Nailsea School

Academy & Sixth Form

Drama

Curriculum Drama

Curriculum

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Drama

Key Stage 3 (Years 7 – 9)
Year 7
Year 7 Drama builds the key skills that are vital to move forward in the subject.
In Term 1, ‘Intro to Drama’ provides the main building blocks to understand how to create performance and to develop group working skills, as well as confidence.
Other Units include ‘Scripted’, which instils understanding and interpretation of a script, as well as an ability to translate characters from page to stage, and ‘Silent Film’, that expands on the areas of characterisation, exaggeration, and mime.
Although a practical subject, there is a written element to Drama. Students are expected to document key words and techniques in their exercise books, as well as to communicate understanding through written evaluation and analysis.
Year 8
Year 8 Drama challenges students to build upon the key skills that they developed during Year 7. This is achieved through Units that explore non-naturalism, comedy, and drama concerning social and moral contexts.
This curriculum begins to expand students’ knowledge of Drama by placing greater emphasis on specific approaches and practitioners.
Year 9
Year 9 Drama prepares students for study at GCSE. Consequently, lessons reference the standards and assessment criteria that would be used in Years 10 and 11.
With the content of the GCSE course in mind, Year 9 students will explore the play text ‘Blood Brothers’, be introduced to the methodologies of Physical Theatre and key practitioner, Frantic Assembly, and engage with the theatrical approach of Devising, where they will use stimuli to inspire ideas for an original performance. These areas of the Year 9 curriculum are specifically chosen to provide understanding and knowledge of the range of Drama studied at GCSE.
The importance of written evaluation and analysis is emphasised in all parts of the curriculum, due to the presence of coursework and a written exam on the GCSE course, but also that clear articulation of understanding, ideas, intent, and impact is a skill that benefits students’ future studies in all subjects.
Key Stage 4 (Years 10 – 11)

The opportunity to study Drama at GCSE is open to Year 9 students when choosing their options.

The two practical components will be Devised and Scripted, where students make their own original piece, and stage an interpretation of an existing work. Following their studies in Year 9, students will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to immediately engage with this process.

The study of a play and regular visits to the theatre will culminate in a written exam at the end of Year 11, which will comprise of questions about the studied play and a theatre evaluation.          

Please note at KS4 & KS5 not all courses run every year – timetabling is reliant on student interest.

KS4 GCSE Drama 2023-25 (Sept start)DOWNLOAD INFORMATION
KS4 GCSE Drama 2022-24DOWNLOAD INFORMATION

Key Stage 5 (Years 12 – 13 / Sixth Form)

Please note at KS4 & KS5 not all courses run every year – timetabling is reliant on student interest.

2022-2025 Drama & Theatre StudiesDOWNLOAD PDF
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