Drama & Performing Arts
Teaching Staff:
‘We must all do theatre, to find out who we are, and to discover who we could become.’
–Augusto Boal
KS3
All KS3 pupils receive 2 fifty-minute periods of Drama during a fortnight. Drama at Key Stage 3 focuses primarily on active learning and working as part of a group or a team. Through practical activities, pupils start to gain subject-specific knowledge and understanding. As a result, pupils acquire a range of transferrable skills and personal capabilities.
Drama is a life skill and a creative art form. It helps pupils develop their ability to use voice, movement, gesture and facial expression, in acting, mime, dance drama and improvisation. They can express and manage their thoughts and feelings – shared and experienced – while working in a safe and controlled environment here at Sperrin College.
KS3 Drama at Sperrin College, offers a platform for students to express themselves and understand that stepping out of your ‘comfort zone’ is in fact okay!
Year 8:
All About me: The Monologue
Silent Movies & Physical Theatre
Shakespeare
Improvisation & Script Writing
Year 9:
Soap Opera s
Greek Theatre
Issue Based Drama: Forum Theatre
Improvisation & Script Writing
Year 10:
Forum Theatre: Stereotypes
Shakespeare
Improvisation & Script Writing
Devised work: What to expect at GCSE
GCSE DRAMA (CCEA)
Unit 1: Understanding Drama (40%)
This unit aims to develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of drama in terms of design, rehearsal and performance.
In this unit, pupils are required to study a set text. Through practical exploration and research, pupils must develop approaches to the costume design of the play and to the rehearsal of roles in preparation for performance. This unit further requires pupils to engage in a performance analysis of their own work in the Scripted Performance Controlled Assessment task.
This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Pupils will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the assessment for this unit. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 12. Pupils’ work in this unit will be externally assessed.
Unit 2: Drama Performance (60%)
This unit aims to develop pupils’ practical drama skills in either a performance or theatre design role.
In this unit, pupils are required to complete two Controlled Assessment tasks which are practical in nature and constitute 60% of the final GCSE Drama grade. Each Controlled Assessment task is worth 30%. One of these tasks must be Scripted Performance. The second task may be based on one of the following options:
A Level Performing Arts
Performing Arts is a growth industry in Northern Ireland. This course gives students opportunities to research and gain insights into the industry, engage with effective practice and prepare for employment, further training and/or study. The specification offers a wide range of skills in both performance and production.
Module Outline:
AS 1: Skills Development and Application
Internally assessed
Externally moderated
Students are assessed on an individual performance and a contrasting collaborative performance. They must also produce an accompanying written portfolio.
60% of AS
30% of the A Level
AS 2: Planning and Realising a Performing Arts Event
Externally set
Externally assessed
Students must plan and realise a live performance based on an externally set title. This is a collaborative piece. In addition students must provide supportive documents, completed under controlled conditions.
40% of AS
20% of the A Level
A2 1: Planning for Employment
Internally assessed
Externally moderated
Students must produce a report on the skills required to work in PA industry as well as producing a professional CV. They must undertake an audition, demonstrating 2 contrasting pieces of repertoire, and sit an interview. A written evaluation of their audition and interview is also required.
60% of A2
30% of the A Level
A2 2: Performing to a Commission Brief
Externally set
Externally assessed
Students must write/create, promote, plan and perform a live event based on an externally set title. This is a collaborative piece, requiring them to undertake a specific administrative role in preparation for the event. In addition, students must provide a detailed written record of work.
40% of AS
20% of the A Level
Extra-Curricular:
Drama Club: The ever-growing Drama Club is offered to all students on a weekly basis afterschool. This is a great opportunity for pupils to express themselves and develop different relationships with their peers. The Drama club is a comfortable environment where pupils work with Miss McCloskey in producing performances, through improvisation and scripted pieces.
The Drama Department enjoys links with many professional theatre companies and organisations who visit the school to deliver a broad range of workshops in areas such as dance, improvisation and acting. Not only are they enjoyable for the pupils to be involved in, but the workshops also help them to develop confidence.
Pupils have the opportunity to be part of school productions, including musicals and plays, in either a performance or through gaining a backstage management role.
- Miss L McCloskey BA (Hons) PGCE
- Miss L Dempster BA (Hons) PGCE
‘We must all do theatre, to find out who we are, and to discover who we could become.’
–Augusto Boal
KS3
All KS3 pupils receive 2 fifty-minute periods of Drama during a fortnight. Drama at Key Stage 3 focuses primarily on active learning and working as part of a group or a team. Through practical activities, pupils start to gain subject-specific knowledge and understanding. As a result, pupils acquire a range of transferrable skills and personal capabilities.
Drama is a life skill and a creative art form. It helps pupils develop their ability to use voice, movement, gesture and facial expression, in acting, mime, dance drama and improvisation. They can express and manage their thoughts and feelings – shared and experienced – while working in a safe and controlled environment here at Sperrin College.
KS3 Drama at Sperrin College, offers a platform for students to express themselves and understand that stepping out of your ‘comfort zone’ is in fact okay!
Year 8:
All About me: The Monologue
Silent Movies & Physical Theatre
Shakespeare
Improvisation & Script Writing
Year 9:
Soap Opera s
Greek Theatre
Issue Based Drama: Forum Theatre
Improvisation & Script Writing
Year 10:
Forum Theatre: Stereotypes
Shakespeare
Improvisation & Script Writing
Devised work: What to expect at GCSE
GCSE DRAMA (CCEA)
Unit 1: Understanding Drama (40%)
This unit aims to develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of drama in terms of design, rehearsal and performance.
In this unit, pupils are required to study a set text. Through practical exploration and research, pupils must develop approaches to the costume design of the play and to the rehearsal of roles in preparation for performance. This unit further requires pupils to engage in a performance analysis of their own work in the Scripted Performance Controlled Assessment task.
This unit is assessed in the form of a written examination. Pupils will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the assessment for this unit. Assessment of this unit will take place at the end of Year 12. Pupils’ work in this unit will be externally assessed.
Unit 2: Drama Performance (60%)
This unit aims to develop pupils’ practical drama skills in either a performance or theatre design role.
In this unit, pupils are required to complete two Controlled Assessment tasks which are practical in nature and constitute 60% of the final GCSE Drama grade. Each Controlled Assessment task is worth 30%. One of these tasks must be Scripted Performance. The second task may be based on one of the following options:
- Devised Performance
- Improvisation
- Dance Drama
- Mime
- Design Support
A Level Performing Arts
Performing Arts is a growth industry in Northern Ireland. This course gives students opportunities to research and gain insights into the industry, engage with effective practice and prepare for employment, further training and/or study. The specification offers a wide range of skills in both performance and production.
Module Outline:
AS 1: Skills Development and Application
Internally assessed
Externally moderated
Students are assessed on an individual performance and a contrasting collaborative performance. They must also produce an accompanying written portfolio.
60% of AS
30% of the A Level
AS 2: Planning and Realising a Performing Arts Event
Externally set
Externally assessed
Students must plan and realise a live performance based on an externally set title. This is a collaborative piece. In addition students must provide supportive documents, completed under controlled conditions.
40% of AS
20% of the A Level
A2 1: Planning for Employment
Internally assessed
Externally moderated
Students must produce a report on the skills required to work in PA industry as well as producing a professional CV. They must undertake an audition, demonstrating 2 contrasting pieces of repertoire, and sit an interview. A written evaluation of their audition and interview is also required.
60% of A2
30% of the A Level
A2 2: Performing to a Commission Brief
Externally set
Externally assessed
Students must write/create, promote, plan and perform a live event based on an externally set title. This is a collaborative piece, requiring them to undertake a specific administrative role in preparation for the event. In addition, students must provide a detailed written record of work.
40% of AS
20% of the A Level
Extra-Curricular:
Drama Club: The ever-growing Drama Club is offered to all students on a weekly basis afterschool. This is a great opportunity for pupils to express themselves and develop different relationships with their peers. The Drama club is a comfortable environment where pupils work with Miss McCloskey in producing performances, through improvisation and scripted pieces.
The Drama Department enjoys links with many professional theatre companies and organisations who visit the school to deliver a broad range of workshops in areas such as dance, improvisation and acting. Not only are they enjoyable for the pupils to be involved in, but the workshops also help them to develop confidence.
Pupils have the opportunity to be part of school productions, including musicals and plays, in either a performance or through gaining a backstage management role.
