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Blackfen School for Girls

Blackfen School for Girls

Raising aspirations - releasing potential

Drama

Drama Department within the Faculty of Creativity and Performance

The drama department has a learning focus on building students’ creativity and confidence through the use of script and stimulus. Our aim is to build life skills such as public speaking, performing with confidence while increasing both their verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

The department also places a strong emphasis on the value of group work and problem-solving skills, to allow students to be successful not only throughout secondary school but later in the world of work.

Our students relish on the freedom given to them within the subject, and our schemes of learning compliment the students well. This subject is studied in a carousel with Dance and so the students alternate between the subjects every half-term.

Year 7

Term

Scheme of Learning

Summary

Autumn 

Introduction to skills

This scheme introduces the students to the basic skills required to study drama at any level, through the medium of Fairy Tales.

Starting with still images we layer new skills every lesson to give students the building blocks to devising their own fairy tale at the end of the scheme.

Spring  

Darkwood Mannor

Darkwood Manor continues to build on the skills from the Autumn term, focusing on the use of physical theatre as a genre. This allows the students to be creative with their interpretation of the scheme.

We focus on tension within drama and students use their bodies to tell stories.

Summer 

Hansel and Gretel

In the third term, students combine their previous knowledge by applying the skills to Kneehigh’s Hansel and Gretel script.

They are introduced to using a script to tell stories, while also exploring new techniques such as Puppetry and Song.

 

Year 8

Term 

Scheme of Learning

Summary

Autumn 

Melodrama Shannon Mathews

This scheme introduces the genre of Melodrama, which enhances their knowledge and understanding of characterisation and stereotype. This scheme allows them to use their previous characterisation and drama skills in a creative and exaggerated way.

Spring  Devising This scheme links to the Component 1 of the GCSE where by students need to create a piece of theatre using a stimulus. Throughout the Scheme students develop their ability to devise theatre and use their creative thinking skills. They work with a collection of different stimuli to allow them to develop imagination and creativity.
Summer 

Matilda

 

Matilda enables the students to explore Characterisation in both a naturalistic and abstract setting. We build on previous skills such as physical theatre, split scenes and sound scaping to teach about the use of Drama to tell stories. 

 

Year 9

Term

Scheme of Learning

Summary

Autumn 

I love you Mum- I promise I won’t die

This piece of Verbatim theatre, written by Mark Wheeler follows the story of Daniel Spargo-Mabbs who died of an accidental drug overdose. It is told through the true words of his family and friends during the aftermath of his death.

This scheme allows the students to draw links to PSCHE topics while following Stanislavskian techniques.

Spring 

Devising

This scheme links to the Component 1 of the GCSE where by students need to create a piece of theatre using a stimulus. Throughout the Scheme students develop their ability to devise theatre and use their creative thinking skills. They work with a collection of different stimuli to allow them to develop imagination and creativity.

Summer 

Blood Brothers

Throughout this scheme students explore the story of Blood Brothers as well as learning about Stanislavski and his ideas for naturalistic theatre. They also start to understand the Component 2 of the Drama GCSE through the realising of script.

 

Year 10: GCSE year 1- EDUQAS

Term

Scheme of Learning

Summary

Autumn 1

Practitioners

In this scheme, students are introduced to a variety of practitioners and genres needed to complete the GCSE course. These lessons are both theoretical and practical to prepare them for the written aspect of the course.

Autumn 2

Component 1: mock

 

 

 

 

 

Component 3

During the second half of the Autumn term, students will build on their knowledge of practitioners and genres to complete a devising mock exam. Here they will gain an important understanding of what is required during the real exam, while also completing a mock portfolio and controlled evaluation.

 

Students to start to prepare for their component 3 written examination.

Spring 1

Component 1

 

 

 

 

Component 3

Students will explore the stimulus provided by the Eduqas, and begin to devise their piece of theatre for the practical examination. They will document their journey through a written log and will gather resources for their portfolio.

 

Students will continue to prepare for their Component 3 examination. Students will attend a theatre visit to prepare them for their Component 3 mock examination.

Spring 2

Component 1

 

 

 

 

Component 3

Students will complete their Component 1 practical examination, portfolio and evaluation which will award them with 40% of their qualification.

Component 3 preparation will continue.

 

Carrying on preparing for Component 3 written examination.

Summer 1

Component 2

 

 

Component 3

Students will complete a mock of the scripted component 2 examination.

 

Again Component 3 preparation is explored both practically and theoretically.

Summer 2

Examinations

They will revise and prepare for the Component 3 written examination mock in late June.

 

Year 11: GCSE year 2 EDUQAS

Term

Scheme of Learning

Summary

Autumn Term 1

Component 2: exploration

 

 

 

 

Component 3

In this scheme, students will explore their chosen text for their scripted examination. They will build on prior skills to build character and understand the historical, social and cultural contexts of the piece.

 

Students will feedback on their Component 3 mock and identify areas for development.

Autumn 2

Component 2

 

 

Component 3

Students will prepare, rehearse and develop their Component 2 scripted pieces.

 

Students will continue to expand their knowledge for their written exam.

Spring 1

Component 2

 

 

Component 3

Students will refine and polish their scripted pieces, ready for the external examination.

 

In preparation for the real exam, students will attend at least one other piece of live theatre to enhance their knowledge of the theatre review.

Spring 2

Component 3

Students will refine their understanding of the written component.

Summer 2

Examinations

Students will complete their Component 3 written examination in late June.

 

Extra-curricular activities

KS3 Drama club-

There is a KS3 Drama club run at lunch time which allows students to foster their love of the subject outside of lesson time. It gives them the opportunity to explore different topics then the ones studied in lessons. The club also allows students to develop their confidence and make friends with students outside of their classes and year group.

Whole school musical-

There is a whole school musical performed bi-annually. This is created and run by the Drama and Dance department with help and collaboration from other arts departments in the Expressive Arts Faculty. Students from Y7-10 are invited to audition and join the cast of the musical which is rehearsed after school and performed in the performance space to an audience.