Drama

For the first three years at CVHS, students take part in Drama lessons once a week. As well as developing their acting skills, they learn how to apply dramatic devices to work, therefore enhancing their performances. Many subjects are covered that allow the classes to work on their team building and leadership skills and they have the opportunity to form opinions on a variety of important issues.  It is a wonderful opportunity for students to build confidence and learn skills that they can transfer into other subjects and prepare them for 'the big wide world'.

Students are assessed on four strands - Knowledge and Understanding, Planning and Creating, Performance and Evaluation.  The KS3 curriculum effectively prepares students for the requirements of the GCSE Drama course.

Eduqas GCSE Drama

This GCSE course mixes practical work, written coursework and a written exam.  Component 1 involves creating a piece of devised theatre and a portfolio that reflects the process the students have been through.  Students are also required to complete an evaluation in a controlled assessment.  Component 2 focuses on studying a play text and then performing an extract to a visiting examiner.  Component 3 is the written examination where students answer questions from the perspective of an actor, director and designer.  Experiencing live theatre underpins the course and questions in the last section of the exam reflects this.

At KS5, students have a choice of two courses:

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Performing Arts

The BTEC has a flexible, unit-based structure and knowledge is applied in project-based assessments.  It focuses on the holistic development of the practical, interpersonal and thinking skills required to be able to succeed in employment and higher education.

There are three mandatory units:

1.    Investigating Practitioners’ Work (externally assessed)

2.    Developing Skills and Techniques for Live Performance (internally assessed)

3.    Group Performance Workshop (externally assessed)

Students are required to complete one further optional unit from a choice of twelve that is assessed internally:

1.    Classical Ballet Technique

2.    Tap Dance Technique

3.    Jazz Dance Technique

4.    Street Dance Technique

5.    Contemporary Dance Technique

6.    Interpreting Classical Text for Performance

7.    Acting Styles

8.    Developing the Voice for Performance

9.    Improvisation

10. Movement in Performance

11. Musical theatre Techniques

12. Variety Performance

This allows students to tailor the course to their strengths and needs.

KS3

Drama homework is set on a half-termly basis in KS3. This takes the form of reflections, research, character development, spelling tests, etc.  All are designed to strenghten the students' knowledge and understanding of drama.  Enrichment and extension of students' studies will also come from engaging in lunchtime/after school rehearsals and to further develop classwork.

Drama clubs and productions are open to all students and there are a variety of opportunities to participate throughout the school year.

There are a selection of independent tasks available to encourage a love of the subject, under ‘Home Learning’ on the school website.

KS4

Homework is generated in a variety of ways, including from practical coursework, research tasks, and written exam preparation. Work is graded according to the exam criteria.

Final coursework is completed at home and during lesson time. The Component 1 Evaluation is completed under controlled conditions during specified class time as instructed by the exam board.

Students are expected to continue to develop practical exam work outside of lesson time as well as attending the required revision sessions that run throughout the year.

KS5

Homework is generated in response to classroom activities. There is the expectation that students will research and make notes around topics studied in class time as an independent driven activity.

Homework is generated in a variety of ways, including from practical coursework, research tasks, and written exam preparation. Work is graded according to the exam criteria.

Students are expected to continue to develop practical exam work outside of lesson time as well as attending the required revision sessions that run throughout the year.

Productions and Performances

There is always at least one school production each year that takes place in the Main Hall. All students are invited to be involved, whether it is on the stage or as part of the backstage crew. Previous productions include; ‘Fame’, ‘Matilda’, 'We Will Rock You', ‘The Magic of the Musicals’, ‘We Go Together’, ‘The Bards Birthday Show’, 'Bugsy's Dolls', 'Much Ado About Nothing', 'Our House', 'Our Day Out', 'Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass', and 'The Wiz'.

We have previously participated in the Shakespeare Schools Festival, collaborating with other schools in Chelmsford with different condensed performances of plays, such as; 'Twelfth Night’, The Taming of the Shrew' and 'King Lear'. We have even adapted the telling of a classic in our modernised version of 'Romeo & Julien'!

Each year we get involved in a range of opportunities, often collaborating with other schools or performing in local theatres. We are also keen to create cross-curricular projects, such as the Summer Showcase where different departments present their work.

KS3 Drama Club

There is a KS3 Drama Club running weekly after school every Wednesday until 4.15pm, where students have the opportunity to work with a variety of peers and take part in activities such as improvisation, drama games, directing and performance. Students are encouraged to make suggestions regarding what they would like to cover whilst at Drama Club so it can be tailored to those that attend. We are keen for students to attend either as performers or as technical team.

Recently, we did a double bill performance to parents of A Christmas Carol and Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations, demonstrating what the students had been working on during the Autumn Term.

Glee Club is an elite performance group and auditions are held once a year to try and gain a place. They have had great success since it began last year. Insert something from last summer’s Cygnet and photos. Could you please take a look to see if there’s something you can copy and paste onto the website please?

Musical Theatre Club meets weekly, and students have the chance to learn big ensemble numbers as well as breaking out into smaller groups to work on different songs from shows. Students from all year groups are welcome and are encouraged to bring ideas for what they would like to cover in the club. We look for different performance opportunities, such as the Christmas Concert. This year, they did a great rendition of Beggin’ from Jersey Boys.

Lunchtime Rehearsals

GCSE Drama and BTEC Performing Arts students can work in the department at lunchtimes and by arrangement after school to rehearse any examination work. There is also the possibility that KS3 students can use the drama or dance studios at break or lunchtime, but this must be agreed by their teacher and/or the Head of Drama.

Coursework Clinic

Sessions are run where GCSE and BTEC students can come along and do their coursework and get one-to-one teacher help. These are arranged and different times throughout the year depending on the course requirements.

Extended Work

GCSE Drama students have the opportunity to visit the theatre to see professional productions. They also act as an audience for BTEC performances, helping to develop their thinking and extend the ‘theatre’ they have experienced.

BTEC Performing Arts students have regular trips to see a variety of productions to enhance and back up the work they do during lessons and in preparation for practical and written exams.

There are many performance opportunities available for 6th form students. Throughout the two-year course it is essential to perform in front of an audience as well as an external examiner. The performances include scripted and devised pieces.

School Production 2019 - 'Schools Will Rock You'