Porthcawl Comprehensive School / Ysgol Gyfun Porthcawl
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Drama & Expressive Arts

Mrs K Poole (Head of Department and Head of the Faculty of Performing Arts and Sport)

Web Resources

GCSE: YEARS 10-11

KS4 General Information – Style and Genre

AS/A2: YEARS 12-13

For up to date information on KS4 and 5 courses, please see the Options Booklets

  • Key Stage 3

    Year 7

    Expressive Arts: In Year 7, pupils will receive five lessons a fortnight in Expressive Arts. This is made up of two lessons of Art, one lesson of Drama and two lessons of Music. Pupils will develop a range of skills through a thematic approach to the Expressive Arts, where each unit will end in a showcase or celebration of pupil’s work. Pupils will also have a range of opportunities to experience working with outside providers and there will be many opportunities to further their skills in the rich extra-curricular programme provided – Various Lunchtime Clubs, Termly Concerts, and Showcase Evenings.

    Term 1

    Theme: African Culture
    Learners will explore a sense of identity and belonging through the lens of African tribal cultures.

    Skills: Pattern, Colour, Ceramic Work, Movement Skills, Ensemble Skills, Singing Skills, Keyboard Skills, Rhythm Skills.

    Term 2

    Theme: Land of My Fathers
    Learners will explore ‘What it means to be Welsh’, and strengthen their appreciation for Welsh traditions culminating in a celebration of pupil’s work at the annual school Eisteddfod.

    Skills: Observational Drawing, Imaginative Composition, Performance Skills, Storytelling Skills, Vocal Skills, Communication Skills.

    Term 3

    Theme: Discovery
    Learners will discover artistic works that reflect time, culture and place.

    Skills: Drawing Skills, Communication Skills, Imagination and Empathy, Mime Skills, Slapstick Comedic Skills, Dialogue Skills, Improvisation Skills, Composition Skills.


    Year 8

    Drama: For Year 8/9, Pupils are taught Drama once a fortnight. As it is a practical subject there in very little written work at KS3. Pupils work mainly in groups to create drama pieces in response to stimuli. This work is then performed or presented to an audience followed by discussion. The curriculum is delivered via a themed approach and at the end of each unit pupils are assessed on skills taught. If pupils have a particular flair or interest in the subject they are encouraged to attend Drama Club and participate in the various extra-curricular projects throughout the year – Drama Club Showcase Evenings, Young Playwrights’ Festival.

    Term 1

    Theme: Status & Relationships
    High & Low Status – Developing Dramatic Techniques.
    Blood Brothers – Working with Text – Improvisation/Script work.

    Term 2

    Theme: Changes
    History changers – Developing dramatic techniques, soundscapes, monologues.

    Term 3

    Theme: Melodrama
    Exploring Stock Characters – Role Development.
    Performing Melodrama – Devising Skills.


    Year 9

    Term 1

    Theme: Identity
    Gang Culture – Developing Dramatic Techniques.
    Working with Text – West Side Story / Romeo & Juliet.

    Term 2

    Theme: Comedy & GCSE Drama
    Technical Project – Developing Technical Skills.
    Comedy Project – Comic Techniques.
    The White Rose Story – Developing Dramatic Techniques / Script Work.

    Term 3

    Theme: Issues
    Script Work – Stone Cold / Walking with Shadows.


    Ways in which parents can help:

    1. Encourage pupils to actively participate in lessons.
    2. Complete homework tasks:
      • Learning Lines
      • Research Tasks – Melodrama Stock Characters and History Changers
    3. Encourage pupils to attend Drama Club.

    Useful websites:

    1. Youtube
      • Gang Culture
      • Clips from West Side Story
      • Clips from Romeo & Juliet
      • Physical Comedy Characters
    2. Google
      • Melodrama Stock Characters
      • History Changers
    3. SRC
      • Recording of Blood Brothers Extract for Assessment

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