The Drama Department

Drama provides an ideal environment for the development of self confidence in our pupils and creates opportunities for those pupils to develop a range of practical, performance and technical skills and so raise their self esteem. All pupils in Key Stage 3 experience drama activities and this provides an ideal foundation for students to select courses for further study in Key Stage 4. Currently these courses include GCSE Drama and BTEC Dance. The provision is to be extended to provide opportunities to study BTEC Performing Arts and so allow our pupils to develop their skills in the technical aspects of Drama and Theatre Arts in addition to their performance skills. The department has a proven track record at GCSE, regularly producing over 75% A* to C grades. At post 16 courses are offered at AS and A2 level in Performing Arts and there is also the opportunity to study BTEC Performing Arts, currently at level 2 but this is to be extended in the near future to include level 3 courses in a wider range of performing arts contexts to develop the more technical aspects of the subject area. The subject is popular at this level and students enjoy a high level of success at A Level with a significant number of students going on to study related courses at university. The department has a purpose equipped studio with lighting rig, sound system and blackout facilities. There is also a dance studio equipped with sound and mirrors and work is already underway to refurbish the hall to provide a larger performance area and a second practice/rehearsal studio is also being developed. Work on a recording studio has begun and this will enable pupils to record their own performances for assessment and evaluation. The department has a commitment to extending the provision through out of hours opportunities. These include productions, showcase events, theatre visits, workshops, performances at school events and there are strong links within the community through working in partnership.