Drama
Drama has an important role to play in the personal development of our students. The skills and qualities developed by students in drama, such as teamwork, creativity, leadership and risk-taking are assets in all subjects and all areas of life. Drama stimulates the imagination and allows students to explore issues and experiences in a safe and supportive environment.
It is vital to create an atmosphere of security, trust and concentration. Drama promotes self-esteem and provides all students with a sense of achievement regardless of academic ability.
It's all about social skills, communication skills and having fun - we learn by doing!
Objectives
Each pupil should:
- identify with characters and actions through role-play, (for example, a dramatised story/and as spectators of the performance);
- have the confidence and ability to put across a particular point of view;
- learn how to work with others to solve human and practical problems
- create and take part in improvised scenes in order to explore issues;
- invent and develop convincing roles in specific situations;
- know how to structure dramatic sequences in order to convey meaning;
- be aware of the need for dramatic conventions (eg. light, dark, movement, pause, sound, silence);
- be aware of and use a variety of dramatic forms and techniques, to express ideas and feelings (eg. mime, mmovement, costume, make-up, props, set-design);
- appreciate drama in performance, both as participants and as spectators;
- understand the educational, cultural and social purposes of drama;
- develop a vocabulary of theatre/drama;
- explore the variety of human emotions through drama;
- learn to listen and concentrate;
- learn to respect and where appropriate, depend on, others (eg. trust skills);
- develop awareness (sensitivity) and enjoyment of the ways groups work (eg. decision-making, problem-solving, negotiation), willingness to accept responsibility, a democratic approach;
- evaluate his or her achievements as an individual and through groups in which he or she works; learn critical awareness;
- appreciate the values and attitudes of their own and other communities, recognize social conventions and stereotypes - be prepared to examine them;
- explore cross-curricular themes
Good drama requires a clear sense of discipline and direction from both teachers and pupils; all are equally responsible for the quality of learning that takes place.
Timetable at Westholme
Every pupil in Years 7 and 8 takes part in a weekly Drama lesson. Pupils in Year 9 take Drama as part of a carousel with Food Technology and Textiles. They are given the opportunity to perform in a variety of genres and to experiment with different performance techniques: improvisation; working with scripts; physical theatre techniques and dance. In addition pupils will also explore design areas, and complete projects in Costume, Set and Make-up design.
Pupils studying GCSE Drama have two sixty-minute periods of lessons.
Years 12 and 13 pupils taking Theatre Studies and Drama have five sixty-minute periods of lessons.
GCSE Drama
This is a very popular subject where pupils can develop an insight into and an understanding of a wide range of activities. Drama is an exciting, creative and challenging course and our lessons have been designed to meet those challenges. Our examination results are excellent and it is encouraging to know that Westholme has 25% more A* and A grades than the national average in Drama.
Westholme has also been awarded the title of 'A Centre of Good Practice' by the AQA examination board. The candidates' acting and design work has been used as an examplar for standardising the rest of the country's controlled assessments.
Drama and Theatre Studies
Students can pursue their interests and develop their skills in a range of practical drama elements including acting, directing, costume, setting, mask and technical design. However, the requirements of the specification, with its 60% written paper weighting, also enables students to gain an entry qualification for courses in higher education, whether in the area of drama and theatre studies or in a host of other subjects.
Many of our graduates have gone on to work in the film, television and theatre industries as actors, designers and stage managers. Others have used their study of theatre and drama to enhance their law, business or teaching careers.
Our examination results are excellent with the majority of our students achieving an A or B grade at A level.
Extra-curricular Drama at Westholme
Westholme has a very strong drama tradition. Its school productions are renowned. There are two major productions each year, held in the Westholme Theatre. The Christmas production runs for three evenings and usually includes pupils from Year 11 and the Sixth form and the summer production runs for four evenings and often includes pupils from Years 9 - 13. They are both major events in the school calendar and involves massive effort and dedication from both staff and pupils. Please click here for a list of previous Westholme productions.
Performing Arts Club
Miss Armstrong in the Drama department leads this popular club for the junior classes (Years 7 - 9) working with Mr Oracz in the Classics department and Mrs Lewis in the Music department. The club meets at lunchtime each week and pupils rehearse for a presentation evening held later in the year in the Westholme Theatre. The club aims to promote self confidence, teamwork and the opportunity for each pupil to perform on stage in front of a live audience.
Theatre Visits
We organise regular theatre visits, to major theatres in the north, for all Drama and Theatre Studies pupils. The region has a flourishing theatre scene and our students are encouraged to experience a broad range of theatrical forms for personal enrichment and to support their curriculum studies. We seek to ensure our students have access to the most cutting edge theatre taking place in the country, taking trips to the Royal Exchange and the Lowry in Manchester, the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, the Duke's Theatre in Lancaster and the Bolton Octagon. Visiting theatre companies also provide workshops and presentations for GCSE and Sixth form groups.
LAMDA Lessons
LAMDA lessons are available for pupils and are taught by highly qualified members of staff as a popular extra-curricular activity. Classes are available in Acting, Verse and Prose and Musical Theatre as a solo or group activity. Currently there are approximately one hundred and twenty pupils from years 7 - 12 taking their LAMDA examinations in school. Our results speak for themselves.
Westholme's new Senior Boys' School from September 2012!
