Skip to content ↓
St Alban's Catholic High School

St Alban's
Catholic High School

Drama

Subject Vision

Students at St Alban’s deserve a broad and ambitious Drama curriculum, rich in skills and knowledge, which immerses students in a range of theatre styles. The curriculum will encourage students to become confident in performing and presenting to an audience. They will be independent thinkers, who will be able to create original work and critically analyse their own work, that of their peers and professional theatre. Students will have an appreciation of their own work and that of others, always demonstrating respect and empathy.

The Drama curriculum will give students the opportunity to:

  • develop creativity through understanding the benefits of participation in the arts, performance and creativity during their school journey;
  • develop co-operation & collaboration;
  • develop confidence in communication through developing vocal and physical skills and presenting to an audience.
  • explore issues though drama and respond with empathy, understanding and sensitivity.
  • be exposed to different peoples’ perspectives and emotions on issues and events;
  • use subject specific vocabulary effectively;
  • study the history and influence of different practitioners on drama;
  • develop an understanding of how to apply and analyse different stylistic qualities such as Naturalism, Physical theatre, Epic theatre and Surrealism;
  • develop an ability to evaluate their own and others’ work.

 

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Overview

 

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Aut.1

Basic Skills

Commedia Dell Arte

Sparkleshark – approach to a script.  Stanislavski

Aut.2

Pantomime

WW1 – response to a stimulus Choral speaking and Movement

Spr.1

Physical theatre

The Play that Goes Wrong – approach toa a script

Romeo and Juliet

Response to a script

 

 

Blood Brothers – Exploration of a script

Spr.2

Devising from a Stimulus

Let Him Have it – exploring a theme

Sum.1

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Tempest

GCSE Drama PATHWAY –

Ensemble Skills

Devising Drama Skills

Responding to a stimulus.

Sum.2

Silent Movies

Devising theatre

 

Where does this subject lead me?

Whether you prefer performing or being backstage drama can develop your confidence, communication and teamwork skills and if you are involved in planning or organising a performance then these skills can be useful in many jobs.

The skills you gain from doing drama can lead to careers such as performing arts, media, business, law, advertising, sales, hospitality and tourism.

 

Key Stage 4 Curriculum Overview

 

Year 10

Year 11

Aut.1

Practitioners

Theatre styles

Component 2

Staging and Rehearsal

Aut.2

Response to a text

An inspector Calls

Component 2

Performance of a Script

Spr.1

Monologues and Duologues

Performance of a text

Component 3

Performance and Response

Staging and Rehearsal

Spr.2

Component 1 Preparation – response to stimulus

Component 3

Performance and Response

Semiotics and Characterisation

Sum.1

Component 1 Rehearsal

Exam revision

Sum.2

Component 1 Performance and evaluation

 

 

 

Where does this subject lead me?

Drama GCSE provides a preparation for the two year A Level Drama and Theatre Studies course, plus other Post-16 Drama and Performing Arts courses. Many employers increasingly value the importance of Drama because of the inter-personal skills it develops.

Career Options

Whether you prefer performing or being backstage drama can develop your confidence, communication and teamwork skills and if you are involved in planning or organising a performance then these skills can be useful in many jobs.

The skills you gain from doing drama can lead to careers such as performing arts, media, business, law, advertising, sales, hospitality and tourism. 

 

Key Stage 5 Curriculum Overview

 

Year 12

Year 13

Aut.1

Theatre practitioners

Set text Section B

 

Component 3

Set text Section C

Woyzeck

Director’s interpretation

Aut.2

Component 3

Set text Section B

 

Component 2 Monologues and Duologues

Exploration and rehearsal

Spr.1

Component 1 Devising theatre – exploration of stimulus material

Component 2 Monologues and Duologues

Performance

Spr.2

Component 1 Devising Theatre – development and rehearsal

Component 3

Section A,B and C

 

Sum.1

Component 1

Devising theatre – Final performance and Portfolio

Component 3 Section A

Live theatre review

Component 3

Section A,B and C

 

Sum.2

 

Set text Section B

 

 

 

Where does this subject lead me?

Further Education

This A-Level can lead to further study in Drama.  Theatre Studies and Performing Arts in Higher Education at degree or HND level.  It can be used as part of your course to broaden and enrich your studies and may lead to a career in the performing arts industries or within any professional role requiring public speaking, communication skills and empathy.   

 

For example university degree courses careers leading from this subject click here.

Creative Industries: explore a wide selection of creative careers

Apprenticeship courses: Info on what an apprenticeship is and courses available

 

Careers Information

Drama based university degree courses careers leading from this subject click here.

Creative Industries: explore a wide selection of creative careers

Apprenticeship courses: Info on what an apprenticeship is and courses available

Other Information

Facilities

Drama is taught in two fully equipped studios with lighting and sound. We have an extensive costume and props store and students can access a library of play texts and scripts.

School Productions

Two school productions take place each one. The whole-school production takes place in February and the second for students in years 7&8 in July. Recent whole-school productions have included ‘School of Rock’ (2022), ‘The Addams Family’ (2023), ‘Little Shop of Horrors (2024) and ‘Sister Act’ coming in 2025. Last years year 7&8 production was ‘Matilda’ Junior and in 2025 we are hoping to perform ‘Annie’.

 

Cookie Policy