At Royds School we take pride and value in the Performing Arts.  As part of our broad and balanced curriculum within Drama and Music, we enrich the lives of students and prepare them for their future.  We passionately believe that all students should have the chance to study these subjects.

As well as timetabled lessons, we offer performance opportunities such as the school production, the Christmas Concert, community events and the Royds Oscars, which showcases and celebrates student achievement within the Performing Arts throughout the year.  We are committed to producing whole school productions so that students can build working relationships with others in all year groups and consolidate core British Values. In addition to our varied extra-curricular programmes we also arrange educational visits.  Recently, students have been to see Blood Brothers, Tomorrow I’ll Be Twenty, Woman In Black and Wicked.

Who teaches my child?

• Mrs Hamlyn
• Mrs Aindow
• Miss Gaynor
• Mr Southern

Key Stage 3

What will my child be taught?

Drama is taught for one hour a week to Years 7 and 8. Students will learn and develop performance skills that they can use in preparation for further study at GCSE level. They will use a variety of stimuli to explore themes and issues using poetry, published plays, scripts and various artefacts. They also learn about genres of theatre.

How will my child be assessed?

Students are assessed after each unit of work is completed. They are marked primarily on their response, development and evaluation skills. Students are able to reflect on their learning and receive feedback from staff on their progress.

How can I support my child’s learning at home?

Students in Year 7 are encouraged to attend extra-curricular activities to enhance their performance skills. Year 8 students are given homework projects which link to the Drama curriculum.

We encourage where possible visits to the theatre or experiences of live performances to ensure they can develop their knowledge and understanding of the subject further

Key Stage 4

What will my child be taught?

We follow the OCR exam specification for GCSE. Drama provides opportunities for students to understand and create drama as a practical art form. They develop a range of theatrical skills and work collaboratively to generate and communicating ideas and meanings through informed artistic choices.

• Unit 1: Exploration of a Theme / Topic– worth 30% of the overall GCSE Grade. Students will practically explore a theme or topic using a variety of dramatic skills and strategies. Students will be expected to produce written coursework called a documentary response. This will cover all of their aspects of learning through this unit and evidence their knowledge and understanding gained on the explored theme or topic.
• Unit 2: Exploration of a Published Play – worth 30% of their overall GCSE grade This unit develops an understanding of the ways in which playwrights record their ideas in a play script and how these plays can be interpreted in a performance using a variety of explorative strategies. Again students will be required to write a documentary response of 1,000 words on their experience and exploration of the play. This will be completed as a controlled test in examination conditions within school time. Response to a live theatre production. A trip to the theatre is required where you will be expected to write a written response and evaluation of the performance (2,000 words). This will be completed as a controlled test within school time and under examination conditions.
• Unit 3: Practical Examination – worth 40% of their overall GCSE grade. This is externally assessed by a visiting examiner in May. Drama performance to an examiner where students will present as a performer or support worker in a single performance of a play. Students will perform either a devised or scripted performance.

How will my child be assessed?

• ‘Devising drama’ (01/02) is internally assessed. This component is non-exam assessment and consists of a portfolio and a performance. Students can take on the role of performer or designer (lighting, sound, set or costume). It is worth 30% of the qualification.
• ‘Presenting and performing texts’ (03) is externally assessed. This consists of a performance showcase for a visiting examiner. Students can take on the role of performer or designer (lighting, sound, set or costume). It is worth 30% of the qualification.
• ‘Drama: Performance and response’ (04) is an examined component. Section A consists of short answer questions relating to the study of Blood Brothers. Section B is an extended response analysing and evaluating a live drama performance. It is worth 40% of the qualification.

How can I support my child’s learning at home?

We encourage where possible visits to the theatre or experiences of live performances to ensure they can develop their knowledge and understanding of the subject further. In year 11 students need to learn a script in preparation for their practical exam and your support in assisting them to do this is advised. Scripts can be provided by all staff to parents on request. The BBC Drama Bitesize is an excellent resource.

Key Stage 5

What will my child be taught?

We offer BTEC Nationals Extended Certificate in Performing Arts. Our Performing Arts team offer a high level of training, experience, insight and knowledge within this field. The course will allow students to explore many genres of performance, practitioners and performance methods. The course will give them an insight into the different career paths that are available to them and help prepare students to start a successful career or move onto further study. Aimed at developing both practical skills and theoretical knowledge to underpin these skills, they will take part in workshops, rehearsals, conduct research portfolios, and diarise their development as an on-going process.

How will my child be assessed?

Assessment is specifically designed to fit the purpose and objective of the qualification. It includes a range of assessment types and styles suited to vocational qualifications. There are three main forms of assessment: external, internal and synoptic.

All of the units developed for external assessment are of 90 or 120 guided learning hours to allow students to demonstrate breadth and depth of achievement. Each assessment is taken under specified conditions, then marked by Pearson and a grade awarded. Students must achieve all external units at pass grade or above. Students are permitted to resit any external assessment only once during their programme. The styles of external assessment used for qualifications in the performing arts suite are:

• set tasks: learners take the assessment during a defined window and demonstrate understanding through completion of a vocational task
• performance: learners prepare for assessment over an extended window and demonstrate skills that generate some non-written evidence.

They are assessed through practical workshops and performance work, research projects, the actor’s journal and evaluative documents. Assessments are continual throughout the course.

How can I support my child’s learning at home?

Students at this level are expected to be self-motivated and disciplined. Independent study into influential performing arts practitioners and theatre genres is essential.

We encourage where possible visits to the theatre or experiences of live performances to ensure they can develop their knowledge and understanding of the subject further.