also a chance for students to discover and explore their imagination as well as the experience of performing, creating and analysing performances creating well rounded and thoughtful students.

Year 7 

Term 1

Introduction to Drama: A chance for new students to discover Drama in a new way. This Scheme of work focuses on confidence, co-operation and communication skills within Drama. This term allows students to grasp basic skills within Drama and allows them to have a baseline understanding of the essential skills needed to succeed within Drama lessons. 

Term 2 

Pantomime: A fun and seasonal way of applying the skills they have gathered over the previous term. Pantomime gives students a chance to create fun and exciting characters and an opportunity to work with scripts to showcase their skills through performance. 

Term 3 

Physical Theatre: Alice in Wonderland: physical theatre is explored through Alice in wonderland to introduce students to a new type of theatre with new skills and to explore this through a well known story. Students are able to discover unique and exciting characters using new and exciting techniques. 

Term 4 

Harry Potter: A chance to now applying their knowledge of acting skills and drama techniques with the popular book and film franchise. Students here start to look at ways they use their skills not only to create characters but to create famous characters everyone knows and loves. Here students will also be creating their own versions of event in Harry Potter and develop their own wizarding world through both acting and written work. 

Term 5 

Theatre in Education: A chance to combine their understanding of the world as they know it and explore aspects of society through Drama. Here students are given the opportunity to develop their own pieces of theatre in which they can apply their understanding of Drama skills and how their performances can create an impact to their audience.

Term 6

Haunted House is taught to explore the design elements within Drama. Students will be introduced to key terminology regarding design within Drama.

Assessment 

At the end of each term students are required to produce a milestone performance or piece of written work. During this performance students will be graded on the 1-9 system alongside an A2L grade which is monitored over the duration of the term. 

Year 8 

Term 1 

Genre/ Style: Now students have a strong understanding of the necessary skills needed to create a successful character students are now given the opportunity to discover a new part of drama. Each week students will be introduced to a variation of different Genre’s within Drama and will be required to use their drama skills to create their own pieces based different Genre’s. 

Term 2 

Matilda: Students using the popular story and script to work on characterisation and plot. Students are able to revise and revisit past skills learnt to reaffirm their understanding of characterization skills and how to relate these to well known characters.

Term 3 

Shakespeare: Macbeth: A chance for students to go back to one of the most popular historical aspects of theatre studying one of Shakespeare’s most famous and sought after plays. Here students are discovering Shakespearian language whilst developing infamous characters using their knowledge of both physical and vocal drama skills

Term 4 

Blood Brothers: Students are introduced to a GCSE set text. Students use their basic skills to bring characters to the stage but also develop their understanding of the text in preparation for GCSE options

Term 5

Twisted Fairy Tales: A chance for students to study the start of some of the world’s most beloved fairy tales. Students have a chance to conduct Drama based research alongside script writing in depth.

Term 6

The Media: Students to understand and apply performance skills in other forms of performance outside of stage and film for example news reports, social media.

Assessment 

At the end of each term students are required to produce a milestone performance. During this performance students will be graded on the 1-9 system alongside an A2L grade which is monitored over the duration of the term. 

What will I gain from studying Drama? 

Drama allows students to gain confidence and team building skills that cannot be offered in many lessons. Drama gives students an opportunity to extend their imagination and use their creativity to practically explore topics that are may not be covered in other subjects.

Pathways this course can lead to 

BTEC level two in Performing Arts (Acting Pathway) 

AQA GCSE Drama 

Extra curricular opportunities 

School Musical 

Drama Club 

Musical Theatre Club.