Drama
The Drama department at Ripley Academy consists of Ms Lewis (KS3/4 and KS5). Drama is a strong department and results show at KS3/4 and 5 just how popular and successful the subject is amongst our students.
Drama is taught at KS3 once a week and the students learn a variety of Drama and life skills whilst studying subjects that are both pertinent and enjoyable for them to work on. At KS4 students study specifically a play text and a themed based Unit and attend a live Theatre performance through which they are given the opportunity to really develop their evaluation skills.
At KS5 regular Theatre trips support the academic study of all Units and the students benefit hugely from a wide variety of historical and contemporary plays and performances.
The Performing Arts Studio provides an excellent space for all learning in lessons, performance evenings and exams and the Drama department continues to grow from strength to strength.
KS3 – Teaching and Learning
Throughout KS3 from year 7 – 8 – 9 the students study a variety of topics and respond, develop, shape and evaluate their ideas through individual, pair and group work. The main skill used within drama development is improvisation. There is some script work but in the main improvisation is the key explorative strategy.
Topics at KS3
Bullying
Loneliness
The Elderly
Enviroment
Buying and selling
Creating a story/tragedy
Racism
Gender
Holocaust
Problems for parents
Teenage issues
Family issues
KS4 – Teaching and Learning (Edexcel)
Units 1 – Responding to teacher chosen topic – e.g. Homelessness and a variety of stimulus in order to create a piece of performance. The students have to write up an account of the process of creating and performing – 2000 words approx. Overall mark 30%
Unit 2 – Responding to teacher chosen text – e.g. Two by Jim Cartwright and creating performance work and writing up a response to the process in line with the specification.
Unit 1 and 2 marks are split into 40% practical and 60% theory. Overall each Unit is worth 30%
All students must attend a Theatre performance in order to write a Theatre review as part of their GCSE coursework.
Unit 2 exam – Devised unit – Overall mark = 40%
Other topics studied within KS4 are:
Physical theatre
Elements of drama
The drama medium
Drama strategies
Mime
Kitchen sink drama
Underage pregnancy/drinking
Improvisation
Spontaneous improvisation
Family matters
Age concern
Social Class
KS5 - Teaching and Learning A Level Drama and Theatre Studies (Edexcel)
Unit 1 – Responding to Text. Students study two texts – through the performance style of Stanislavski and Bertolt Brecht and write ‘Exploration notes' in response to their study in performance.
Unit 2 – Performance Unit. Students study, learn and then perform a play that is selected by R.Lewis
Unit 3 – Devising Unit. Students are provided with a stimulus and have to create a performance for the public
Unit 4 – Examination Unit. Students sit a 2.5 hour exam on the play text ‘Woyzeck' by Georg Buchnar