Students in Key Stage 3 will have one Drama lesson per fortnight in the well-equipped Drama Studio. Drama at Oakwood is led by teachers of English and forms part of the English curriculum. Its Aims relate directly to the general requirements of the English N.C. Sometimes a lesson may feed into English work, e.g. Making a Complaint as part of a scheme covering consumer rights and writing letters of complaint or exploring a prose or poetry text through Drama; at other times drama will dominate, as in the exploration of dramatic text or of issues through drama.
Suitable themes and contexts can be found everywhere; e.g. in
· different times and cultures;
· different writers past and present;
· stories, myths and legends;
· literary and media sources;
. everyday experience;
. moral and ethical dilemmas;
. topical and political issues;
. students' suggestions.
In Key Stage 3 students should participate in a wide range of drama activities including :
• improvisation and role play to explore ideas, issues, character and relationships
• working from dramatic text, including Shakespeare and modern scripts
• adapting other texts to dramatic form
• exploring dramatic conflict
• exploring behaviour in context
developing the ability to create dramatic effect through :
• creating and sustaining a character
• collaboration in pair and small group work
• awareness of form and structure
• a sense of timing and pace
• use of space
• expressive skills of face, movement and voice
and should evaluate their learning through:
• discussion of issues
• considered response to dramatic text
• positive feedback on skills and structure
• constructive self-criticism
• reflection on personal contribution in collaborative work
They should also:
• understand the conventions of script writing through reading widely and writing short scripts
• use a developing technical vocabulary, to include:
freeze frame; monologue - duologue - dialogue; image; eye contact; gesture; facial expression; empathy; improvisation - spontaneous and polished; theatrical convention; status; blocking; role; protagonist; proscenium; theatre in the round or semi-round; promenade theatre; thrust stage; motivation; director; producer; stage manager; genre; realism; naturalism; symbolism; forum theatre; theme; focus; climax; crisis; sub-text; gel; gobo; luminaire
Assessment
• Every lesson requires reflection and evaluation by students in discussion. Every term there will be a formal written self  evaluation and a formal assessment by the teacher.
Skills assessed:
• Group co-operation
• Sustaining a role or character
• Structuring work
• Expressive voice skills, including vocabulary and variety of register
• Movement and gesture
• Use of space
• Perception, reflection and expression in evaluation
• Imagination and originality
Knowledge and understanding
• Conventions and styles of theatre from different cultures and times
• Conventions of script-writing
• Specialist vocabulary
• Technical aspects
• Drama scripts
Differentiation will be mainly by outcome, but able students are appropriately challenged while less confident students are given space and encouragement to develop. Although students usually enjoy Drama, assessment is used to ensure their conscious development of knowledge, skills and imagination.
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