Drama
sandbach high school
General information
“Ambition and Attitude: raising aspiration through Drama”
At Sandbach High School and Sixth Form College we are passionate about providing a Drama curriculum that is inspiring to our students, with opportunities for students to engage with performing, making theatre, responding to theatre and designing for theatre. We want to develop in our students skills that would prepare them for any career and their future aspirations; skills such as team work, creativity and empathy are at the heart of what we do. From the very beginning, in Year 7, students are encouraged to develop skills in performance and design allowing them plenty of opportunity to engage with an area of the theatre that interests them. The work we do in Drama is largely practical allowing students a wealth of opportunities to create work that they are passionate about.
Staff List
Curriculum Leader for Drama
Miss H Morris
Hmorris@sandbachhigh.co.uk
Subject Teachers
K Fairclough
N Abson
H Jones
KS3
Key Stage 3
Year 7
|
Topic |
Skills |
|
Introduction to Mime |
Physical performance skills. Creating a mimed performance. Understanding the needs of an audience. Evaluation of performance. |
|
Darkwood Manor |
Introduction to Mood and Atmosphere. Building Tension. Introduction to lighting. Creating a short performance from a stimulus. |
|
Puppetry in Performance |
Vocal performance skills. Designing and making a puppet for performance. Theatre from across the globe. Developing a character for performance. |
|
Terrible Fate of Humpty Dumpty |
Performing from a script. How theatre can be used for education. (Anti- Bullying) |
Year 8
|
Topic |
Skills |
|
Devising Theatre |
Theatre Techniques. Creating theatre for an audience. Rehearsal techniques. Performance skills. Creating performance from a range of stimuli. |
|
Creating a Monologue |
Writing a script for performance. Developing and Embodying a character. Performing for an audience. PSHCE link- Anti Social Behaviour |
|
Roles in the Theatre- The Wizarding World of Harry Potter |
Different roles within the theatre: Set Designer, Lighting Designer, Costume Designer, Performer. Symbolism Creating Mood and Atmosphere. |
|
Theatre in Education |
Using theatre as an educational tool. Understanding Desired Audience response and creating theatre for a target audience. Performing and Creating Theatre |
Year 9
|
Topic |
Skills |
|
Practitioner Focus: Frantic Assembly and Bertolt Brecht |
Understanding practitioner methodologies. Workshop style learning of techniques. Creating performance in the style of theatre practitioners. |
|
Noughts and Crosses: Analysing Text for Performance |
Interpreting scripts for performance. Understanding the role of a director. Rehearsal techniques for developing character. |
|
Radio Play |
Creating a script for performance. Designing sound for theatre. |
|
Analysing Live Theatre |
Understanding what makes an effective performance. How different elements can enhance performance: Design and Performance. Analysis and Evaluation.
|
5 Ways to Help your Child - KS3
|
BBC Bitesize |
Physical Skills: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zpfk6sg/revision/1 Vocal Skills: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z3c2yrd/revision/1 Analysing Theatre https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zxs9xnb/revision/1
|
There is lots of excellent information on BBC Bitesize. The majority of the information Is for GCSE learners but can be applied to the topics we learn at KS3. |
|
Youtube |
Roles within the Theatre (A YouTube series on the making of Shrek the Musical) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOyJ-n-mQEE&list=PL74103C89A85F6DB6 Props in Hamilton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D7xNAsi0uo Making Puppets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYwNuP7cwJs
|
There are fantastic resources on YouTube that explore backstage at the theatre. These are just a small selection of what is available. |
|
Streaming Sites |
Disney + Hamilton Newsies Hamilton In-Depth With Kelley Carter Netflix Grease Live La La Land Sky Arts Updates regularly |
Live Theatre Performances/ Musicals/ Documentaries to watch via streaming services. Engaging with live theatre can help students to develop their own ideas and analyse live theatre.
|
|
The Stage |
|
Industry magazine with recent news, auditions and reviews. |
|
Frantic Digital |
A collection of activities, information and exercises to help with devising in the style of Frantic Assembly. |
KS4
GCSE Year 10 into Year 11
|
Year 10 |
Content |
|
The Identification |
Introduction to the Course and Devising. Understanding the Devising process. |
|
Set Text: Analysing Text For Performance (Component 3) |
Introduction to the set text. Scene by scene analysis. Roles in the theatre: Performer, Director, Sound, Lighting, Set Design, Costume Design.
|
|
Analysing Live Theatre (Component 3) |
Preparation for Theatre Trip: What to look for in the performance. Analysis of performance and design elements. |
|
Devising Performance (Component 1) 40% of the overall grade. |
Creating a devised performance with a group (pathways for performers or designers) Documenting the devising process through a written portfolio. Performance/ realisation of work. Evaluation of work created. |
|
Year 11 |
|
|
Revision of Component 3 |
Revision of set text and analysing live theatre in preparation for Trail Examinations. |
|
Text in Performance (Component 2) 20% of the overall grade. |
Selection of suitable texts for monologue/ duologue and or group performance. Rehearsal of two extracts for performance. Performance examined by external examiner. |
|
Revision of Component 3 |
Preparation for Theatre Trip: What to look for in the performance. Analysis of performance and design elements. Revision of set text and analysing live theatre in preparation for Component 3 examination: 40% of the overall grade |
5 Ways to Help your Child – KS4
|
BBC Bitesize |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zkvm2sg BBC bitesize resources which are tailored to Edexcel, the specification that we follow. |
There is lots of excellent information on BBC Bitesize. |
|
National Theatre Youtube |
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDq1XzCY0NIOYVJvEMQjqw |
Fantastic resources created by the National Theatre. “How we made it” and “How you can make it” resources are very interesting. |
|
Streaming Sites |
Disney + Hamilton Newsies Hamilton In-Depth With Kelley Carter Netflix Grease Live La La Land Sky Arts Updates regularly |
Live Theatre Performances/ Musicals/ Documentaries to watch via streaming services. Engaging with live theatre can help students to develop their own ideas and analyse live theatre.
|
|
The Stage |
|
Industry magazine with recent news, auditions and reviews. Reviews will help students to be critical and evaluative. |
|
Frantic Digital |
A collection of activities, information and exercises to help with devising in the style of Frantic Assembly. |
KS5
A Level Year 12 into Year 13
|
Year 10 |
Content |
|
Introduction to the course and Practitioner Workshops |
Understanding the demands of the A Level course. An introduction to a range of practitioners. Methodologies of practitioners and how they can be used in performance. |
|
Set Text: Accidental Death of an Anarchist (Component 3B) |
Introduction to the set text. Scene by scene analysis. Roles in the theatre: Performer, Director, Sound, Lighting, Set Design, Costume Design. Exam Question practice. |
|
Devising Performance (Component 1) 40% of the overall grade. |
Study of a chosen text as a stimulus. Using the methodologies of a practitioner in performance. Creating a devised performance with a group (pathways for performers or designers) Documenting the devising process through a written portfolio. Performance/ realisation of work. Evaluation of work created. |
|
Live Theatre Analysis (Component 3A) |
Preparation for Theatre Trip: What to look for in the performance. Analysis of performance and design elements. |
|
Set Text: Woyzeck (Component 3C) |
Introduction to the set text. Scene by scene analysis with practitioner focus. Roles in the theatre: Performer, Director, Sound, Lighting, Set Design, Costume Design. Exam Question practice. |
|
Year 12 |
|
|
Component 3C Consolidation and Revision |
Revision of set texts and analysing live theatre. Practice questions and writing technique. |
|
Text in Performance (Component 2) 20% of the overall grade. |
Selection of suitable texts for monologue/ duologue and group performance. Rehearsal of two extracts for performance. Performance examined by external examiner. |
|
Revision of Component 3 |
Preparation for Theatre Trip: What to look for in the performance. Analysis of performance and design elements. Revision of set texts and analysing live theatre in preparation for Component 3 examination: 40% of the overall grade |
5 Ways You can Help your Child – KS5
|
|
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zkvm2sg BBC bitesize resources which are tailored to Edexcel, the specification that we follow. |
There is lots of excellent information on BBC Bitesize. This is for GCSE but the information is all still relevant and would be useful for students who have not taken GCSE. |
|
Youtube |
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDq1XzCY0NIOYVJvEMQjqw (National Theatre) https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=knnehigh (Kneehigh) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGp7pHcEQep8lEebqtk_H-g (Theatre Beard) |
Fantastic resources availiable on Youtube from the National Theatre, Kneehigh Theatre Company and Drama Teachers. |
|
Streaming Sites |
Disney + Hamilton Newsies Hamilton In-Depth With Kelley Carter Netflix Grease Live La La Land Sky Arts Updates regularly |
Live Theatre Performances/ Musicals/ Documentaries to watch via streaming services. Engaging with live theatre can help students to develop their own ideas and analyse live theatre.
|
|
The Stage |
|
Industry magazine with recent news, auditions and reviews. Reviews will help students to be critical and evaluative. |
|
Frantic Digital |
A collection of activities, information and exercises to help with devising in the style of Frantic Assembly. |
SEND Support
The Drama department is committed to providing appropriate support for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) This support is tailored to the student and is designed to meet a child’s individual needs. Support could include coloured paper where required, writing frames, word banks, sentence starters and alternative arrangements where SEND might affect a student’s confidence in performance.
Extra Curricular
We want to provide our students with plenty of opportunity to take part in Extra Curricular Drama with frequents clubs, ran by staff and upper school students as well as performance opportunities at school events and our whole school musical which takes place every other year. We have links with professionals who are currently working within the theatre industry and provide students opportunity to connect with these professionals through Q&A sessions. We are passionate about giving students to opportunity to engage with live performance and where possible we provide the students with this opportunity through theatre trips, opportunity to watch in school productions and GCSE and A Level performances.