ABOUT THIS COURSE

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

• Provide teachers of GCSE Drama the material and confidence to teach effectively to all ability ranges.
• Obtain an exceptional understanding of the key challenges in GCSE Drama and how to teach them.

• Learn how to take a Level 4 student and help them attain a Level 9.
• Gain insight into the content of the course, the exam structure and how the exams are marked.
• Leave with resources ready to use.
• Understand how to scaffold lower ability students and stretch higher ability students.

PROGRAMME

Overview of the AQA GCSE Course

• Explanation of the content of the course, looking at key pressure points and how they can be overcome.
• Two different ways to structure your course according to student ability. When to introduce devising theatre and when to introduce the set text?
• Creating a positive group dynamic that allows students to support each other, using ensemble work and physical theatre in term 1.
• Planning your set text for the students you have, planning your range of devised stimuli, planning your scripted pieces.
• Motivating lower ability students.

Discussion: coffee break

Component one: the complexities and challenges

• Exploring set texts practically to boost student engagement and attainment, plus exploring written answers practically to ensure total clarity
• Using games to help understanding in Section A of the exam.
• Understanding the use of props, set and costume in a scene.
• Methods of how to excel in the written exam, using strict timings, sentence starters, key terminology and linking physical and vocal techniques.
• Looking at the best plays to watch live and ways to use online resources for section C of the written exam.

Component two

• ·We will look at stimuli that have been successful in the past
• Understanding how to give feedback without directing and how to create devising exercises which allow students to create innovative work.
• Learning how to create a working diary of key moments when devising.
• Adapting to possible issues with Covid and performances, using the latest guidance from AQA.
• Using the exactitudes of the assessment criteria, alongside key vocabulary to ensure top marks in a devising log.
• We also discuss the best approach to the statement of dramatic intentions prior to performance.

Lunch and informal discussion

How to teach Component 3 effectively

• Examining what the current Covid changes are within AQA’s specification and how to adapt to this in your rehearsals.
• We will discuss play texts which allow students to display a range of emotion and how to create a bank of resources.
• We will discuss using a combination of basic Stanislavski techniques, plus ‘Actioning’, and the ideas of Katie Mitchell to enhance your rehearsals.
• We will discuss how to overcome problems regarding attendance, apathy and lack of engagement.

Achieving unbelievable results

• What does it take to go from a Level 4 to a Level 9
• How can you plan to overcome barriers?
• How can you use structure in the written examination to ensure the highest marks
• How to gain full marks in the longer essay questions.
• Analyse exemplar work to gain top marks.

Depart