Drama

Powerful knowledge in Drama

There is more to drama than being able to perform on stage. Opportunities are embedded for students to develop and refine performance talent but equally important is the ability to understand the purpose of the theatre we create and be able to analyse and evaluate the work of others. Methodologies of theatrical practitioners are introduced throughout the key stages to enable students not only to ‘re-enact’ but to shape and express their own unique, creative ideas with a greater understanding of the need for style, audience intention and appreciation of a broad range of cultural perspectives. Embedded within this exploration of theatrical and cultural knowledge is the opportunity to build personal qualities which can be relied on to succeed, not only in drama lessons but beyond school life and in future employment. At the heart of drama is the development of these qualities in all our students; communication and oracy, creative imagination, emotional literacy, clarity of expression, autonomy, leadership confidence and collaboration.

Curriculum features

The composites of the drama curriculum are selected to provide students with the opportunity to create, perform and evaluate a broad range of theatrical styles, texts and conventions. Lessons are designed to encourage students to be theatre makers, with theoretical knowledge being embedded through practical exploration and development of dramatic components. The curriculum structure is both horizontal and hierarchical; whilst each composite introduces new key conventions and knowledge through different cultural topics, practitioner influences and texts, retrieval opportunities throughout the key stages are designed to build complexity and depth of knowledge, enabling progression in our students’ understanding and appreciation of theatre.