Welcome to the Drama Department page!

The Department staff:
- Miss N Chohan - Head of Department
- Mrs S Bignell
- Mrs V Barnett
- Mr R Quinn

Drama is a popular and very successful subject within the academy. All KS3 students have a one hour lesson per week at KS3. We offer Btec Drama and A level Drama and Theatre Studies and have excellent results at both levels.

We believe that Drama impacts on many aspects of our student’s education and expectations, and is a respected element of the academy’s provision.

Our base is the Drama Studio in the Hundred Acre building and  we  have two dedicated areas in G Block for Drama.

Drama plays an important and respected part of extra-curricular activities, and students are encouraged to make the most of what is offered.
We look forward to 2009/2010. Our motto continues to be –
“Drama’s not easy – we’re just good at it.”
VISION FOR DRAMA:
Our vision for drama at Streetly Academy is:
-that all pupils will regard it as an enjoyable and positive subject
-that it will be seen as an important part of the curriculum by all pupils, parents, staff and Governors of the academy
-that it will have an impact on the growth of social skills and creativity
-that extra curricular activities will encourage increasing numbers of students to benefit from voluntary involvement in an “arts” experience
-that examination courses will continue to thrive
-and that a good reputation within the community is built by forging active links with it

The courses we follow...

At Key Stage 3...


Year 7 – is the “imagination” year. Based on story, and story structure, We encourage students to keep the element of creative play, which they so quickly grow out of. We look at structure of story – the beginning, the middle, the end. We also introduce the History of Theatre.

Year 8 – concentrates on the development of skills and techniques to improve the standard of the performance work.

Year 9 – concentrates on issue based material and stimulus. Focusing on relationships and issues which often the students are encountering in real life. Drama gives them the opportunity to explore and discuss feelings and situations in an “imaginary” situation.

In each year students are expected to learn and use a variety of skills and techniques – to enable them to progress their approach to drama, and their performance skills.

It must be recognised however, that progress in drama cannot always be identified by progress in a particular skill. Therefore – Drama assessments are holistic by design, and depend to a great extent on the students own identified targets for improvement.

At Key Stage 4.

During Year 10 and 11 students develop their knowledge and understanding of acting. They explore a range of techniques, styles and genres as part of the BTEC Extended First Certificate in Performing Arts acting course. The course runs over the two years and is divided in to 3 units.
Unit 1 - learning about acting (focusing on breathing techniques, movement skills, vocal awareness, genres, styles and drama techniques)
Unit 2 – scripted plays, which allows students to explore and perform a published play as part of a Theatre Company.
Unit 3 – devising plays which gives the students the opportunity to create a performance based on an issue of their choice and perform this to a targeted audience.
All practical work is supported by written evidence which is collated throughout the units.

GCSE Overview:
Unit 1 - 30% - AO1, AO3

• Six-hour practical exploration
• Documentary response (recommended maximum 2000 words)

The practical exploration will be based on the activities that students have experienced during the Programme of Study and will include:

• At least two different types of stimuli
• At least four explorative strategies
• At least two examples of the drama medium
• The provision of opportunities to select and use appropriately the elements of drama identified in the Programme of Study.

Unit 2 ? 30% - AO1, AO3

• Six-hour practical exploration of the play text
• Documentary response to practical exploration (recommended maximum 1000 words)
• Documentary response to live theatre (recommended maximum 2000 words)

This unit requires students to:

• Participate in a six hour practical exploration of a complete and substantial play text that includes:
• the use of at least four of the explorative strategies listed in the Programme of Study in response to sections of the play
• At least two of the skill areas listed in the drama medium section of the Programme of Study
• Opportunities to select and appropriately use the elements of drama listed in the Programme of Study.

Unit 3 ? 40%

• Students will present their work as either performers or performance support students in a single performance to an examiner appointed by Edexcel.

Assessment areas:

• Voice and movement
• Roles and characterisation
• Communication
• Content, style, form.

Students need the ability to research and learn independently to gain the most from this subject. Their understanding of Theatre and Theatre craft can only be developed by seeing theatre at any level. Whilst we ensure that each student has at least the minimum provision required – we hope that students will want to embed their enjoyment of theatre and attend as many performances – professional or amateur – to extend their experience and learning.

At Key Stage 5...

A Level Drama and Theatre Studies
Students study for the Edexcel A Level in Drama and Theatre Studies.
Details of the course can be found at – www.edexcel.org.uk

Students who have not studied Drama during Key Stage 4 are not exempt from taking the A Level, but may find the style and approach to the written work different to other subjects. A love of performing and a creative and enquiring mind are the most important requisites for success in this subject.

Many students who have studied drama during Key Stage 4 find that the “leap” to A Level studies daunting and difficult at times. As with most subjects, keeping organized and up to date with notes and written work is vital for success and avoiding stress. Students need to research independently, to see as many plays as they possibly can and gain a good understanding of what theatre and performance communicates to its audience, how it communicates, and why the playwright and director want to communicate in they way they do.

The plays studied and performed are different each year in response to the size of the group and the mix of genders. The plays have to be challenging enough to develop the students’ abilities and fulfil the examination board’s criteria. Therefore they often tackle difficult issues and subjects, and contain strong language.
The A2 course involves a written examination in June.

For any more information please speak to the Drama staff or go to the Edexcel web site.

Currently we offer A level Drama and Theatre Studies with the EDEXCEL examination board. Our expectations and results are high.

Details of this examination can be found on their web site – www.edexcel.org.uk.

GCSE Overview:

Unit 1 – 30% - AO1, AO3

• Six-hour practical exploration
• Documentary response (recommended maximum 2000 words)

The practical exploration will be based on the activities that students have experienced during the Programme of Study and will include:

• At least two different types of stimuli
• At least four explorative strategies
• At least two examples of the drama medium
• The provision of opportunities to select and use appropriately the elements of drama identified in the Programme of Study.

Unit 2 – 30% - AO1, AO3

• Six-hour practical exploration of the play text
• Documentary response to practical exploration (recommended maximum 1000 words)
• Documentary response to live theatre (recommended maximum 2000 words)

This unit requires students to:

• Participate in a six hour practical exploration of a complete and substantial play text that includes:
• the use of at least four of the explorative strategies listed in the Programme of Study in response to sections of the play
• At least two of the skill areas listed in the drama medium section of the Programme of Study
• Opportunities to select and appropriately use the elements of drama listed in the Programme of Study.

Unit 3 – 40%

• Students will present their work as either performers or performance support students in a single performance to an examiner appointed by Edexcel.

Assessment areas:

• Voice and movement
• Roles and characterisation
• Communication
• Content, style, form.