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Drama – Senior Phase

Senior Phase Information

National 4 and 5 are covered within one class. They come to Drama 4 periods per week.

Drama Skills and Production Skills are common to both levels but National 4 has a final internally assessed Added Value Unit whereas National 5 have a Performance which is internally assessed but externally moderated.

Purpose and aims of the Course:

National 4 Drama provides opportunities for learners to develop skills creating and presenting drama. This Course focuses on the development and use of drama skills and production skills to present drama. This Course is practical and experiential.

The aims of the Course are to enable learners to: ♦ generate and communicate thoughts and ideas when creating drama ♦ develop a knowledge of social and cultural influences on drama ♦ develop skills in presenting drama ♦ develop production skills in presenting drama ♦ use drama skills in a drama performance  ♦ explore form, structure, genre and style .

Purpose and Aims of the Course:

National 5 Drama:

This Course allows learners to develop practical skills creating and presenting drama. Learners will also develop drama production skills. Students are encouraged to exercise imagination and creativity. They will develop important skills, attitudes and attributes including creativity and adaptability, enthusiasm, a willingness to learn and confidence. This Course encourages learners to be creative and to express themselves in different ways. Learning through drama helps learners to appreciate cultural values, identities and ideas. This Course also provides scope for personalisation and choice.

This Course focuses on the development and use of a range of drama skills and production skills to present drama. This Course is practical and experiential. The aims of the Course are to enable learners to: ♦ generate and communicate thoughts and ideas when creating drama ♦ develop a knowledge and understanding of a range of social and cultural influences on drama ♦ develop a range of skills in presenting drama ♦ develop knowledge, understanding and the use of a range of production skills when presenting drama  ♦ explore form, structure, genre and style As learners develop practical skills creating and presenting drama, they will also develop knowledge and understanding of cultural and social influences on drama. Learners will analyse and evaluate how the use of self-expression, language and movement can develop their ideas for drama. Learners will develop critical thinking skills as they investigate, develop and apply a range of drama skills.

Assessment:

At the end of the course there will be a written exam to test Knowledge and Understanding during the exam diet and throughout the year students will identify an area to specialise in for the Practical exam where students will be internally assessed but externally moderated. Generally students choose Acting as the area of specialisation and this will require them to prepare an acting piece of a set length which must include interaction with at least one other character. They will also have to prepare a preparation for performance which is worth 10 marks of the total 60 allocated to this area.

To prepare for this students should read a number of texts in consultation with their teacher and decide on a final acting piece by the end of January. They should research their chosen text on websites, by reading reference books and seeking help from staff. The preparation for performance can be re-drafted a number of times but must be completed by the beginning of March.

Students can prepare for the final written exam by accessing past papers, using the website Quizlet and a National 5 Notes book is also available to purchase from various sources.

Purpose and Aims of the Course:

Higher Drama:

Higher Drama provides opportunities for learners to develop skills creating and presenting drama.

Students have 6 periods per week in Higher.

The Course focuses on the development and use of complex drama and production skills. This Course is practical and experiential. The aims of the Course are to enable learners to: ♦ generate and communicate thoughts and ideas when creating drama ♦ develop a knowledge and understanding of the social and cultural influences on drama ♦ develop complex skills in presenting and analysing drama ♦ develop knowledge and understanding of complex production skills when presenting drama ♦ explore form, structure, genre and style As learners develop practical skills creating and presenting drama, they will also develop knowledge and understanding of cultural and social influences on drama.

Learners will analyse and evaluate how the use of self-expression, language and movement can develop their ideas for drama. Learners will develop critical thinking skills as they explore and develop complex drama and production skills. The Course provides opportunities for vertical and lateral progression to National Courses and to other SQA qualifications in drama and related fields. This Course is a broad-based qualification. It is suitable for learners with an aptitude in the subject and for those wishing to progress to further levels of study. Learners will use their drama skills and apply their production skills to present drama to communicate meaning to an audience. Learners will explore, develop and communicate ideas in drama through creating, presenting and using complex drama and production skills. They will explore voice, movement and characterisation skills. Learners will respond to stimuli, including text to communicate their ideas to others.

Assessment

Higher Drama has two internally assessed Units which may be externally moderated by the SQA at any point during the course.

It also has two areas of external assessment, the written exam and a performance exam which will require the students to produce two contrasting Acting pieces or Production Areas.

The Acting pieces must be at least 10 minutes each and they must interact with at least one other character.

They will also have to prepare a preparation for performance which is worth 10 marks of the total 60 allocated to this area.

To prepare for this students should read a number of texts in consultation with their teacher and decide on a final acting piece by the end of January. They should research their chosen text on websites, by reading reference books and seeking help from staff. The preparation for performance can be re-drafted a number of times but must be completed by the beginning of March. (This is subject to change depending on when the Practical Examiner informs us of visit date).

S5/6 NPA in Drama

This is a new addition this year to our courses on offer.

Students will have 6 periods per week allocated to this course.

The National Progression Award in Acting and Performance consists of two NQ Units drawn from the framework of the National Certificate in Acting and Theatre Performance at SCQF level 6.

The award is made up of a double-credit Unit (12 SCQF points) and a single-credit Unit (6 SCQF points).

The NPA in Acting and Performance has been designed to improve progression to further study, providing students with relevant experiences which develop skills of self-discipline, commitment, collaboration and creativity: skills which contribute to the growth of the individual. The award structure and Unit content provides a coherent and progressive curriculum which creates and promotes effective articulation to and transition from  Higher Drama and into further and higher education, whilst recognising and supporting skills for industry and future employment.

The NPA in Acting and Performance comprises two mandatory Units – Drama: Theatre Skills in Performance and Professional Theatre in Context .which allow the candidates to develop stagecraft, performance skills and awareness of professional theatre.

Drama: Theatre Skills in Performance – The focus of this Unit is stage craft and performance. Students will work towards a production and will have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of production types including text based, touring theatre, community theatre, street theatre and site specific. They will apply theatre skills to the rehearsal and performance of a role to an audience and will learn about the complementary roles of the Actor and Director. The Unit also provides candidates with the opportunity to evaluate their own theatre skills within a production. Professional Theatre in Context – In this Unit, students have the opportunity to experience and analyse two contrasting professional theatrical productions in different styles /genres. They will explore the roles and responsibilities of the director, artistic and technical members of a production team prior to attending the productions. Students will consider the contrast between productions and evaluate the effectiveness of the technical and artistic aspects of each production.

Assessment

Both Units are mandatory and are assessed Pass or Fail.

There are practical and Theoretical elements to the units all of which must be completed to obtain the full course award.

Important Deadlines

The most important deadlines are the ones for the external elements of the course.

National 4 Added Value Units should be completed by the Easter Holidays.

As SQA Practical examiners can visit from the middle of February onwards, Higher Preparation for Performances should be in by the February break. All acting pieces should be completely ready for the same time and although we try to push the date nearer to the Easter break it is at the discretion of the SQA Examiner when they opt to visit.