Welcome to the Drama Department
The Drama department is a successful and thriving part of The King’s
School. In years 7, 8 and 9 our students get one lesson of Drama per
week. As well as developing students’ drama skills, we strongly
believe that we are developing students’ inter-personal, problem
solving, creative skills as well as building their confidence.
These elements of Personal Learning Skills are so important in the
development of the individual and we believe that the drama department
plays a crucial role. In addition to this we believe that we prepare
students in their presentation skills. These are vital in a world
where presentation is a very important part of both work and personal
life. Here, we see how the skills we teach are transferable. Not just
with other subjects, but importantly, in the world outside of school.
At Key Stage 4 and 5 students are able to hone their Drama skills by
studying GCSE Drama and then move onto Post 16 studies. Here we have
demonstrated an ongoing and sustained success. GCSE results have been
very high, with the vast majority obtaining higher grades that have
well exceeded the national averages (2010 97% A*- C, 2009 100%). At A
level we have achieved 100% pass rate for many years. We now also
offer BTEC Acting at Level 3 and we hope to replicate our high rate of
success here.
Extra curricular Drama is something that we strongly believe in at
King’s. Drama clubs exist for Key Stage 3. The Year 7 club was setup
by our staff but was soon taken over by able and very keen sixth
formers, who have been exemplary at building a very successful
activity for our young students to get involved with. We provide
additional rehearsals for our Drama students so that we can build
their skills and enable them to achieve successful examination
results.
We also are at the heart of a very successful series of school
productions which are co-ordinated, directed and often written from
within the department. We strive to put on a professional show and
therefore our students take over The Arena Theatre for a week long
residency in the Summer. We are very proud of the quality of our shows
and how we promote self discipline within our students here.
This results in a show that is ran entirely by our students. The lighting,
sound, backstage are entirely controlled by students from Key Stage 3.
Added to this there are many opportunities for our students to perform
their work. Eater, Summer and Christmas concerts provide an
opportunity for our students to showcase their talents.
The National Youth Theatre is another area of success at The King’s.
Mrs Fearnehough has directed many students, giving them the confidence
and skills to audition for the UKs most prestigious Youth Theatre. We
have had many successes here with the school having over 15 of it’s
past and present students become members of the NYT.
Over the years to we have also had many successful collaborations
involving our students and outside agencies. Performing and leading
workshops to primary schools, providing professional development for
teachers, our students working with Urban Voice Youth Theatre, The
RSC, Birmingham School of Speech and Drama. We have worked with local
writers, artists, storytellers and directors. For example Peter Cann,
John Edgar, who has wrote some of our school plays and who we will be
working again with in the near future.
We believe that we offer a very rich diet of high quality experiences
for our youngsters both within the curriculum and outside it. We
strive to be innovative, delivering our subject in exciting ways, not
standing still but moving forward. Both myself and Mrs Fearnehough
very much enjoy what we do. We continue to be excited by Drama and
have belief in the postive impact it can have on the students that we
teach.
Take a look at our AS students performing Antigone.
AS Drama – Antigone
