Drama
Drama students enjoy exploration of a curriculum they can identify with and relate to.
They build theatrical understanding and knowledge for school. Rehearsed experiences enrich Cottingham High School drama students, giving them insight into the life circumstances of others, cultural diversity, tolerance, empathy and respect.
‘All pupils should be enabled to participate in and gain knowledge, skills and understanding associated with the artistic practice of drama. Pupils should be able to adopt, create and sustain a range of roles, responding appropriately to others in role. They should have opportunities to improvise, devise and script drama for one another and a range of audiences, as well as to rehearse, refine, share and respond thoughtfully to drama and theatre performances.’ Adapted from National Curriculum, DfE, 2014.
The Cottingham High School drama curriculum develops students in their knowledge, understanding and experience of the individual skills a person and actor can use to confidently collaborate and communicate in wide-ranging contexts. Active knowledge and skills workshops, rehearsal and practice activities in cooperative groupings encourage students to be self-operable; possess excellent interpersonal skills; work reciprocally; and be observant, creative and open to new thinking. Students become confident, practised and masterful in their collaboration and communication skills.
The Cottingham High School drama curriculum covers wide-ranging forms of stimuli, for students to engage with, explore, deconstruct, debate, form opinions and take ownership to artistically construct their own presentations and performances. Stimuli material to grow social, cultural, political, moral and historical understanding and knowledge. This includes various texts, poetry, novella, imagery and live art to give a foundation for students to skilfully create unique devised outcomes, communicated using appropriately applied practitioners, techniques, and performance skills defining performance style and genre. Students know how to communicate their desired meaning and intent to inform and educate their audiences.
Key Stage 3 Curriculum
| Year | Autumn | Spring | Summer |
| 7 | Text in Performance: 'The Awkward Customer' | Devising and Text in Performance: Physical Theatre and 'Revolting Rhymes' |
Devising: Stage Fighting and Choreography |
| 8 | Devising: Skills of the Actor | Devising: Mask in Performance |
Text in Performance: Monologue 'Real' and Duologue 'Blood Brothers' |
| 9 |
Devising: The Dramatic Elements, Staging in the Round, Realism in Performance |
Devising and Text in Performance: Physical Theatre | Devising: Theatre in Education 'Identity and Self-Esteem |
Key Stage 4 Curriculum
| Year | Autumn | Spring | Summer |
| 10 |
Devising: Characterisation and Skills of the Actor |
Devising: Theatre in Education 'Personal Development Curriculum' | Devising: T.I.E Understanding Drama and Text in Performance: 'Blood Brothers' |
| 11 |
Text in Performance: Extract 1 'Hansel and Gretal' |
Text in Performance: Extract 2 'Hansel and Gretal | Understanding Drama: Written Exam |