Drama is one of the oldest art forms and enriches any curriculum; it equips students with the tools to tackle and solve problems, to think critically and confidently and to express opinions. These are skills that any young person will need to take with them on their journey throughout education and into the world of work. The creative industries are the fastest growing part if the UK economy, employing more than 2 million people and generating over £100 billion a year. At Stoke Newington School, we firmly believe that studying drama will help our students build their confidence and allow them to engage with this exciting and rapidly expanding industry.

Studying drama requires emotional maturity and allows young people to explore and develop an understanding of themselves and their place in the world. At Stoke Newington School we strive to find a balance between Drama being an academic subject with specific skills and terminology and an experiential subject in which young people can use empathy and understanding to explore a variety of cultures and ideas. Students will learn how the roles of performer, director and designer combine as ‘Theatre Makers’ as well as understanding how social, political, cultural and historical changes have impacted both on the art form and reflect the world we live in.

AT Stoke Newington School our drama curriculum allows students to acquire the tools and knowledge necessary to form and express individual responses to a range of issues. The core of our subject is building young people’s confidence in themselves and how to best communicate their ideas and understanding.

Drama at Key Stage 4

Exam Board – Edexcel | Course Code: 1DR0

The course is split into 3 assessments overall.

2 Non Exam Assessments (1 in Year 10 & 1 Year 11)

Component 1 : Devising (completed in Year 10) – 40% of GCSE – students are internally assessed on both their performance (10% of GCSE - 15 marks) and a portfolio that evaluates the development process (30% of GCSE - 45 Marks).   

Component 2 Performance from text  (Completed in Year 11) – 20% of GCSE - (externally assessed) students will perform or design TWO key extracts from a play. This unit is about performance or the realisation of a performance design. Students work in groups to perform a scripted text. 

1 Exam – 1hr 45 Min paper (End of Year 11)

Component 3 Theatre Makers in Practice – 40% of GCSE - 1hr 45 min exam paper. Students are assessed in two sections. Section A is 45 marks and explores a set text that is studied practically in lessons. There are 5 questions. 2 as a performer, 2 as a director/designer and 1 as a designer. Students will need to understand all 3 roles and subject specific vocabulary for each. They will also need an understanding of elements of performance – Staging/Set/Lighting/Sound/Costume/Props.

For this students will study An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley. This happens throughout both Year 10 & 11.

Section B is 15 marks and is an evaluation of a live performance. Students will be taken to see a professional production in order to answer this section. This will happen in Year 11.

GCSE Drama Course Structure

Year 9 - In year 9 students will explore all aspects of the GCSE course including a mock devising exam. They will develop understanding of theatrical conventions and practitioners and study a script for a mock performance and written exam.

Year 10 - In year 10 students further explore devising skills and look at non naturalistic performance styles. In Spring of year 10 students will devise original performances and be formally assessed as part of Component 1 – Devising (40% of GCSE). In summer of Year 10 students begin exploring Component 3 Theatre Makers in Practice – by reading and performing extracts of the set text An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley. Students will sit a mock Component 3 paper in June of Year 10.

Year 11 - In year 11 students consolidate and further develop understanding of An Inspector Calls and sit a mock examination of Component 3 in December. In March of year 11 students will rehearse and perform Component 2 Performance from text (20% of GCSE) pieces to an external examiner. In May of Year 11 students will sit Component 3 Theatre Makers in Practice (40% of GCSE).

Three things to know

  • The exams are ‘closed book’ however students are given a particular extract of the set text to focus their answers. However they will need to demonstrate knowledge of the entire play.
  • Pupils need to re-read their own copies of An Inspector Callsindependently over the course of their GCSE.
  • Pupils need to know how the social and historical backgrounds (contexts) of An Inspector Calls and how these will influence their performance, directorial, and design choices.
Year 9 curriculum map | Year 10 curriculum map | Year 11 curriculum map