Drama

“Art is not a mirror held up to reality. but a hammer with which to shape it.”

^{Bertolt Brecht}

Why we teach Drama at Harris Academy Purley

Drama is a life skill and a creative art form. Drama at Harris Academy Purley helps students develop their ability to use voice, movement, gesture and facial expression, within a range of practical role playing activities. Through Drama, young people are given opportunities to express and manage their thoughts and feelings, responding to a wide range of issues and situations. Students are encouraged to work collaboratively whilst participating in a variety of shared experiences.

Drama is a subject that helps to develop transferable skills such as negotiation, resilience, team work, cooperation, self-confidence and public speaking. During KS3, students explore both factual and fictional texts that help to broaden their understanding of different social, cultural, moral and historical contexts and situations.

At Key Stage 4, pupils study GCSE, using the Eduqas specification which enables learners to:

• apply knowledge and understanding when making, performing and responding to drama
• explore performance texts, understanding their social, cultural and historical context including the theatrical conventions of the period in which they were created
• develop a range of theatrical skills and apply them to create performances
• work collaboratively to generate, develop and communicate ideas
• develop as creative, effective, independent and reflective learners able to make informed choices in process and performance
• contribute as an individual to a theatrical performance
• reflect on and evaluate their own work and that of others
• develop an awareness and understanding of the roles and processes undertaken in contemporary professional theatre practice
• adopt safe working practices.

The specification promotes involvement in and enjoyment of drama,as performers and/or designers. Additionally it provides opportunities to attend live theatre performances and to develop skills as informed and thoughtful audience members. Through following this specification, pupils are given opportunities to participate in and interpret their own and others' drama. Pupils investigate a practitioner or genre of drama, working collaboratively to develop ideas to communicate meaning and experiment with dramatic conventions, forms and techniques to produce and realise a piece of original theatre. They will also have the opportunity to participate in the performance of an extract from a play text. Pupils demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of drama, including their ability to interpret texts for performance, in a written examination.

Pupils work in a safe and controlled environment where they can respond to, express and explore ideas and concepts that will help them to make sense of the world we live in. The development of these skills encourages self-confidence and self-awareness. It promotes the development of the individual in a group context: roles and ideas are negotiated, problems solved and decisions made together. Drama often leads to public performances and creates opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding as well as promoting deeper levels of analysis, as they evaluate the work of others.

What exam board do we follow?

GCSE Students will follow the Eduqas 601/8420/6 specification

https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/drama-gcse/#tab_overview