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Rational

Drama in the Senior School follows a four year structured programme, exposing pupils to a range of skills and genres upon which they can build. Learning and understanding different drama strategies, elements and medium allows pupils to respect and enjoy this subject, whilst gaining specific knowledge and self-confidence. Drama allows pupils to demonstrate their creativity, individuality and understanding of the art form. The process of making drama will also help pupils to build up their self-confidence, interact effectively with others and develop an enquiry based approach to their work. Skills developed within Drama are transferable and should help pupils in other curriculum areas and throughout their school career. Within the framework of Drama, pupils will be taught to respond, develop, present and evaluate.

Subject Aims and Objectives

Drama in the Senior School focuses on pupils developing their understanding of theatre, building upon their technique and progressing into confident and enthusiastic performers. In order for pupils to achieve the aims set out for their year group the following aims and objectives have been set:

• To provide a stimulating environment in which pupils’ creativity, originality and expressiveness is able to flourish
• To provide pupils with the opportunity to create, perform and respond to their work in Drama, in order that they may achieve of their best
• To ensure pupils establish productive working relationships with other group members, demonstrating the ability to enquire and make decisions on how to interpret and develop their drama
• To develop the pupils’ understanding of explorative strategies, elements and drama medium, in order that they may use this knowledge to devise and develop their own work
• To provide pupils with subject specific vocabulary with the expectation that they will apply this terminology during lessons and related drama activitiesTo ensure the work in Drama inspires confidence in the pupils and allows for the inclusion of each individual and the progression of gifted and talented pupils
• To make time and provisions available for potential senior school scholarship candidates and internal scholars
• To ensure pupils respect and have access to resources and space, in order for them to work effectively and have the opportunity to fulfil their potential

Teaching and Learning

The Senior School Drama course begins in Year 5 and finishes in Year 8. There are six units taught within each year group, one per half term. Each year group stages their own production and during the half term of this performance, the Drama unit will focus on related characterisation and contextual Drama tasks. All four year groups will study units titled, ‘Genre’, ‘Drama through the Ages’, ‘Shakespeare’ and ‘Drama Medium’. In Year 5 and 6 pupils will also study ‘Explorative Strategies’ and in Year 7 and 8 pupils will study ‘Performance Technique’. Each scheme of work within each unit is written specifically for the intended year group and helps to maintain a structured and cohesive programme of study for Drama at Feltonfleet.

Pupils in the Senior School are introduced to a new topic each half term. Each topic is designed to build upon skills learnt, whilst introducing pupils to diverse and exciting new concepts. As a rule, each lesson will begin with a warm up activity or lesson starter which will help to set the tone of the lesson. The pupils are then made aware of the lesson objectives and introduced to the theme. Throughout the lesson, pupils are given the opportunity to work in groups, pairs and/or individually on various tasks which will help to support the skills or techniques required to fulfil the objectives.

Pupils will often be given the opportunity to present their work within a given lesson, but this will not necessarily happen at the end. Performances may be spontaneous, improvised or rehearsed. Similarly, evaluations will take place throughout a lesson, either immediately following a presentation or at the end of a lesson. At various points within a given lesson pupils will be provided with differentiated tasks and are promoted to ask questions, challenge conventions and develop ideas.

Drama lessons throughout the school are designed to encourage, extend and reassure pupils, in order to help them develop self-confidence and achieve individual success.

Drama Scholarships

When pupils reach year 6 they are invited to apply for an internal scholarship. Successful candidates are awarded scholarships for years 7 and 8. Awards may be offered to pupils who demonstrate exceptional ability within drama lessons and during year group performances. Pupils should look to encourage and inspire others and have the ability to work cooperatively and effectively within a group situation. Each candidate will be expected to prepare and perform a short monologue and be able to discuss and answer questions relating to the play or their character, e.g. themes, relationships and motivation. They may also be asked to perform a short spontaneous improvisation. Monologues must be selected from the list provided by the Subject Leader.

Senior Drama