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GCSE Drama - Years 10 & 11

Specification

AQA GCSE Drama (course code: 8261) - The specification and assessment structure can be found at the link: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/drama/gcse/drama-8261

What will I study?

GCSE Drama will help you to develop practical and evaluative skills, whilst gaining an appreciation of drama through performance, devising and critical deconstruction of live theatre.

You will demonstrate your own abilities through practical elements of the course as well as your theory and understanding in the written paper.

The AQA GCSE Drama Course comprises of three units:

Content Overview Course Content

Component 1: Understanding Drama (written examination)

Knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre

Study of one set play (Blood Brothers, by Willy Russell – tbc)

Analysis and evaluation of the work of live theatre makers

 

Component 2: Devising Drama (practical)

Process of creating devised drama

Performance of devised drama (students may contribute as performer or designer)

Analysis and evaluation of own work

 

Component 3: Texts in Practice (practical)

Performance of two extracts from one play (students may contribute as performer or designer)

 

How will I learn?

In a lively and entertaining environment, you will learn how to react to a range of situations and scenarios.

Through developing an understanding of the practical skills involved in communicating ideas to an audience and exploring different methods of presentation – both scripted and improvised.

By responding to texts, theatre visits and other stimuli with awareness of how drama can be interpreted and by evaluating and analysing your own drama work as well as that of others – in both oral and written form.

What skills and qualities are required?

  • Co-operation – most of the work is collaborative and the ability to work well with others is essential
  • Creativity – being prepared to voice your own ideas
  • Compromise and flexibility – there are always other ways of completing a task
  • Commitment – it is a course requirement that you learn lines, which will necessitate some rehearsals after school at certain times of year
  • Enthusiasm – the desire to explore and experiment with dramatic techniques (and have fun whilst doing so!)

How will I be assessed?

Component 1 (40%): written examination (1 hour 45 minutes)

Component 2 (40%): devised practical work – internally marked by the school and then externally moderated by AQA

Component 3 (20%): practical performance – marked by AQA visiting examiner

Where could it lead?

GCSE Drama specifically helps to prepare for careers in Drama and Theatre, including:

  • Actor
  • Director
  • Lighting technician
  • Theatre manager
  • Stage manager
  • Teacher
  • Drama therapist

GCSE Drama is not, however, simply about ‘becoming an actor’. The course has many transferable skills which can be applied to other areas of study and future careers, including:

  • Leadership
  • Confidence
  • Creative thinking
  • Critical evaluative writing
  • Time management
  • Ability to deal with critique
  • Ability to voice opinions
  • Self-discipline
  • Self-awareness

Year 10

  Topic Further details about the topic Skills
Autumn Term
1 Component 1: Introduction to Drama & Performance Skills

Students will be introduced to the GCSE Drama course, and study key drama and theatre roles, core explorative strategies and key elements of the drama medium.

Blood Brothers will be introduced as the set text, with explorations of the social, cultural and historical context of the text.

Creating

Performing

Evaluating

2 Component 1: Exploring Blood Brothers Students will continue to explore the plot, structure, context and key characters of set text, Blood Brothers, through explorative strategies, such as still image, thought-tracking, hot-seating and forum theatre.

Creating

Performing

Evaluating

Spring Term
1 Component 1, C: Live Performance

Students will develop their confidence in evaluating both their own dramatic work and the work of others.

Students will understand the importance of developing a personal analysis and evaluation of the theatrical elements, and how meaning is communicated to an audience.

Creating

Performing

Evaluating

2

Component 2: Devising: Introducing and development of ideas

Students will be introduced to the devising unit through the exploration of a range of creative stimuli – including paintings, poems, songs and excerpts from books – to inspire devised work.

Stimuli includes material centred around a diverse range of topics, such as ‘Outsiders’, ‘Tomorrow’s World’ and ‘’Fragile Earth’

Creating

Performing

Evaluating

Summer Term
1 Component 2: Applying devising skills to stimuli Students will continue to explore a further range of stimuli to create and develop ideas to communicate meaning for theatrical performance. There will be greater emphasis on using explorative strategies in design and the devising log will be used to chart the progress when devising.

Creating

Performing

Evaluating

2 Component 2: Devising Research & Development Students will begin to create drama from stimulus material, maintaining written records of the devising process to aid the formulation of ideas, and reflect on and evaluate their own work and that of others, both verbally and through written tasks.

Creating

Performing

Evaluating

Year 11

  Topic Further details about the topic Skills
Autumn Term
1

Component 2: Devising Drama

(performance and log completion)

Students will develop a range of theatrical skills and apply them to create a confident performance.

Students will use their devising logs to reflect on and evaluate their own work and that of others.

Creating

Performing

Evaluating

2 Component 3: Texts in practice

Students will apply their prior knowledge and understanding when making, performing and responding to drama.

Students will develop a range of theatrical skills and apply them to create performance. There will be an emphasis on the importance of rehearsals and confidently getting into role.

Creating

Performing

Evaluating

Spring Term
1 Component 3: Visiting examiner performance Students will use play texts and feedback from own devised work to create confident performances in readiness for the visiting examiner performance. This will include a focus on voice, movement, roles, characterisation and communication.

Creating

Performing

Evaluating

2 Revision of Sections A, B and C (Component 1) Students will consolidate their knowledge of the processes of creating, performing and evaluating performances. This will include reviewing the set text, understanding its social, cultural and historical context, including the theatrical conventions of the period in which it was created.

Creating

Performing

Evaluating

Summer Term
1

Revision of Sections A, B and C (Component 1)

Students will consolidate their knowledge of the processes of creating, performing and evaluating performances. This will include reviewing the set text, understanding its social, cultural and historical context, including the theatrical conventions of the period in which it was created.

Creating

Performing

Evaluating

Assessments

Resources Topic Type of assessment
CAT 1 Component 1, Sections A & B Exam paper
CAT 2

Component 1, Section C (Live Performance)

Component 2: Devising Skills

Exam paper

Practical assessment

CAT 3

Component 2: Log & Practical Performance

Assessment based on both devising log and practical work
CAT 4

Component 3

Practical performance
CAT 5

Component 1, Sections A & B

Exam paper
CAT 6

Component 1, Section C

Exam paper

Main Resources

Resource Details
Text books

AQA GCSE Drama (Annie Fox), IBSN: 9781912820504

 

Blood Brothers Play Guide for AQA GCSE Drama (Annie Fox), ISBN: 9781911208709

 

GCSE Drama: Live Theatre Evaluation (Annie Fox), ISBN: 9781912820979

 

Blood Brothers (Willy Russell), ISBN: 9780413767707
Recommended reading

Grade 9-1 GCSE Drama Revision Guide (CGP), ISBN: 9781782949626

All About Theatre (National Theatre), ISBN: 9781406373394

The Complete Brecht Toolkit (Stephen Unwin), ISBN: 9781854595508)

The Complete Stanislavksy Toolkit (Bella Merlin), ISBN: 9781848424067

Recommended websites

https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/

https://www.rsc.org.uk/

https://www.guildhallartscentre.com/

https://www.willyrussell.com/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zbckjxs

Enrichment opportunities

Activity Day and time or term
Key Stage 3 Drama Club – GCSE students are invited to act as mentors to KS3 students and lead sessions Wednesdays, 1:00 – 1:30pm, Room 43 (Mr Kearney)
Additional Group Rehearsals

By prior arrangement with Mr Kearney/Mr Clack

Theatre Visits As appropriate with the course structure.

Where Next

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