Curriculum Aims
Here at Sandhurst School we firmly believe that drama education is a vital and integral part of young people’s development, not just for nurturing a rich cultural and historical awareness of the arts, but as a tool for developing those essential life skills any prospective employer would seek. Drama is not like any other lesson taught here, and we seek to create a safe and respectful environment where young people feel secure to explore boundaries and challenge themselves both in terms of their own emotional development as well as learning more traditional drama skills such as acting and directing. Students experience a rich and diverse curriculum, allowing them to develop specific key skills in the art of drama, alongside enjoying the countless benefits such as confidence building, teamwork and public speaking any drama experience would offer. It encourages the development of the imagination and an opportunity to work creatively with your peers.
Drama lessons are vibrant and exciting opportunities for students to engage with the most exciting of art forms as well as the world in which they exist and their developing place within it.
KS3 Curriculum Summary
| Drama | Autumn | Spring | Summer |
| Year 7 | An introduction to Drama Freeze Focus Stage Etiquette Vocal Skills Character Skills |
Working with scripts Layout of Scripts Character Interpretation Stage Directions Subtext |
Evacuees Emotive Narrative Historical Context Process Drama Greek Theatre |
| Assessment | On-going group work, Performance, written evaluative task. Holistic assessment of skills development. Creating, Performing and Responding to Drama | Holistic assessment of skills development. Creating, Performing and Responding to Drama | Key skills: empathy and responding sensitively and with integrity. Creation of character and responding in role. Holistic assessment of skills development. Creating, Performing and Responding to Drama. |
| Year 8 | Creating atmosphere and tension – Bedlam What Creates Tension? Historical Context Soundscapes Darkness Creation of a Narrative Set |
Melodrama Performance Style Victorian Melodrama Plot Structure Stock Characters Responding to Theatre |
Hamlet Character Exploration Understanding and accessing Shakespeare Devising Drama |
| Assessment | Key skills: understanding he intended impact of a piece of drama on the audience and its effectiveness. Devising Drama. Holistic assessment of skills development. Creating, Performing and Responding to Drama | Understanding style and genre. Acting technique. Working with script. Effective written analysis of theatre | Understanding Shakespeare and writing in role. Holistic assessment of skills development. Creating, Performing and Responding to Drama |
| Year 9 | Where’s Lauren? Process Drama Physical Theatre |
Naturalism and Stanislavski Naturalistic Theatre Character Development Textual Analysis Method acting |
Theatre Practitioners Anti-Naturalistic Acting Devices Didactic Theatre Improvisation and comedy Spontaneous Improvisation Prepared Improvisation |
| Assessment | Holistic assessment of skills development. Creating, Performing and Responding to Drama – approaching work with sensitivity and empathy. Understanding theatre practitioners, style and genre. | Understanding theatre practitioners, style and genre. Developing acting technique. Textual analysis, rehearsal techniques and performance. Holistic assessment of skills development. Creating, Performing and Responding to Drama |
Understanding theatre practitioners, style and genre. Developing acting technique. Holistic assessment of skills development. Creating, Performing and Responding to Drama
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GCSE Drama & Theatre
Year 10- Understanding drama, devising drama, scripted analysis
Year 11- Acting skills and scripted acting, exploring dramatic text, exam preparation
A Level Drama & Theatre
Year 12- Understanding drama, creating original drama, making theatre.
Year 13- Understanding drama, creating original drama, making theatre.
