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28/03/24

Easter Break - wishing our students, staff and SJL community a very relaxing Easter break. We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday 16 April 2024 – school is closed to students on Monday 15 April due to staff INSET day. pic.twitter.com/e8kleFCzSB

28/03/24

House Points - we like to take every opportunity to recognise and celebrate the effort and achievement of students at SJL. As a result of Merit Marks, ACE Cards, Faculty Commendations and Head’s Commendations awarded throughout term, the House Points tally to date is... pic.twitter.com/WpR8tdpO9q

28/03/24

Well done to everyone taking part in our Big Challenge - Ryder are in the lead, closely followed by Newton. King have some catching up to do, so make sure to keep reading over Easter!6 of our incredible students have also achieved 💎 Diamond Award 💎 (more than 52 books!) pic.twitter.com/lfyWABG9xn

28/03/24

Well done to our trio of year 13 A level Drama students who excelled in their text exam on World Theatre Day!#theatrematters#seizetheday pic.twitter.com/bcLn9QrKyF

27/03/24

Fabulous to see our ‘Have you met…?’ event so busy today, with students displaying their interests and hobbies to staff and peers and engaging in great discussion. Well done to all those who took part. pic.twitter.com/BoEULOWtqJ

27/03/24

Some of our Sixth Form students interested in studying medicine, veterinary medicine and dentistry listened to the expertise of Devki Shah, a MedSoc consultant, who talked to students about how best to navigate the demanding application process. pic.twitter.com/U5rWv7cpJO

27/03/24

A throwback to Careers Day last week, when over 70 businesses gave employer talks and filled our sports hall to capacity for the Careers Fair. A huge thank you to everyone who took part!https://t.co/xmRh3N1FlM pic.twitter.com/RwaqwWWlZa

27/03/24

A throwback to Careers Day last week, when we welcomed over 70 businesses across the day giving employer talks and filling our sports hall to capacity for the Careers Fair. Thank you to everyone who took part!Careers Day 2024 - News - Sir John Lawes (https://t.co/DpyxjfXNBX) pic.twitter.com/tu1Nmhw8FQ

27/03/24

Day 3 in Valencia, exploring the beautiful Albufera, trying to spot cocodrilos! pic.twitter.com/UU8SG2mQQj

27/03/24

Well done to our Year 12 Enterprise team, Force 10, who raised £2400 for through a series of fundraising events. They won the most money raised and the best presentation. pic.twitter.com/1bBywleZem

26/03/24

Day 2 in Valencia visiting La ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias and the biggest aquarium in Europe pic.twitter.com/m8mxrCi2t0

26/03/24

Day 1 in Valencia. We did a Paella cooking competition, team read were the winners! pic.twitter.com/AHWcMRwjM5

26/03/24

Congratulations to Kate, Ruhani and Tsun who have been awarded Head’s Commendations for passing their Cambridge Latin Course Stage 4 Attainment test with flying colours! pic.twitter.com/KgSgpYRJgk

26/03/24

Such a brilliant evening of debating last night. Big thanks to , and St George's School for joining us and to all the students for their fantastic performances. pic.twitter.com/dHfD3NIHg9

25/03/24

Good luck to all students in our debating teams from Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 who are taking part in an inter-school debating competition later today! pic.twitter.com/gVFDqhOjD2

25/03/24

Wishing our Year 12 art students and our Year 9 and Year 10 Spanish students a safe and memorable trip in Valencia. Have a great time! pic.twitter.com/w61y8dNCJw

25/03/24

Don't forget our School Uniform Sale after school today - 3.30pm-5.30pm in the school hall. pic.twitter.com/pRWVklZXQD

23/03/24

Last Saturday morning of the year ⚽️ 4 wins vs. Simon Balle 7s W 4-18s W 4-1 9s W 6-010s W 9-2 Thank you to all the students and parents for a brilliant football season. pic.twitter.com/IVWONzbLJ4

23/03/24

Perfect morning for Football. Thanks to all the staff who give up their free time to provide these opportunities. pic.twitter.com/zoj7NKNYQA

22/03/24

It looks like Year 7 had a fantastic day at Warwick Castle! https://t.co/NJEVG5onon

22/03/24

Some of our Year 11 German students enjoyed conversations with the Friends of Alzey who kindly came to visit to assist our students with further speaking practise ahead of their GCSE’s. pic.twitter.com/bNcN2NpEj9

22/03/24

The Second-Hand School Uniform Sale will take place on Monday 25 March from 3.30pm-5.00pm in the School Hall. All the uniform in stock has been freshly laundered and folded. Please note, card payments are preferred. pic.twitter.com/FWOYZP6pea

22/03/24

Zoo de Lunaret pic.twitter.com/zjgMRA1WSd

21/03/24

Yesterday we welcomed author Anna Mazzola who talked about becoming a writer, her creative process and publishing journey. We’re really grateful for the inspirational insights and encouragement Anna gave our students and for the copy of 'Book of Secrets'! pic.twitter.com/gf6AWccWYL

21/03/24

Year 10 drama students are studying the play 1984. To support their understanding of director and designer roles, they created model set boxes of key scenes and then used torches and coloured film gels to explore possible lighting design decisions. Brilliant creativity! pic.twitter.com/eRYBJyDUrY

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Drama

About the Faculty

Drama is a practical and creative arts subject that has many cross curricular links to English and other Expressive subjects. Students at KS 3 have one lesson a week and then can opt to specialise at KS4 with 3 lessons and A Level with 6 lessons a week respectively. There are three specialist drama teachers working in two studio spaces and extra-curricular productions are staged in the School Hall.

Curriculum Intent Statement

Students should enjoy their lessons and become more socially and culturally aware, confident as a result of studying drama and better communicators in general. We explore different theatre genres as well as social issues using a variety of drama techniques and approaches that celebrate culture in all its diversity.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

Year 7

After an introduction to basic theatre skills we apply them to a characterization project around the theme of Christmas. In the Spring term we explore Ghost stories and how to create atmosphere and suspense before working on A Midsummer Night’s Dream along with the English faculty.  In the summer term we look at comedy, status and mask before rounding off the year with choreography and stage fighting.

 

Year 8

We begin the year with a Greek Theatre Project based on Greek myths and extracts from plays before running our annual Christmas Pantomime project. In the Spring term we look at modern script work and how dialogue and plays work before encountering the Gothic Horror genre which embraces Frankenstein and Dracula.  In the Summer term explore issue based theatre before a final end of Key Stage project is planned and performed.

 

Year 9 Arts Award Bronze

We run an eight session introduction to Drama techniques and launch an Arts Inspiration project where students research and evaluate an influential performer.  Students also lead their own session based on some of the skills they have learnt.  In the Spring term we organise a performance based on Family and Friendship which is showcased in the evening and in the Summer term we go and see a live performance and evaluate it. The course ends with the compilation of a portfolio to reflect these experiences which is moderated by an examiner in July.

KS3 Curriculum Map

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

GCSE Drama: AQA 8261

GCSE Drama is a very practical course with 60% of the assessment based on acting / designing work.  There are two practical assessments – one on devising a group project based on a stimulus which is showcased to parents and the other on the performance of script extracts during Year 11.  There is an NEA coursework element worth 30% which is a devising log based on the project  which can be 2500 words of prose or an annotated scrap book  and or recording Students must be prepared to rehearse outside lessons and attend a theatre trip or two during the course.

At the end of the course there is one written examination worth 40% based on the practical understanding of a set text and live theatre review and consequently written homework is set throughout the course.

Specification at a glance

Component 1: Understanding Drama 40%            

  • 1 hour 45 minute written exam
  • Section A: multiple choice (4 Marks)
  • Section B: set text Open book ( 44 Marks)
  • Section C: live theatre production (32 Marks)

Component 2: Devising Drama  NEA Coursework Practical/Written  40% 

  • Devising log (60 marks)
  • Devised performance (20 marks)

Component 3: Texts in Practice Practical Exam Externally assessed 20%  

  • Performance of Extract 1 (25 marks)
  • Performance of Extract 2 (25 marks)

Key Stage 5 Curriculum

Board: Pearson EdExcel (9DR0)

As a Drama student you will be attractive to future employers/tutors and universities because you will have shown that you have dynamic communication skills, work effectively as part of a team combined with self-confidence and an ability to express yourself creatively and reflectively.

Course content

Over the course students have to work practically exploring and studying five different play texts and the work of at least two different theatre practitioners. Students may offer performance support of design skills in the practical exams and everyone has to answer questions on elements of stage design as well as acting and directing.

There are three components to the A Level:

Devising a group project based on a play extract and key practitioner (e.g. Brecht, Frantic Assembly) with a performance and Devising portfolio worth 40% and marked internally and moderated by the exam board

Performance of scripted material in a group performance and a monologue or duologue from a different text worth 20% marked by an external examiner

Written Exam “Theatre Makers in Practice” - 2h 30 m

  • Section A: Live theatre review
  • Section B: Two questions on a modern play (Machinal, Accidental Death, etc.) from perspective of performer or designer. Closed book.
  • Section C: One extended question on re-imagining a classic text (Hedda Gabler, Woyzeck, etc.) with a practitioner’s influence (Stanislavski, Artaud, etc.). Open clean book allowed.

Entry requirements

We would expect you to achieve a Grade 6 or above in GCSE Drama, as well as an APS of 4.5 or above.

Marking Policy

Extended Curriculum

The Drama Faculty stage two School productions every academic year with an Upper School project in December and a Lower School Project in June. We stage a musical in collaboration with the music faculty on a biannual basis and recent shows have been Mary Poppins and Chicago.  We have produced a range of plays over the years from The Crucible, Twelfth Night and Peter Pan.

The Faculty stages several show-cases during the year on devised and scripted work for year 9 through to year 13 students.

There is a Drama club for year KS3 students run at lunch times by A Level Students leading towards a showcase. 

We organise a programme of six or seven theatre trips each year to enrich our students’ cultural appreciation and to facilitate theatre reviewing for exam purposes.

We have strong links with other Arts organisations and host workshops with outside theatre practitioners such as The Stanislavski Experience. 

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