Drama
Departmental Aims
VISION
Drama at Bury Church develops creativity, alongside knowledge and practical application of the performing arts. In addition, it helps students to appreciate how drama can develop skills for success now and in their future careers.
INTENT
Wisdom – students build their knowledge and appreciation of a wide range of performing arts styles and skills. They develop a wider world-view and empathy towards their fellow humans.
Hope & Aspiration – students are encouraged to become the best version of themselves, through working outside of their comfort zone, and creating a safe, supportive space to share their work, give and respond to feedback.
Community and Living Well – students develop their self-confidence and their cultural capital, enabling them to become well-rounded, confident citizens. By working collaboratively, they improve their communication, cooperation and negotiation skills.
Dignity and Respect – shown through good audience skills and empathy; prejudices are challenged, and social, moral and spiritual values are actively promoted. Students’ self-esteem is raised, along with a positive self-image and greater assertiveness.
Curriculum Plan
Knowledge Organisers
GCSE Course
We follow the AQA GCSE Drama course.
Students who choose Drama as one of their GCSE options build upon the skills they developed in Years 7 and 8. They work on longer projects and create performances, as well as writing about performances and studying a plays for the written exam.
In the new GCSE syllabus, first examined in 2018, there is an increased focus on writing skills, with only 30% of the overall grade now being allocated for performing, and the other 70% being awarded for written skills of explanation, analysis and evaluation of the dramatic process. This is assessed through a Devising Log (30%) and a final written examination (40%) which covers the study of a set text and a live theatre review. It is important that students understand that when choosing their options for GCSE.
Extra-curricular Activities
Theatre Visits
These are organised regularly, and although some are aimed primarily at those studying GCSE Drama, most are open to all, or targeted at specific year groups. In 2017-18 we saw “Around the World in 80 Days” at the Lowry and “Guys and Dolls” at the Royal Exchange Theatre, and have seats booked for “Blood Brothers” in April 2019. We go to evening performances, as being part of a mainly adult audience gives students a better experience of theatre etiquette. GCSE Drama students are expected to attend. Watching professional performances can be inspirational, giving students ideas for their own performances and broadening their understanding of theatre.
School Production
Anyone can get involved in this, provided they have the two essential qualities of enthusiasm and commitment, and I would encourage everyone to join in! The teamwork and discipline required throughout the rehearsal process, the adrenalin rush of the performance and the resulting pride in their achievement can have a lasting impact on an individual’s confidence and self-esteem.
Our school productions are ensemble pieces, with all performers on stage for as much of the time as possible, as this requires greater discipline from the performers, encourages their creativity and independence and celebrates everyone’s contribution.
Students can also get involved in other areas, such as set design, props, costumes, marketing and advertising, as well as joining the technical crew with responsibility for lighting and sound.
Our 2017-18 production was “The Demon Head Teacher – the Musical!”, based on a popular children’s book about a group of students attempting to stop their Head Teacher (not a real demon!) from taking over the world! Past productions include “The Rebels of Gas Street”, “Bugsy Malone”, “Sister Suffragette”, “Joseph” and “Our Day Out”.
Our 2018-19 production is a play we are creating ourselves about WW1, to fit in with the 100 year anniversary of the end of the Great War.
Other things to celebrate about the Drama Department at Bury CE High School!
Links with Primary Schools
Each year we invite local primary schools to the Dress Rehearsal of the School Production. The KS2 students give feedback on the performance and it is always very positive!
Links with Parents
Families and friends are invited to GCSE performances.
Last year we teamed up with the History Department to present an Evening of Drama, with GCSE performances by Year 9 and 10 GCSE Drama students and an entertaining History spectacle performed by Years 7 and 8 History students. It is rewarding for families to see the end result of the hard work put in by the students and good for the students to have an appreciative audience.
Parents are also welcome on many of my theatre visits, although, obviously, priority lies with the students! It is a good opportunity for parents to engage with their child in an extra way and promotes the community spirit of Bury CE High School.
Links with Charities and PHSCE
The GCSE Drama groups often make an important contribution to raising awareness of issues around school. In previous years students have created powerful Theatre-in-Education pieces. One performance challenged audiences about the plight of street children in Malawi, and another was a moving piece that compared and contrasted the Christmastime experiences of three families, a comfortable British family, a Syrian family and the holy family, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. Last year some GCSE students performed devised pieces raising awareness of mental health issues.
Links with other Departments
The School Production creates many links:
- ICT – tech crew
- Science and MFL – script-writing
- Maths, English – assistant directors
- Art and Tech – props and set
- History – research and historical advice
- Music – music!
- Maths, Special Needs and the Office – front of house
International links
- We are working closely with the MFL Department for this year’s school play.
- To celebrate Black History Month we enjoyed an African dance workshop.
Future Developments
I hope to continue to build links with local colleges, by collaborating with the Media department of Bury College, a team of whose students filmed one of our School Productions.
I also intend to continue holding GCSE Performance Evenings to celebrate the achievements of our students, and am working on improving the physical environment of the Drama room to make it a more performance-friendly space.
Final word
We may not have the fantastic Drama facilities that some schools boast, but what we lack in terms of a theatre and technical equipment, we make up for in positive learning experiences, enthusiasm and fun, with each student encouraged and supported to be the best they can be!
