Art and Drama for Pathway 2-4 pupils
For information on Art or Drama for Pathway 1 see Pathway 1 Curriculum.

 

Following several years of offering Drama as a stand alone subject in Key Stage 3 we felt to best meet the developmental needs of our pupils Drama in Key stage 3 is taught as a combined subject Art and Drama and  it is taught as part of a carousel with Dance and Art as a stand alone subject.  Drama is also taught within English lessons.

The benefit of combining Art and Drama allows pupils who are not so confident in performing the opportunity to develop their creative thinking skills, knowledge and understanding of  drama theory and practical without less onus on performance and the pressure of performing in front of others. 

Please see the Curriculum Matrix for more details of what your child will be studying:

 

In Key Stage 3

We focus on teamwork, communication, drama games and learning to work well with others, as well as developing understanding and skills in: Voice, interaction, actions, movements, reactions, drama games, script writing and role play. 

PSHCE topics are a real focus for Drama lessons in Key Stage 3 as they help develop pupils’ emotional and general well being.  As well as following the skills required by the National Curriculum a large consideration for play therapy and wellbeing is strongly encouraged, physical therapy is  taken into account when developing movement and actions focusing on posture, stability and flexibility.

Schemes of work encourage a passion for reading stories, research and storytelling, understanding characters and developing the skills to read body language, facial expression and use imagination. These are all areas which many of our students find particularly challenging.  Art is explored through the development of characters and props, designing and describing characters, sets or costumes and exploring the creative process of group script writing through drawing and making in a range of 2D and 3D materials. Pupils build up their communication and making knowledge in a layered approach to learning.  Each year pupils develop more breadth of knowledge and they are encouraged to refine and develop the key skills they will need to be good communicators.  This is simultaneously enhanced by their Art work which allows them greater avenues to communicate and refine ideas visually as well as verbally. 

Drama is run over a 3 year rotation cycle, being taught  by a Drama specialist. The Schemes of work are also linked to topics taught across disciplines. Topics encourage the acquisition of technical skills and theory combined with a therapeutic, social and emotional development onus.

 

Miss C Kepinska - Faculty  Lead, Arts