DRAMA
The Drama Department works in collaboration with the Art and Music Departments
to deliver a cohesive and complementary Expressive Arts Programme at all
Key Stages, and in consultation with the English department to support
the development of pupils' speaking, listening and literacy skills.
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| Head of Department: Miss L. Gibbens (also Head
of Expressive Arts) Teacher of Drama (Full time): Mr A. Leggott Teacher of Drama (Full time): Ms G. Morley |
| Course Options currently available: | KS4 - GCSE Drama (Edexcel); |
| KS5 - AS/A2 Drama and Theatre Studies (Edexcel) |
We are very pleased to have begun this year finally teaching
in a purpose-built specialist space. The new Drama Studio is in the Drive
Block and is a large, light and airy room equipped with blackout, theatrical
drapes, lighting rig and sound induction loop. Pegs, benches and footwear
cages allow pupils to store their belongings safely during practical lessons.
We recommend that pupils wear 'gripper' socks (Totes 'Toasties'), soft
dance or drama pumps, black plimsolls or even fitted carpet slippers during
lessons in this room. Trainers are not appropriate. This new space complements
the Drama Hut at the other end of the school, which also provides a large
area for lessons and is equipped with lighting rig, thus providing us
with two excellent venues for performance events.
In Drama, pupils develop social and interactive skills through working
together with each other in practical tasks. The emphasis is on respect
for each other, each other's ideas and points of view. We are committed
to helping pupils to build self-esteem and confidence and to develop empathy
with others and an ability to see issues from viewpoints other than their
own. Drama techniques are used to explore a variety of topics, usually
approached via a stimulus which might be a text, such as a poem or song
lyrics, a picture, an object or a theme. Students are currently engaged
in looking at storytelling (Year 7), drama techniques and conventions
(Year 8), issue-based drama (Year 9), the GCSE text which this year is
'Lord of the Flies' and issues around the theme of 'cults and cultures'
(Years 10 and 11).
Drama is also actively used to support the Speaking and Listening and
Literacy elements of English. Numerous opportunities are offered for pupils
to experience participation in language work in different roles, registers
and situations, both formal and informal. Work from texts and textual
extracts is used to encourage pupils to think about how to translate a
play 'from the page to the stage', bringing the author's work alive in
the process. All practical work is supported by analysis and evaluation.
We have a tradition of inviting theatrical companies in to perform to
the pupils, of collaborative projects with The West Yorkshire Playhouse
Theatre in Education, local colleges, universities and schools, and of
taking groups out to see and participate in 'live' theatre. In October
2003, for example, some of our most talented actors and actresses in Year
9 took part in the National Shakespeare Festival, performing a shortened
version of 'Macbeth' on stage at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in front
of an audience of more than 200 people. To see pictures of this event,
and for further details, click
here. This year, A2 pupils in Year 13 are working with 'Unlimited
Theatre Company', Leeds Metropolitan Studio Theatre and a number of other
Leeds schools on a Devising project to enhance their preparation for their
first examined practical unit in December.
Year 7 and 8 pupils are able to attend a lunchtime Drama club each week,
which, this year, takes place on Tuesdays. Pupils from Year 9 upwards
are encouraged to participate in the School Play. Past productions include
'Blood Brothers', 'Our Day Out', 'Scrooge 2000', 'The Millennium Show'
and 'Macwitch.' Dates and details of forthcoming events will be publicised
on the web site.
Drama is a popular and successful GCSE subject. We use the Edexcel syllabus
which encourages pupils to explore issues, scripts and performance work.
AS and A2 courses are also offered through Edexcel, to the Pudsey Consortium
of Schools. Pupils from Priesthorpe, Grangefield and Crawshaw are currently
involved in completing modules in Year 12, including Practical Exploration
of Text, Performance of Text and Response to Theatrical
Events which they have performed themselves, as well as seen performed
professionally. Year 13 modules are Devised Performance, Performance
Adapted from Text, and Set Text and the History of Performance
Practice.
Pupils from Priesthorpe have secured places on Performing Arts, Drama
and Media courses, following success in Drama at A-level.
