DRAMA
The Drama department is dedicated to giving young people the opportunity to express themselves and develop a breadth of skills. We also endeavour to create an environment where students can appreciate the dramatic arts in our wider culture.
Department Staff
Ms A Mitchell - Head of Drama
Mr M Baines - Drama Teacher
Mrs E Batt - Senior Leader and Drama Teacher
Curriculum Intent
Through the interleaving of subject skills and knowledge in Drama, there are continuous opportunities to communicate, create, empathise and reflect embedded within our curriculum. Developing personal and academic skills in this way is core to the growth of a well-rounded and versatile individual. Our department has a firm belief in the power of theatre and its ability to challenge, question, change and transform. Our lessons provide the space and a safe environment to explore life and the human condition.
GCSE & A Level
GCSE Drama Pearson Edexcel
Component 1: Devising - Create and develop a devised piece from a stimulus (10% performance or design, 30% portfolio)
Component 2: Performance from a text - Perform in/design for two key extracts from a performance text (20% performance or design realisation)
Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice - Written exam on a set text (30%) and Live Theatre Evaluation (10%)
A Level Drama and Theatre Pearson Edexcel
Component 1: Devising - Create and develop a devised piece based on an extract from a performance text and a practitioner (10% performance or design, 30% portfolio)
Component 2: Performance from a text - Perform in/design for two key extracts from two different performance texts (20% performance or design realisation)
Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice - Written exam on a set text (20%) and a second set text alongside a practitioner’s techniques (10%) and a Live Theatre Evaluation (10%)
Facilities
Drama Studio
Enrichment
The department regularly runs visits to the theatre, mostly to Colchester, Ipswich and London. These are well attended and enrich our curriculum by providing students with invaluable opportunities to see professional theatre at its best.
The drama department also jointly runs the school show with the Music department. This is an annual event in the school calendar and is open to all students. From auditions in September through to the performance after Christmas students work hard together to create, rehearse and produce the final show. It runs for 3 nights and a matinee is also performed to our local primary schools. Thurstable School has a long history of highly successful and engaging productions which showcase some of the incredible talent at the school.
Useful Subject Links
GCSE Specification https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Drama/2016/Specification%20and%20sample%20assessments/GCSE2016_L12_Drama_Issue_2_Specification.pdf
A Level Specification