Performing Arts (Drama)

Subject Leader: Harriet Maley

Drama and the Performing Arts play a crucial role in providing a broad range of enriching opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom, that support students in developing academically, socially, and creatively. Through an ambitious and engaging curriculum, students gain both subject-specific knowledge and key drama skills while also cultivating essential “soft” skills such as teamwork, confidence, communication, resilience, creativity, and problem-solving.

All students engage with Drama at Key Stage 3, developing foundational knowledge and performance techniques that are fundamental to success at GCSE level and beyond. Students have the opportunity to participate in a range of extra-curricular activities, including theatre trips, workshops, clubs, and performance showcases. The overall vision for Drama is to encourage engagement with the arts while fostering a wider understanding of culture and society.

Key Stage 3 Content

At KS3, students develop essential skills in performance, storytelling, and theatrical styles. Drama lessons incorporate creative and practical learning, encouraging students to devise original work, analyse professional repertoire, and develop confidence in performance.

Year 7

Unit 1: Foundations of Drama – Introducing key skills such as improvisation, tableaux, and devising techniques.
Unit 2: Mime and Greek Theatre – Exploring the origins of theatre, vocal projection, choral work, and non-verbal storytelling.

Year 8

Unit 1: Theatre in Education (TIE) – Understanding drama as an educational tool and devising pieces with a social message.
Unit 2: Physical Theatre and Naturalism – Exploring movement-based storytelling through Frantic Assembly and naturalistic performance techniques.

Assessment

Students are assessed on their ability to:
Recall key terminology and theoretical knowledge.
Analyse and evaluate professional and historical theatre styles.
Devise and perform original work using theatrical conventions.
Work collaboratively, demonstrating creativity and performance skills.

Homework

At KS3, homework is set once per fortnight, primarily consisting of short, focused research tasks that help students become independent practitioners by bringing their knowledge and research into class to use in practical and theoretical activities. These tasks are designed to:

Encourage students to explore different theatre styles, key practitioners, and historical contexts.
Develop independent learning habits by allowing students to research topics and apply their findings in lessons.
Foster curiosity about drama and performance beyond the classroom.
Support memory retrieval and reinforce prior learning, ensuring students can recall key concepts when devising or analysing performances.

At KS4, homework is set once per week and varies from research, line learning, exam practice, revision, and practical preparation. These tasks are structured to:

Build upon the independent research skills developed at KS3, ensuring students can confidently analyse texts and practitioners in more depth.
Provide structured opportunities to engage with past exam questions and develop written evaluation skills.
Support preparation for practical assessments by encouraging regular rehearsal and refinement of performances.
Reinforce key terminology and theoretical knowledge through revision-based tasks.
Develop resilience and time management, essential for success at GCSE level.

How Parents and Carers Can Support

Encourage students to watch plays, musicals, and live performances, either in person or online (BBC iPlayer, National Theatre at Home, Disney+).
Assist students with rehearsal preparation by offering constructive feedback on performances.
Support engagement in extra-curricular drama clubs, workshops, or community theatre.
Check Teams and planners for homework deadlines and upcoming performance dates

Additional Support Available/Useful Links

Reading List

Bouncers by John Godber
Shakers by John Godber
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Key Stage 4 – AQA GCSE Drama

Exam Board and Syllabus Code: AQA GCSE Drama (8261)

This course allows students to develop their performance and analytical skills while gaining an in-depth understanding of theatre-making. Students will explore drama through a variety of practical and written tasks, preparing them for further study or careers in the performing arts industry.

Year 9

Unit 1: History of Theatre – Studying key developments in theatre from Greek Drama to contemporary styles.
Unit 2: Set Study – Noughts and Crosses – Exploring themes, characters, staging, and context.
Unit 3: Live Theatre Review – Analysing professional performances and developing critical evaluation skills.

Year 10

Component 2: Devising Theatre (Coursework – 40%) – Students create and perform original work based on a given stimulus.
Deep Dive: Noughts and Crosses – Further exploration of the set text, focusing on characterisation, staging, and dramatic techniques.
Exam Preparation: Section A and Section C – Practising written responses on theatre analysis and devised work.

Year 11

Component 1: Understanding Drama (Written Exam – 40%) – Answering questions on Noughts and Crosses, theatre roles, and live performance analysis.
Component 3: Texts in Practice (Performance – 20%) – Performing two extracts from a play for external assessment.
Final Rehearsals, Written Exam Practice, and Revision

Engaging with the Wider World

Drama at Reading Girls’ School provides students with opportunities to engage with real-world debates, social issues, and cultural experiences.

Text-Based Exploration: Students study Mugged (KS3) and Noughts and Crosses (KS4), addressing themes such as race, privilege, social justice, and peer pressure, encouraging critical discussions and deeper understanding.
Theatre Trips & Workshops: Students attend professional productions at Reading Rep Theatre and take part in workshops led by theatre practitioners, gaining insight into the professional industry.
Performance Opportunities: The school play, classroom performances, and live theatre screenings provide students with first-hand performance experiences.
Technical Theatre & Stagecraft: At KS4, students engage in mask making, costume design, puppetry, lighting, sound, and set design, developing an appreciation for the technical elements of theatre and storytelling.

By integrating real-world themes, professional theatre experiences, stagecraft, and live performance opportunities into the Drama curriculum, we ensure that students not only develop their creative and analytical skills but also gain a deeper appreciation for theatre’s role in society, culture, and global discussions.