S1/S2
Block 1 – S1
Mime unit – Introduction to Mime skills.
Pupils will explore movement and create a variety of characters in improvised scenarios. They will work in small groups to create and present interesting dramas. Pupils will begin to develop self and peer evaluation skills.
Sinister Scotland – A characterisation unit.
Building upon drama skills introduced in the Mime unit, pupils will explore a range of stories from Scotland’s past in order to stimulate imagination and understand historical issues. They will create, develop and sustain realistic or stylised roles, incorporating both voice and movement skills.
Block 2 – S1
Titanic – A voice unit
Using the historical context of The Titanic disaster, pupils will create a character and use improvisation skills to place this character in a range of scenarios. Pupils will explore voice skills such as the use of accent. Pupils will continue to work in small groups using their transferrable skills in order to achieve success.
The Identification – A conventions unit
Using the stimulus of ‘The Identification’ by Roger McGough, pupils will be introduced to the genre of tragedy as they create scenes showing events leading to the demise of the central character Stephen. Pupils will use drama conventions such as flashback, voice over and slow motion to present their dramas.
Block 3 – S2
Introduction to Production Skills – The Murder of Sir Anthony Cosgrove Jones
Pupils will devise a drama based on the stimulus of a “murder mystery”. Pupils will create, develop and sustain a realistic or stylised role within a piece of drama. They will develop a basic knowledge and understanding of production skills (lighting, sound, costume, set design, props, hair and make-up) and will have the opportunity to practically explore these in a final performance.
Introduction to Stage Fighting
Pupils will be introduced to the techniques of stage fighting. They will learn how to stage fight safely and further develop movement skills in drama. Pupils will learn how to work co-operatively and safely with others.
Block 4 – S2
Personalisation and Choice
Pupils will further develop skills learned in Blocks 1 to 3 and may be given the opportunity to choose specific areas of learning that are of interest to them. Choices may include; stage fighting, working from a script, devising drama from a variety of stimuli, cross curricular project.
S3 BGE
In S3 our learners engage in skills based learning. This approach builds on the prior learning that takes place in S1/2. The main aim is to prepare the learner for a smooth and successful transition into the National 5 qualification.
The S3 course consists of 3 units: Introductory Unit, Introduction to Productions Skills and Production Skills.
Introductory Unit – pupils will explore key skills in voice, movement, improvisation and devising drama from stimuli. This unit will conclude exploring the genre of Documentary Drama in ‘The Murder of Ophelia Bellefonte’ in which pupils will devise and perform a documentary drama to an audience of their peers.
Introduction to Production Skills – pupils will learn about the production skills of lighting, sound, props, set, costume and hair and make-up. They will have the opportunity to practically explore each skill while working on a variety of group based tasks.
Production Skills Unit – pupils will apply the skills and knowledge learned in the previous unit. They will specialise in a production skill and apply this skill to a short textual performance which will be performed to an audience of their peers. They will complete a folio throughout the unit which supports their learning and will undertake a final written evaluation reflecting on their work throughout the unit.
S4 National 5 Drama
The National 5 course consists of 3 units: Drama Skills, Added Value and Written Exam.
Drama Skills – pupils will respond to a variety of stimuli and develop ideas for a drama. They will work in a group to create a drama based on a chosen stimulus and present this to an audience of their peers. They will complete a folio throughout the unit which supports their learning and will undertake a final written evaluation reflecting on their work throughout the unit.
Added Value – pupils will either act in or perform a production role for a published play. This is directed by the teacher and will result in 60% of the pupils’ final grade. 10 marks are allocated to a preparation for performance report completed and marked prior to the exam. A visiting examiner from the SQA will carry out assessments between February and May.
Written Exam – As part of the main SQA exam diet pupils will answer a question paper which is worth 40% of their final course award. Pupils have 1hour 30 minutes to complete the exam which in split into 2 sections; Section 1 which is a personal evaluative response to a piece of work they have been involved in during the course and Section 2 in which pupils demonstrate knowledge and understanding of creating drama by responding to stimuli.
NPA Acting and Performance
The NPA: Acting and Performance course is a practical course suitable for those interested in developing their stagecraft, performance skills and investigate a range of theatrical productions. Pupils will get the opportunity to develop a range of voice and movement skills for acting; use their acting skills in a performance; work with scripts and a director; work creatively in rehearsals and performances and develop an understanding of theatre practice.
Pupils will complete two units throughout the course: Theatre Skills in Performance and Professional Theatre in Context. To complete the Theatre Skills in Performance unit pupils will learn about the roles and responsibilities of the actor and director; develop their stagecraft as an actor; prepare for and take part in a 30 minute performance and evaluate their performance. To complete the Professional Theatre in Context unit pupils will select two contrasting genres of theatre and investigate the elements within these; investigate the role of the theatre production team in creating a production and evaluate two pieces of theatre.
Higher Drama
The Higher course consists of 2 components: practical exam and written exam.
Practical exam
Actors will perform 2 roles to a visiting examiner. They will also write a PfP which is worth 10 marks and will be marked by the examiner of the day.
Designers will undertake the role of set designer for your chosen text and then specialise in 1 other area (costume, props, sound, lighting, hair and make-up). They will also write a PfP which is worth 10 marks and will be marked by the examiner on the day.
Directors will undertake a directing workshop based on a chosen play. They will prepare 8 pages of their text and a sample of 3 pages will be selected by the examiner. They will also write a PfP which is worth 10 marks and will be marked by the examiner on the day.
Written Exam
The written exam has 3 sections, Section 1 and 2 are based on a set text and Section 3 is a Performance Analysis essay of a production they have seen.
Advanced Higher Drama
The Advanced Higher course consists of 3 components: Written Assignment, Project Dissertation and Practical Exam.
Written Assignment – pupils will analyse a professional theatrical production. In a timed assessment pupils will answer an SQA prescribed question based on their chosen production. This will be externally marked by SQA and is worth 20% of the final course award.
Project Dissertation – pupils will identify a performance issue, carry out research and communicate their findings in a dissertation of 2,500 – 3,000 words. This is externally marked by the SQA and worth 30% of the final course award.
Practical Exam – pupils will specialise in either acting, directing or design for a final practical exam which is assessed by an external SQA Visiting Assessor. This is worth 50% of the final course award. Pupils specialising in acting will prepare a monologue and an interacting piece from published plays. Directors will undertake a directing workshop based on a chosen play. Designers will demonstrate an overall set design concept for a chosen play by creating a scale model set and planning concepts for two additional production roles from the following: lighting, sound, multimedia, props, costume, make-up and hair.
