Year 7

Overview

Year 7 is an opportunity to explore play texts, stylised performances as well as developing choreographically skill and open up a confidence in the student’s communication skills.

Skills Developed

Students develop their creativity skills and an understanding of theatrical conventions begins to grow. A building block approach to the craft of theatre making takes place and an emphasis on performance quality is placed on the students. Performance skills are measured throughout the year to allow for self-reflection and evaluation of personal as well as peer achievement. They have an opportunity to use play texts and understand the structure of theatrical writing in relation to its format and style. Students also develop physical skill through performance and choreography looking at co-ordination, rhythm, physical strength, health, and hygiene.

Topics Covered

Dance & Drama Curriculum Overview Year 7

• Introduction to Drama
• Cartoons
• Darkwood Manor - Physical Theatre
• Ernie's Incredible Illucinations
• Dance through the Decades

How we Assess Your Child's Progress

Students are encouraged to reflect on their own learning through Threshold progress trackers. Formative assessment, through teacher, peer or self-assessment, is given each lesson. At the end of each unit, students will be summatively assessed, with each skill being monitored against the threshold descriptors and work will be recorded through camera as evidence of learning. In addition, students complete one written examination in spring to assess the theoretical understanding of theatre and to give a basic introduction to the written theory in preparation for GCSE content.

Year 8

Overview

In Drama and Dance, our aim is to continue to develop performance discipline with a heavy focus on the historical development of theatre from Greek through to the Elizabethan era. Dance provides an opportunity to participate in a whole year dance event exploring choreography for commercial purposes in our ‘Dance for Film’ Unit. We hope to continue engaging the students in the art of performance developing both physical and vocal skill as practitioners in theatre and dance.

Skills Developed

Students develop an understanding of theatrical origins, looking at the influence of Greek theatre on the modern world. Performance skills are measured throughout the year to allow for self-reflection and evaluation of personal as well as peer achievement. They have an opportunity to use play texts from a number of eras, giving students an opportunity to evaluate the different approaches to style and language used. Students also develop their interpretation skills using Elizabethan language and contemporising for a 21st Century audience. Through dance, the purpose of dance allows for analysis skills to be developed where choreographic intention is explored.

Topics Covered

Dance & Drama Curriculum Overview Year 8

• Greek Theatre
• Greatest Showman
• Shakespeare’s first scenes
• Dance Choreography: Young Men
• Lloyd Goddard

How we Assess Your Child's Progress

Students are encouraged to reflect on their own learning through Threshold progress trackers. Formative assessment, through teacher, peer or self-assessment, is given each lesson. At the end of each unit, students will be summatively assessed, with each skill being monitored against the threshold descriptors and work will be recorded through camera as evidence of learning. In addition, students complete one written examination in spring to assess the theoretical understanding of theatre history and to develop from the initial experiences of written theory explored in year 7 in preparation for GCSE content.

Year 9

Overview

In Drama and Dance, our aim is to introduce students to GCSE inspired topics. Drama explores a set GCSE text; considering how to bring a text to life and the theoretical knowledge required to do this successfully. Dance provides an opportunity to complete an investigation of a GCSE set dance used in performance as well as through the written component of the GCSE. We hope to encourage higher level thinking and considered, thought provoking work required as we head towards KS4.

Skills Developed

Students develop an understanding of theatrical and dance texts as well as the devising process of longer more considered work. Performance skills are measured throughout the year to allow for self-reflection and evaluation of personal as well as peer achievement. They have an opportunity to actively investigate influential practitioners, choreographers as well as styles and genres. Students also develop their understanding of how to analyse and evaluate theatre and dance in the written form considering longer exam styled responses.

Topics Covered

Dance & Drama Curriculum Overview Year 9

• Devising from a stimulus
• E of E
• MDN-Scripted unit
• Designing for theatre
• Live Review

How we Assess Your Child's Progress

Students are encouraged to reflect on their own learning through Threshold progress trackers. Formative assessment, through teacher, peer or self-assessment, is given each lesson. At the end of each unit, students will be summatively assessed, with each skill being monitored against the threshold descriptors and work will be recorded through camera as evidence of learning. In addition, students complete two written examinations in Winter and Spring to assess the theoretical understanding of ‘page to stage’ for drama and ‘set dances’ for dance as a direct experience of GCSE theory in both subjects.

Subject Leader: Mrs N Midworth
Email: midworthn@lytchett.org.uk

What are the aims of the course?

GCSE Drama encourages students to develop a personal interest into why Drama matters:  to work together imaginatively and creatively in order to reflect on and evaluate their own work and the work of others.

What is the content of the course?

Students will practically explore a range of stimuli using the core skills required of a performer, director or designer, before completing a devised piece of theatre which is then supported by a written portfolio.

This is followed by the practical study of a full play resulting in a final performance to a visiting examiner alongside a short monologue/duologue.

Finally, students will prepare and complete a written examination based on a set play in which they study practically in lessons and they will also complete a live theatre review. This exam is 1 hour and 45 minutes long.

Download Drama Year 10 Curriculum Overview

Download Drama Year 11 Curriculum Overview

How will the course be assessed?

The course is assessed through three units of work, both practical and written evidence which is marked externally or moderated.

Component 1:  Devising (40%)

This internally marked unit is made up using the following assessment aims:

Performance - 15 marks

Written Portfolio - 45 marks

Component 2: Performance of a text (20%)

Two performances assessed by a visiting external examiner:

Performance 1 - 24 marks

Performance 2 - 24 marks

Component 3: Written Exam (40%)

Section A is based on a set text and is made up of 5 questions worth 45 marks in total.

Section B is a live review made up of two questions and is worth 15 marks.

What is expected of me?

The Drama studio is a creative environment and students will be expected to be mutually supportive in all areas of work. If you can’t work with other people, this course is not for you!

All modules for GCSE Drama are totally based on group work. Therefore it is sometimes essential to the success of your studies, and to those in your group, that students stay after school for rehearsals. Students will be informed of this in advance and this is regarded as 'homework' time.

Theatre visits are arranged as often as possible as well as the opportunity to work with theatre professionals and students will be expected to attend these and write about these experiences.

Further study and careers

You will be able to move to A Level and/or BTEC courses. The work in the Sixth Form develops naturally from the GCSE and encourages you to extend and further your practical performance and creative skills.

The skills obtained from Drama GCSE allow greater access to a multitude of careers including PR, Law, Teaching, Politics as well as roles where presentation skills are key.

Subject Leader: Miss C Kelly
Email: kellyc@lytchett.org.uk

What are the aims of the course?
Dance is a powerful and expressive subject which encourages students to develop their creative, physical, emotional and intellectual capacity, whatever their previous experience in the subject.  The aim of this mostly practical GCSE is to give students the opportunity to develop an understanding and appreciation of a range of dance styles and to develop aesthetic and artistic sensibility to dance works.  It also aims to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to perform, choreograph and appreciate dance including an awareness of its artistic contexts.  It also helps to develop life-skills and attributes which include decision making, critical and creative thinking, aesthetic sensitivity and the ability to co-operate with others.

Course content and assessment:
Component 1:   Performance and Choreography

What's assessed:
Performance

• Set phrases through a solo performance
• Duet/trio performance (three and a half minutes in duration)

Choreography

• Solo or group choreography – a solo or a group dance for two to five dancers

How it’s assessed:

Internally marked and externally moderated
Performance:    30% of GCSE
Choreography:  30% of GCSE

Component 2:   Dance appreciation

What's assessed:

• Knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills
• Critical appreciation of own work
• Critical appreciation of professional works

How it's assessed:

• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes - 40% of GCSE

Download the Dance Year 10 Curriculum Overview

Download the Dance Year 11 Curriculum Overview

Are there any special requirements?
Students will be expected to visit the theatre to see professional dance works as many times as possible, which will be arranged as part of the course.  An involvement in a school production is encouraged but is not compulsory.

Further study
Students can access various courses related to dance, these include A Level Dance or Performance Studies, BTEC Nationals in Dance and Performing Arts or a Community Dance Leader Award.

Careers in Dance include:
Teaching dance in education, community dance work, youth dance and freelance work, performing and choreographing in various sectors, a dance administrator within a dance company, Arts Centre, Arts Council or Education Authority.  Other careers include health practitioner, dance movement therapist, critic or journalist, researcher, notator and set or costume designer.