“Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.”
– Bertolt Brecht
The Laurus Drama Vision is for all students, regardless of background or circumstance, to be inspired to be makers and appreciators of culture, to be empowered to have a voice in the world today, to recognise what it takes to succeed creatively, and to acquire the knowledge and qualities that not only open the door to future success but allow our students to walk through it.
Powerful Knowledge in Drama
The key concepts in drama are skill-driven and aim to build personal skills which can be relied upon to succeed, not only in drama lessons but beyond school life and in future employment. At the heart of drama is the development of these skills in all young people; engagement, communication and oracy, creative imagination, clarity of expression, autonomy, leadership confidence and cooperation.
There is more to drama than being able to perform on stage. Opportunities are embedded for students to be able to hone and develop performance talent but equally important is the ability to understand the purpose of the theatre we create. Methodologies of theatrical practitioners are introduced throughout the key stages to enable students not only to ‘re-enact’ but to shape their own unique ideas with a greater understanding of the need for style, intention, theatrical form and to learn to celebrate individual and unique perspectives.
Curriculum Features
The curriculum is structured based on the expectations for A Level Drama and Theatre; key concepts and skills required by the end of Year 13 are fed down into schemes of work from Year 7 upwards. This is designed to raise expectations and standards from the start of Key Stage 3 and ensure that drama knowledge is being understood both practically and theoretically. A linear curriculum is in place at Key Stage 3. Year 7, 8 and 9 will all study the work of a key theatre practitioner during Autumn term, explore a text through performance during Spring term and put their skills into practice in Summer term, through exploration of a social, historical and cultural topic. This linear structure allows students to return to key concepts throughout the key stage but build on them to advance their knowledge further as the years progress.
Co-curricular Enrichment
Co-curricular opportunities in Drama are created to allow students to develop and build on expertise learnt in lessons. Clubs and activities are varied to allow all students to participate in an area of interest. Alongside weekly Drama Clubs are opportunities for students to audition to be part of groups with more challenging expectations. Laurus Limelights is for Year 11 students who present talent in Drama and wish to develop ability across the performing arts, with an interest in learning about the professional industry.
Students are also able to audition for the annual school production, where the expectation is that all cast members develop performance talent and professionalism. These clubs/events are not only to encourage enjoyment in the arts but also for students to learn about professional expectations and performance discipline. Students are also able to apply to become a Drama Ambassador, taking on a leadership role within the department and developing their own knowledge by planning and delivering Drama Club sessions.