Drama
Our Drama curriculum at Lutterworth College is centred around the key skills Drama provides for the wider development of our students. We call these the 5Cs of Drama – Confidence, Communication, Co-operation, Commitment and Concentration. Students are able to use these skills in the study of a variety of themes, performances, practitioners and texts. In KS3 we lay the foundation towards developing exceptional performance skills which students go on to demonstrate in both devised and scripted performances throughout GCSE and Post 16. Our students take inspiration from advanced techniques through practitioner workshops with a keen focus on ensemble and choral work. Whilst an ability to work effectively as an ensemble is imperative to any Theatre company, we promote stretch and challenge through leadership roles in both performance and production. As they respond to various themes throughout the practical elements of each key stage, students demonstrate their ability to interpret text including contextual influences as well as how they will effectively communicate their interpretation and vision in performance. Our students engage in a diverse extracurricular program with multiple opportunities across all year groups throughout the academic year.
We work alongside our Church of England CHRIST values to enrich how our students experience Dance, preparing them for a life outside of education. Students are able to demonstrate these values at various points across all years in the following ways:
- Being Courageous in the way they perform in front of their peers and contribute during discussions, practical explorations and devising tasks.
- Being Hard working in the way they approach challenging practical and theoretical tasks.
- Being Reflective in self-assessment and their Directed Improvement Reflection Time (DIRT).
- Being Inspirational through devised and creative tasks and the skills they demonstrate in live performance.
- Being Supportive during group working activities and peer assessment tasks.
- Being Tenacious in exploring themes that challenge their way of thinking and creativity.
Key Stage 3
Drama at KS3 aims to not only prepare students for further study at GCSE level but also provides opportunities for the development of leadership, team working, problem-solving and resilience; skills that are essential for living in the wider world. Drama and Dance are studied on a rotation that changes every half term during which, students compile evidence in order to achieve the Bronze Arts Award certified by Trinity College London. Students complete a reflective log along-side participating in a number of in class practical explorations and performances focusing on their knowledge and understanding, creativity and communication. In Drama we begin by developing fundamental vocal and physical skills through various explorative devises. Skills for performance is a key strand throughout the whole of KS3 and students are given the opportunity to perform and develop their confidence skills throughout each lesson. Peer and self-assessment activities are part of every lesson, enabling students to develop critical analysis skills whilst also learning how to effectively and mindfully deliver feedback to peers. Our growth mindset approach to learning means that the emphasis is always on how we use feedback for improvement, focusing on the learning journey to develop confidence and resilience.
Key Stage 3 Drama Curriculum Map
Key Stage 4
At GCSE, our students are introduced to various genres, taking inspiration from a range of practitioners to develop their knowledge of how to devise engaging and creative theatre. Students study rehearsal techniques developed by Frantic Assembly and Stanislavski and consider the impact their work and the work of others has on an audience. In year 11 we explore several professional works, one of which is developed and performed for a visiting examiner as part of their Presenting and Performing Texts exam. Our other professional works feature as part of the written exam, developing their knowledge of various production elements in relation to the musical Blood Brothers as well as evaluating the impact of design and performance elements in a professional live theatre production seen at one of the countries leading local venue. The exposure our students get to professional theatre is used to develop their knowledge of the industry as well as inspire their outstanding level of performance at GCSE.
Key Stage 5
Our Post 16 Acting students are introduced to key practitioners across various styles to broaden their knowledge and enhance their ability to develop creative and original content in their devised and scripted work. From ensemble and abstract styles through practitioners such as Frantic Assembly, DV8 and Berkoff, to more conventional explorative strategies from the likes of Stanislavski and Meisner, our practitioner workshops allow students to experience a varied approach to Acting. Our students work hard to meet the requirements of their roles through detailed research into mature themes and various contextual factors to develop more accomplished roles in performance. These well developed and accomplished roles are realised at various milestones throughout the course, most notably in the performance exams, where students perform for a live audience as part of their Group Performance Workshop and Developing Skills for Live Performance units. The theoretical aspects of the course, allow students to take an analytical and evaluative approach to theatre whilst realising the importance of understanding the factors that influence professional theatre.
Level 3 BTEC Performing Arts (Drama) Curriculum Map