Year 7

Drama

In Year 7, students will study Drama one lesson a fortnight. By the end of the year 7, students will:

Know and understand the essential group skills for required for drama.
Develop their confidence, and ability to communicate and co-operate effectively with others when working as part of a team.
Study a variety of stimuli as a starting point for creating drama including scripts, poems, music, artefacts and current affairs.
Students will gain an understanding of theatre history and the world around them through using drama as tool to explore historical events, fictional scenarios and appropriate plays

Content to be studied

Method of assessment

Autumn 1

Basic Drama skills

Exploration of the 3 Cs:

Communication
Co-operation
Concentration

Pupils participate in group-work and trust activities to build confidence, creativity and physical control skills. They also develop positive working relationships in Drama lessons.

Pupils complete a practical and written baseline assessment task in order for teachers to understand their skills level and prior experience.

Pupils participate in formative assessment tasks to monitor their initial skills progression in Drama.

Pupils will be awarded an effort level

(1-4) only, in the first half term.

Autumn 2

Explorative Strategies

Pupils will be introduced to explorative strategies including:

still image
thought-tracking
role play
hot-seating
narration

Pupils will use the explorative strategies in order to explore and develop their characterisation techniques in response to a variety of themes and topics such as Bullying and Evacuation.

Pupils participate in formative practical and written assessment tasks.

They receive peer and teacher feedback. They reflect on their progression and set targets for their own improvement.

Pupils complete a summative practical and written self and peer-assessment.

Pupils set their personal targets for improvement.

Pupils receive effort and attainment grades from their teacher, either Developing, Secure or Excellent progress

based on their overall skills progression.

Spring 1

Theatre History

Pupils study the origins of Drama through the exploration of varying theatre forms including:

Greek Theatre
Medieval Theatre
Shakespeare’s Theatre
Vaudeville
Musical Theatre

Pupils explore, adapt and present Greek myths and legends, Biblical stories linked with FCJ values and interpret characters from popular Shakespeare Plays.

Pupils explore some of the disciplines associated with vaudeville and musical theatre through applying a variety of performance skills including song and dance.

Pupils evaluate their knowledge and skills development through both written (research/ homework) and practical tasks.

Pupils complete both formative and summative assessment tasks based on one of the genres explored.

Pupils participate in self and peer assessment. They set targets for improvement and skills progression.

Pupils receive an effort level and attainment grade from their teacher which is noted in whole school tracking data as either Developing, Secure or Excellent based on their overall skills progression.

Spring 2

Interpreting Characters

Pupils explore how to interpret text, dialogue and stage directions through reading, rehearsing & staging a number of Roald Dahl scripts including

‘The Twits’, ‘Matilda’,’ James and the Giant Peach’, ‘The Witches’ and ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’.

Pupils are assessed on their practical application of skills and their ability to interpret characters, roles and texts for performance.

Pupils participate in a formative assessment tasks. Pupils receive peer and teacher feedback based on their skills progression this half term.

Summer 1& 2

Polished Performance

Pupils work creatively with peers to interpret and rehearse chosen scenes from texts studied (in spring 2).

Pupils work co-operatively with their peers to present a polished performance, with a focus on sustaining their roles in performance using a range of Drama performance skills.

Pupils build their theatre vocabulary through written and evaluative tasks in their assessment booklets.

Pupils regularly evaluate their skills development and progress through both written and practical tasks.

Pupils complete a summative assessment. They complete self and peer assessment. They set targets for improvement

Pupils receive an effort level and attainment grade from their teacher which is noted in whole school tracking data as either Developing, Secure or Excellent, based on their overall skills progression.

Year 7 pupils receive a written progress report from their teacher in the summer term.

How will I know if my daughter is achieving this?

Pupil effort (1-4) and attainment marks (Developing, Secure and Excellent) are recorded four times a year in whole school tracking and reporting documents.
Verbal and written feedback will be offered to students during formative and summative assessment tasks.
Written tasks, research, homework, self and peer feedback is evident in pupil assessment booklets.
Pupils and parents will attend one parent- teacher evening a year to discuss pupil progress and targets.
Pupils will receive an end of year Drama report.

How will work be assessed?

In Year 7 pupils study Drama for one lesson every two weeks.
Pupils participate in regular formative assessments and termly summative assessments.
The curriculum content, delivery and assessment format is based on National Drama Level Descriptors.
Pupils are assessed on their application of practical skills, knowledge and confidence in group work.
Pupils reflect on their own and others progress through self, peer and teacher assessment tasks.
Summative assessments take place at the end of each unit of work.

What feedback might they get?

Pupils receive personalized feedback in order to know and understand how to improve practical and performance skills, including voice and movement.
Pupils are offered personalized targets in order to develop their knowledge of theory and practice and they are encouraged to use Drama and Theatre vocabulary during verbal and written responses.
Pupils are supported during group work so that they are able to develop their skills and confidence.
Pupils will be able to evaluate their effort and progress in their assessment booklets in order to consolidate their learning whilst targeting areas for improvement.

Enrichment opportunities

Year 7 Drama club takes place once a week
Year 7 pupils can participate in House plays and pantomimes
Opportunities to participate in local and national Drama festivals
Opportunity to audition and participate in the whole school production at the end of Year 7.
The Drama Department arranges regular theatre visits to local theatres to watch a range of plays and Musical Theatre productions.