Drama

Drama is essential to the development of our students, as it enables and challenges all students to think creatively about the world in which they live and what is around them. The Drama curriculum aims to enable students to access and build upon highly important skills that they will use consistently throughout life such as collaborative working, verbal and non-verbal communication, confidence and the enhancement of concentration. The knowledge conveyed will enable our students to think critically as dramatists and practitioners, exploring a range of texts and issues and allowing them to express themselves and articulate their emotional landscape.

Drama LTP 2025-26

Drama at Key Stage 4

Drama at Key Stage 4 is an optional subject.  The course on offer is the BTEC Award in Performing Arts.  

Course Aims

The BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts aims to develop a vocational understanding of Drama and allows students to further their skills and knowledge in a practical context. The course aims to facilitate and encourage excellent performance skills whilst developing their theoretical understanding of theatre.

Drama also fosters a range of independent learning skills and collaborative abilities that have a far-reaching effect in terms of how students achieve and progress in a wide range of other subjects. 

 

Course content

The Award gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific knowledge and skills in a practical learning environment. The main focus is on four areas of equal importance, which cover the: 

  • development of key skills that prove learners’ aptitude in performing arts, such as reproducing repertoire or responding to stimulus 
  • process that underpins effective ways of working in the performing arts, such as development of ideas, rehearsal and performance 
  • attitudes that are considered most important in the performing arts, including personal management and communication 
  • Knowledge that underpins effective use of skills, processes and attitudes in the sector, such as roles, responsibilities, performance disciplines and styles.
Assessment

Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts 

  • Internal Assessment 
  • Written document exploring at least three pieces of professional performance

Component 2: Developing Skills and Techniques 

  • Internal Assessment 
  • Staged performance 
  • Diary logging progress throughout 

Component 3: Performing to a Brief 

  • External assessment 
  • Performance 
  • Three sessions of controlled assessment 
  • Working to constraints set by the exam board

Further details about the specification and the assessment cab be found on the exam board website: BTEC Level 1/2 Tech Award in Performaing Arts (603/7054/3).

Beyond BTEC Tech awards

With a BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts, students are able to explore, challenge and realise their potential.  During the course, students can see whether the industry is one they want to be in, where they could go, and gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their next steps.  What’s more, the transferable skills that students master during their studies such as self-reflection, communication, teamwork and problem solving will also support their progress in the present and future.