Studying Drama helps students to gain confidence in both their oral and written communication. It is vital as part of the KS3 curriculum to improve communication skill, team working skills and confidence.

Expectations in the Drama department are high in terms of behaviour and study. Students are expected to use their communication skills to create imaginative theatre, discuss, debate, and work well as part of a group. The Drama department is a small department with experienced staff who are passionate about Drama and have worked with students with a range of abilities. The department is supportive, with an open door policy for students.

Our aim is to promote a love of the Arts and provide vigorous study to develop skills and expertise in not only acting but also creating and presenting theatre of different genres. Student’s experience in the department will provide them with knowledge of a wide range of theatre styles including abstract and physical theatre. By the time our students leave at the end of KS4 or 5, they have a vast knowledge of theatre styles and history and will have studied at least two influential theatre practitioners in detail.

As a department, we work very hard on enrichment with extracurricular activities for both KS3, 4 and 5 running throughout the year. KS3 take part in the Shakespeare School’s Festival, with the opportunity to perform at a professional theatre. Specific KS4 and 5 productions, like the upcoming ‘The Crucible’, provide older students with the opportunity to be part of a large production and use and enjoy hard earned acting skills in front of a live audience. Students are invited on various theatre trips in Key Stages 3, 4 and 5.

At Key Stage 3, students study a range of topics from theatre skills and history to physical theatre and script writing. Discussion and debate feature heavily in lessons, particularly in year 9 where students study issue based topics like ‘healthy relationships’ in a theatrical context. Students are encouraged to audition for extracurricular activities like the Shakespeare School’s Festival and summer concert celebrations of the Arts.

At Key Stage 4, we follow the Eduqas GCSE specification. Only students who have chosen Drama as a subject option complete the GCSE Qualification.  Students will study a range of plays from pre 1945 texts to modern texts. The course is 60% practical performance exam based and 40% written in the form of a final exam and coursework, which is completed throughout the two years.  

At Key Stage 5, A-Level Drama is a popular choice with students studying the Eduqas A Level Course. This is a demanding but rewarding course, which is valued by universities when applying for a range of subjects and involve reworking and understanding challenging texts and ideas from theatre practitioners throughout history. Past A Level Drama students have gone on to University to study Dance, Drama and Theatre, Medical Qualifications and Law Degrees. Students are examined through a combination of coursework, practical acting examinations and a written examination. We aim to enable students to develop strong and well-formed opinions, to be able to work reliably as part of an ensemble as well as the ability to critique and enjoy theatre in many different forms. Understanding theatrical literature at A Level develops a wide range of thinking skills and promotes critical thinking and a depth of knowledge. Students will attend theatre trips and lectures by actors and practitioners and will investigate practitioners work.

How can you support your child?

• Encourage your child to read plays, both modern and historical.
• Go to the theatre, student tickets for the National Theatre are available for as little as £5.
• Help your child to learn their lines in preparation for exams and assessments.
• Make sure your child is aware of the importance commitment to a project in terms of attending rehearsals when working as a group and monitor their intervention attendance.
• Come in to school to see your child’s exam performances and production performances

Music

LEARNING JOURNEY - MUSIC|MUSIC CURRICULUM (Under Construction for 2021)

 

Studying Music opens the door to success across the whole curriculum, aiding students to gain confidence in everyday tasks, as well as gaining an understanding of the importance of teamwork.

The Music department consists of a highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic group of teachers who are passionate about their subject. Our teaching enables all children to feel included and well supported, whatever their background in the subject may be.  Our aims as teachers is to provide an enthusiasm for both the performance and technology side of the subject, developing skills and expertise that will help them through their entire time at Welling School. 

Reflecting the Welling Ways, creativity and resilience play a large part when studying music. Students will learn to develop their performance and technical skills, creating their own music, allowing them to improve an independence within the subject as they progress through their school life.  A key factor in music is also ensemble work.  Students learn quickly how to adapt to different situations and scenarios, showing their resilience towards the subject, a feature that will help them both inside and outside of school. 

At Key Stage 3, students study a range of topics including how to read and write using music notation, the history of African Drumming and how to compose music using computer software’s such as Garage Band or Logic Pro. All tasks are completed both individually and as a group, allowing their creativity to be expressed and shared.  Students are also allowed to take part within the Winter and Summer concerts, should they like their work, from inside or outside of school, to be showcased.  This creates a very supportive working environment for all musicians.  Star pupils will also be nominated by their teachers to become Music Scholars.  This includes use of the practice rooms at break and lunch times, as well as the opportunity to attend musical theatre trips. 

At Key Stage 4, we follow the Edexcel BTEC Music Performance and Music Technology specifications.   All students take a Music Industry exam in the January of Year 11.  Both courses are 75% coursework and 25% exam. Each course has both written and practical aspects, allowing students to show their true musicality to the examiner.  There are opportunities to attend musical theatre trips for both courses. 

At Key Stage 5, we follow the Edexcel BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma for Music Performance (worth 1 A-Level) and the Edexcel BTEC National Diploma in Music Technology (worth 2 A-Levels).  Both subjects are exciting and demanding, which are highly valued by industry professionals. Both courses are examined through a combination of coursework and examinations. Students will also have two key lectures provided by Industry Professionals, allowing them to network within the Music Industry.  There are also opportunities to attend musical theatre trips. 

How can you support your child?

• Encourage your child to rehearse and practice
• Read online articles about the topics they are studying to gain wider knowledge. 

Head of Department: Ms Baker