Drama – EDUQAS Level 2 Vocational Award in Performing Arts

This subject can not be chosen in a combination with Dance or Music

Contact: Miss R Deekes, Faculty Leader for Performing Arts

Why study Drama?    

Drama is currently seeing a renaissance period across the British curriculum; with more and more colleges and universities intaking students with good grades in creative subjects, such as Drama.  Within Drama, we look at building the three C’s. Confidence, collaboration, and creativity. At GCSE Drama we explore a variety of styles, genres, skills, and techniques; ultimately teaching students how to be effective performers, collaborators, and leaders. Drama is an intense, yet highly rewarding subject at GCSE level. Students who thrive in Drama often, enjoy practical work, enjoy creating, are open and honest with themselves and others, and are not afraid of the freedom that Drama provides them. Traditionally Drama is the first subject to be assessed, leaving spare time for students to focus on their other GCSEs in the summer term.   

What content is studied?  

We study EDUQAS Level 2 Vocational Award in Performing Arts syllabus, with us following the Drama route. This provides students with the key skills associated with Drama, as well as a variety of transferable skills, such as planning, analysing, and evaluating. The course provides a solid basis for students to continue Performing Arts at A-Level, as well as other vocational courses. The course is split into theory and practical components, with an even split of both theory and practical work.    

What content is studied?	How is it assessed?
Unit 1  Performing	Within this unit students look at performing from a holistic view, with them studying a broad number of various pieces of repertoire. Plays, musicals, screenplays and improvised performance are only a few of the types of works studied. Unit 1 places a key emphasis on the importance of research in preparation for a performance. Students will learn the importance of credible referencing, as well as the importance of copyright law, and health & safety laws; and the importance of them as key transferable life skills. Students will learn the value of rehearsal, and why self-evaluation is critical in the creative process, before performing their piece of choice in front of a live audience.	Unit 1 is assessed on three learning outcomes:   Research & Rehearsal   Performance   Review and Reflect   This unit is internally assessed through controlled assessment with 60 marks available for this unit.  Overall, this unit equates to 30% of the student’s overall GCSE grade.
Unit 2  Creating	Unit 2 acts as the natural extension to Unit 1, with students learning how to respond creatively to a set brief. Students’ practical skills are tested vigorously, with the expectation of being able to clearly showcase varied styles of theatre, being paramount. Students will work together to respond to a creative brief, which they shall then document, and perform in front of a live audience. Students must then evaluate the success of their work.	Unit 2 is assessed on three learning outcomes:    Explore and Develop   Applying knowledge and skills to create original work.    Review, reflect and refine.    This unit is internally assessed through controlled assessment with 60 marks available for this unit. Overall, this unit equates to 30% of the students overall GCSE grade.
Unit 3  Performing Arts in Practice	Unit 3 is the concluding unit of the course. Unit 3 provides students with the opportunity to plan, develop, and commission a festival in line with real industry commissions. Students will not only need to be good artists, but also savvy businesspeople, who understand the importance of, business management, marketing practices, and leadership qualities that are vital for a successful career in the arts. The unit focusses heavily on providing students with the tools to run their own business within the creative industry and reflecting on the success of their festival on completion.	Unit 3 is assessed on three learning outcomes:   Planning Performance Work   Promoting and Pitching    Evaluating and Reflecting    This unit is externally assessed through controlled assessment with 80 marks awarded for this unit. Overall, this unit equates to 40% of the students overall GCSE grade.