Curriculum

The Drama department at Ashmole seeks to embrace the talents of all students.  By providing opportunities for students to explore the roles of actor, director, script writer, designer and critic we endeavour to develop a life-long appreciation of Drama, Theatre and the Arts.

At KS3, students learn about a wide array of theatre such as Greek Theatre and Melodrama. They also explore contemporary practices such as Physical Theatre. Each unit aims to build upon the skills employed previously, enabling to develop these throughout the three years. These skills are also transferable and can be utilised in other subjects as well as in everyday life.

At KS4, students follow the AQA Drama syllabus which enables them to develop their own skills as theatre makers and performers. Through these units they develop an appreciation for theatre practitioners such as Konstantin Stanislavski and Bertolt Brecht as well as a wide range of others. Students sit an external written examination at the end of the course which focuses on their analytical Drama skills, knowledge of a set text and understanding of Live Theatre.

At KS5, students continue to follow the AQA Drama syllabus which enables them to build on their understanding from KS4 by becoming expert theatre makers and performers. They continue to study Stanislavski examining ‘The System’ and how to apply it to performance. Students sit an external written examination at the end of the course which focuses on a number of plays considering their historical, political, social and cultural context and understanding of Live Theatre.

Grouping & Setting

At KS3, students are taught in mixed ability classes and teachers assess their skills in developing, performing and evaluating Drama. At KS4, GCSE Drama is an option to students

Assessment

There are three summative assessments throughout the year. However, students receive regular feedback throughout the year and in most lessons, oral feedback is given to enable students to progress practically.

Extra-curricular

The Drama department is also responsible for the annual School Production and we encourage participation from students from all year groups, either onstage or behind the scenes. There are also a number of theatre visits throughout the year for exam groups to participate in, giving them a wider understanding of live theatre. We encourage all students to visit the theatre and experience live Drama and enjoy hearing their reviews and recommendations.