“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” ― Oscar Wilde
At Monkton Wood we provide our students with a broad and ambitious Drama curriculum, rich with skills and knowledge that aim to immerse our students in a range of styles and genres. We follow a structured spiral curriculum across three strands, creating, performance and appreciation. Through this we consistently challenge our students, building on their skills, knowledge and understanding. Methodologies of theatrical practitioners are introduced throughout the key stages to enable students not only to ‘re-enact’ but to shape their own ideas with a greater understanding of the need for style, genre, target audience, intention, and to learn to accept and appreciate different perspectives using empathy.
Regular exposure to drama raises self-esteem and self-confidence. Central to this is the notion that young people with strong feelings of self-worth are more likely to achieve their full potential. With the high aspirations and expectations demanded by performance, drama opens the door to students achieving ambitious standards across many subject areas. The process of performance is very much based on problem-solving within a group, where ideas are shared, shifted, and collated to create a solution. This method of group work is driven by intent and purpose can be applied to an entire range of learning environments. The performance model also requires students to respect each other’s work, opinions, and ideas and in this way contributes to the overall ethos of the school where mutual respect and support is key.
We firmly believe learning is an active process and for this to happen, students must be engaged. Learning should be inclusive as those who are active participants learn much more easily and effectively. Using a curriculum that develops understanding, we aim to promote values and to encourage each student not to only to strive for academic success, but also to aspire to be the best they can be and develop into kind, confident, empathetic, and responsible members of society.
In Key Stage 3, students at Monkton Wood Academy are introduced to the world of drama and develop their skills in creating, performing, and appreciating theatrical works. Year 7 begins with an introduction to drama, exploring the three strands: creating, performance, and appreciation. Students then delve into the conventions of pantomime, focusing on characterisation through stock characters and exaggeration. The term continues with an introduction to Shakespeare, where students embark on a journey through key themes, characters, and plot devices in his plays. Moving on to Year 8, students explore physical theatre, utilising the techniques of Frantic Assembly and engaging in devising exercises. They also delve into the world of melodrama, understanding its conventions and studying stock characters. Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is studied, focusing on the feuding families and main characters. Year 8 concludes with a study of Stanislavski’s techniques and a performance highlighting the impact of bullying. Year 9 takes a deeper dive into practitioners such as Brecht and Berkoff, exploring techniques like alienation and devised performance. Students also study the play Blood Brothers by Willy Russell, performing key extracts and analysing plot and characters. The year concludes with a script work unit, exploring different script styles and focusing on performance skills. Throughout Key Stage 3, students develop their acting, physicality, and vocal skills while exploring a wide range of theatrical styles and techniques.
At Key Stage 4, students studying Drama can currently follow two pathways. We offer BTEC Level 2 Performing Arts courses in Acting and Musical Theatre for our current Year 11 cohort, alongside AQA GCSE Drama.
BTEC LEVEL 2 PERFORMING ARTS
The Pearson BTEC Level 2 Performing Arts course is assessed through three components. Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts introduces students to professional practitioners and performance styles through research and practical workshops. Component 2: Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts allows students to develop and refine their acting or musical theatre skills through rehearsal and performance work. Component 3: Responding to a Brief is an externally assessed component where students work collaboratively to create and perform a piece of theatre in response to a set brief, demonstrating the skills they have developed throughout the course.
GCSE AQA DRAMA
The AQA GCSE Drama is assessed through three components that combine practical performance with written analysis. Component 1: Understanding Drama (40%) is a 1 hour 45 minute written examination taken at the end of Year 11, including questions on theatre knowledge, the practical exploration of a set play studied in class, and analysis of a live theatre performance. Component 2: Devising Drama (40%) involves students creating and performing an original piece of theatre in small groups (6–20 minutes). This component is assessed by teachers and externally moderated, with marks awarded for both the performance and a written or recorded log that documents the creative process and evaluates the final piece. Component 3: Texts in Practice (20%) is an externally assessed practical component where students perform two extracts from the same play for a visiting examiner. Throughout the course, students develop creativity, collaboration, performance skills and the ability to analyse and evaluate theatre.
From September 2026
From September 2026, Key Stage 4 Drama will move to offering the Pearson BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Performing Arts as the sole qualification. This course continues to provide a practical and industry-inspired approach to learning, enabling students to develop performance skills, creativity, collaboration and confidence through coursework-based assessment and practical performance projects.
