Drama
Exam Board: AQA
Head of Department: Mrs J E Hansford
Am I suited to this course?
Although you do not need to have studied Drama at GSCE, you need to have a lively interest in drama and the theatre.
The course involves considerable reading, essay writing, research and performance interpretation so it helps to be good at English. The practical nature of the course also requires a willingness to participate actively in all lessons and perform on stage to an audience.
What will we study?
Set texts are studied from a practical performance perspective at both AS and A2 level. Seeing and responding to live theatre is a vital component of the course and students will link the work of a director or theatre company to their own practical work at both AS and A2 level.
Practical projects include both scripted and non-scripted performances in groups of between 2 and 8 students.
What work will I do?
Work will be focused on the performance and interpretation of plays from scripted and unscripted material ranging from historical to contemporary work. There will be 2 major assignments set each term. Assessment grades given during the year will be based on the marks of these assignments and the practical work undertaken on the course. Students are expected to see at least three examples of live theatre each year.
How will my AS and A2 grades be assessed?
Both practical projects (scripted and devised) will be teacher assessed and externally moderated between February and May. Students will support the practical projects with research and a written portfolio of 2000 words.
The AS exam in June is a 40% written paper lasting 1 ½ hours. The A2 exam in June is a written paper lasting 2 hours.