Drama - Key Stage 4

10

What students will learn

How it builds on learning

Practitioners

Pupils will learn about a variety of theatre practitioners to enable them to make an informed choice when choosing a style for their Component 1 exam.

Pupils will also do a mock exam of this during the first half of Year 10 to ensure students know what to expect during the autumn term of Year 11.

This builds on students wider knowledge of practitioners and styles. The foundation of which was started in KS3. This is also an integral part of the GCSE and students will use this information throughout their GCSE years and into A Level should they choose.

Performing from a text

Pupils will explore a variety of scripts giving them the opportunity to work collaborative with their classmates and to prepare them for the component 2 exam in the spring term of Year 11.

This builds on students understanding of how to create and perform characters. Students have explored a range of scripts in KS3 and continue do so at GCSE. Scripts are significantly more challenging with a variety of themes and issues to explore.

Set Text exploration

Pupils will practically explore the text that the Year 11 summer exam will be on.

They will explore this from the perspective of an actor, director and designer. This includes set, lighting, sound, costume, hair and make-up.

The detailed study of one exam text builds a wider knowledge of all aspects of theatre and gives students a greater appreciation for the design elements that are studied. These include things such as set and lighting design.

11

What students will learn

How it builds on learning

Component 1 – Devising

Pupils will work in small groups to create their own original performances based from a choice of stimulus.

Pupils will also write a portfolio to support their devising process and complete an evaluation to reflect on their performance.

This is worth 40% of the overall grade.

Students will take what they have learnt in Year 10 and apply this to the first GCSE component. Using a range of techniques and practitioners students will create and perform an original devised performance.

Component 2 – Performing from a text

Pupils will be in pairs or groups where they will rehearse and then perform an extract form a professionally published script.

An examiner from the Eduqas exam board will come and assess the pupils in person.

This is likely to be around February/March of Year 11. This is worth 20% of the overall grade.

Further building on the script work done in KS3 and in Year 10, students will then put this into practice by performing a chosen extract of script for the second component.

Component 3 – Interpreting theatre

In the summer of Year 11, pupils will sit their exam. They will answer questions the set text explored in both Year 10 and 11. They will also answer one question on live theatre. Pupils will watch a professional theatre production and will answer a question either as an actor, director or designer.

Students will take what they have learnt throughout Years 10 and 11 to apply this to the exam in the summer of Year 11.