NCGS - Academic - Drama Department

INTRODUCTION

The Drama Department at North Cestrian is a small but thriving one but has developed into a successful area of the curriculum. The aim of the Department is to offer pupils the chance to reach their full potential in the subject whilst providing a variety of Drama activities. Through these, pupils are able to explore both social and moral issues which essential to their overall understanding of society and the way in which they live. We hope to provide an enjoyable learning experience in both modern and comfortable surroundings. At key stage 3, pupils are allocated one fifty-minute lesson per week of Drama. In the senior years, at GCSE level, pupils receive three fifty minute lessons per week and are expected to commit extra time to rehearsals as well as completing two homework tasks per week.

STAFFING

The Department is headed by Mrs Entwistle, who also teaches within the English Department.

ACCOMMODATION

The Department has been aided by the recently built Drama and Assembly Hall, which is fully equipped with lighting, sound, stage and props and costume rooms. As a direct result of this, the teaching in both key stages 3 and 4 has become very effective.

CURRICULUM

Juniors
In the junior years, the pupils cover a number of prescribed topics. These are flexible to allow for development of specific areas in which they may be especially interested. In Year 7, topics such as ‘Bullying’, ‘Friendship’ and ‘Families’ are covered so that pupils can explore their relationships with the people, at home and at school, whom they encounter every day. In Year 8, this is developed further by exploration of the wider community, stereotypes and different types of conflict which students may have to face throughout their lives. Finally, in Year 9, pupils deal with more complicated and often contentious issues such as ‘peer pressure’, ‘crime’, ‘exploration’, and ‘images of young people’. Through these, we encourage a healthy interest in different aspects of society and provide opportunities for exploration and interpretation.
Throughout all of the junior years a wide variety of Drama Specific Skills is also covered ranging from Freeze-Frames, Hot-Seating and Mime in Year 7 to move complex skills like Forum Theatre, Soliloquy and Symbolism in Year 9. These skills are essential preparation for any students who may want to pursue a GCSE in Drama in Years 10 and 11.

Senior school
Coursework
The GCSE Drama covered at the school is the AQA syllabus which offers a wide range of activities so that the boys can explore the areas in which they are most interested.
The course requires students to submit two pieces of coursework which consist of three parts. Part one is concerned with a written comparison between their own work and a piece from a different time period and social background. Part two is an assessment of students’ preparations and group work for their chosen task and Part three is an assessment of the final product. Although all students must submit at least one acting element such as Improvisation, Scripted Drama and Theatre In Education, we also offer the boys an opportunity to explore technical elements such as Sound, Lighting, Costume and Props. In this way, we provide excellent variety for all of our students.

EXAMINATION

The GCSE examination consists of one two hour paper at the end of Year 11. The paper is in two parts. Part A is a question on a Theatre Production which the students have seen and Part B is a question on the set text (to be chosen from a list prescribed by AQA).
This is the first Year that GCSE Drama has been available, as an option, within the School. However, in the academic year of 2004-2005, the Drama Department, in conjunction with the Music Department, ran an extra-curricular GCSE examination class consisting of Year 10, 11 and 12 boys. The result, after only one year were excellent with 83% of students achieving A-C passes.

EXTRA CURRICULAR DRAMA

The School has a very strong tradition of running extra curricular activities in this subject. The Junior Drama Club has been running, successfully, for a number of years and is well attended by pupils from Year 7-9. Also, the Department organises an annual school production, normally a musical, which is open to boys of all ages and now also to our girls in the Sixth Form. The aim is to include as many students as possible and to encourage budding actors and singers to perform in front of a large audience. However, there are now plans to add variety by performing plays of other genres so that all pupils can have access to this excellent extra curricular activity.

Finally, in conjunction with the Music Department, there is an annual ‘Talent’ extravaganza, consisting of musical and dramatic pieces, which gives students excellent opportunities to display a wide variety of skills and talents.