Drama

Subject Intent

The Drama curriculum aims to develop students’ confidence, self-esteem and social skills.

Drama lessons focus on the development of key Drama skills, such as improvisation and mime, and students are given opportunities to contribute ideas to small-group and whole-class performances. There is a strong focus on facilitating students’ communication of different emotions through the development of their awareness of body-language, tone of voice and facial expressions and their recognition of those emotions in others. Students learn to explore imagined situations and to develop empathy skills by exploring the world through the eyes of different characters.

There are opportunities for students to reinforce their literacy skills through reading and developing play-scripts and by adding expression to lines they have read or learned.  Stimuli such as poetry, film extracts and play-scripts are used as a springboard for students to develop their own improvised scenes.  They are provided with opportunities to perform and get involved in different productions throughout their school career, most notably our annual Harvest and Christmas productions.

In Key Stage 4, the Drama curriculum centres on the Bronze Arts Award, which involves students watching and reviewing performances, evaluating their own work, researching their favourite actors and teaching Drama skills to younger students, as well as performing in front of others.  Most importantly, throughout their school career, students are encouraged to foster a love of Drama and of using their imagination and creativity in learning. 

Curriculum Overview

Year 7

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Building confidence & communication & creativity skills through role-play, improvisation,

play-scripts & opportunities to participate in whole-school productions  
 

Year 8

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Building confidence & communication & creativity skills through role-play, improvisation,

play-scripts & opportunities to participate in whole-school productions 
 

Year 9 - Subject not run for this year group

Year 10

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Participate in whole-school productions &

write reflectively about own &

others' performances 

Watch & review a performance 

Research favourite actor

Plan & deliver Arts Skills

share session  

 Develop improvisation skills  

Develop improvisation

skills (linked with extracts

from Hard 

Times by Dickens) & develop

understanding of genres
 

Year 11

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Participate in whole-school

productions & write

reflectively about my &

others' performances 

Watch & review a performance

Consolidate Drama skills &

ensure that coursework

for the Trinity  

College Arts Award is up to date

Finalise Arts Award coursework

& reflect on learning journey
 

How we assess in Drama

Drama assessment takes the form of our Flight Path Tracker assessment system.

At Key Stage 4, students are also assessed according to the Arts Award criteria.

Enrichment opportunities

How can I support my child with their learning?

Please help your child by reinforcing their understanding of key words.

Encourage them to discuss the plot of books and plays we’re doing in lessons.

Discuss film genres and favourite types of film, specific scenes etc.