Curriculum Intent
There are 3 core areas of learning within the AQA GCSE Drama course.
• Understanding Drama (Written examination) – 40% = Developing knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre
• Devising Drama – 40% = Creating and performing a devised piece. Analysing and evaluation of own work
• Texts in practice – 20% = Performance of two extracts from one play
The GCSE Drama curriculum at LeAF Studio is designed to inspire and engage all learners in exploring drama and theatre. Its ambitious content and high expectations promote thought provoking discussions and develop student’s confidence.
Students learn to collaborate with others, think analytically and evaluate effectively. They gain the confidence to pursue their own ideas, reflect and refine their efforts. Whatever the future holds, students of GCSE Drama emerge with a toolkit of transferable skills, applicable both in further studies and in the workplace.
The specification is designed to give students as much opportunity as possible to participate practically both in devising and exploring texts. GCSE Drama offers students the opportunity to explore drama as a practical art form in which ideas and meaning are communicated to an audience through choices of form, style and convention.
The study of the texts allows students to develop knowledge and understanding of the characteristics and context of the whole play and explore ideas for how the play may be interpreted practically.
The AQA GCSE Drama curriculum is ideal for able students, who are both practically strong and academically able. To allow all students to access the course and make progress, model answers, writing frames and intervention is identified where appropriate.
Devising Drama
The starting point for the devised piece is a range of stimuli, presented by the teacher. This is a practical component in which students are assessed on their ability to create and develop ideas to communicate meaning for theatrical performance, apply theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions in live performance and analyse and evaluate their own work.
For this component students are required to complete the following two assessment tasks:
• produce an individual Devising log documenting the devising process
• contribute to a final devised duologue or group performance.
The Devising log is marked out of 60.
Each student’s contribution to the final devised performance is marked out of 20.
Texts in Practice
This component is a practical component in which students are assessed on their ability to apply
Theatrical skills to realise artistic intentions in live performance.
For this component students must complete two assessment tasks:
• study and present a key extract (monologue, duologue or group performance)
• study and present a second key extract (monologue, duologue or group performance) from the same play.
Each student’s contribution to each key extract performance is marked out of 20.
AQA aims to develop student’s practical skills both in a vocal and physical context, encouraging students to explore a variety of roles in becoming a versatile performer.
It enriches student’s theoretical knowledge, allowing students to gain an understanding of stage conventions, interpret texts and analyse live performance.
In addition to this, the written paper requires students to develop their knowledge of the social, cultural and historical context of performance texts.
Our full Drama curriculum intent, implementation and impact document can be found by clicking here.
