A Level Drama and Theatre

Course planner Scheme of Work

A level Drama and Theatre

Components 1, 2 and 3 This Scheme of Work covers the knowledge and skills required for the coverage of the three assessment components at A level: Component 1: Devising (internally assessed and externally moderated, 40% of the qualification) Component 2: Text in Performance (assessed by visiting examiner, 20% of the qualification) Component 3: Theatre Makers in Practice (written exam, 40% of the qualification).

We recommend that the following resources are made available to students: access to a suitable rehearsal/performance space access to relevant scripts/performance texts access to information on key practitioners access to professional standard theatre productions, as a member of the audience access to appropriate resources for the completion of portfolios, for example computers, internet, recording equipment.

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Year 1

Week Content Learning outcomes Exemplar activities Exemplar materials coverage and resources 1 Induction period To understand the requirements of the three Students listen to the The specification components at A level and how they relate to each outline of the A level The Assessment other course Objectives (AOs) To understand how assessment takes place and Discussion, and questions The A level assessment what assessment will be undertaken and answers grids Students look at exemplar SAMs for written exam work from the Pearson Edexcel website Introductory practical activities, including: ice breakers, group bonding and skills audit 2 Induction period To understand the core skills being developed in the Discussion to give an The specification qualification: underpinning Script extracts understanding of what o The ability to recognise and understand the Access to the recording interrelationship between performer, these core skills are designer Practical exploration and director workshop, using one o The understanding that texts and extracts production (recording and studied may represent a range of social, text extracts) as a historical and cultural contexts stimulus to ‘bring the o The ability to analyse and evaluate their work work to life’ and the work of others o The ability to understand how performance texts can be interpreted and performed

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Week Content Learning outcomes Exemplar activities Exemplar materials coverage and resources 3 Induction period To use a stimulus to devise work Practical devising Range of drama stimulus workshop, creating new materials and original ideas for performance through the practical exploration of a range of stimuli 4 Theatre visit The ability to consider relevant aspects of theatre Students collate a list of Specification knowledge preparation for analysis and evaluation purposes questions as a group that and understanding points (Comp 3) could be answered to SAMs for written exam form a structured review/ evaluation of the Whiteboard/PC to collate production being seen the questions A planned theatre visit 5 Theatre visit To reflect on own experience as an audience Individual students to Programme notes review member present their evaluations Production reviews (Comp 3) To understand the processes and practices used in Group plenary the production 6 Introducing the To understand how to approach the text as a Discussion to identify key Copies of the chosen text complete theatre maker aspects of the text performance text Workshop to explore the from list A text in practice (Comp 3) 7 Exploring the To understand how to approach the text as a In small groups, students Performance space complete theatre maker create and perform a five- Selection of costumes/ performance text minute version of the props from list A work, to show to each (Comp 3) other

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Week Content Learning outcomes Exemplar activities Exemplar materials coverage and resources 8 Exploring the To understand how to realise the text as a theatre Students explore in detail Extracts from the text complete maker an extract from the Rehearsal space performance text performance text from list A (Comp 3) 9 Exploring the To understand how to realise the text as a theatre Students explore in detail Extracts from the text complete maker a different extract from Rehearsal space performance text the performance text from list A (Comp 3) 10 Exploring the To further understand how to realise the text as a Students focus on a Extracts from the text complete theatre maker character from the text to Rehearsal space performance text bring to life from list A Group presentations on (Comp 3) their interpretation of this character 11 Exploring the To further understand how to realise the text as a Students focus on a Extracts from the text complete theatre maker design element that they Studio space performance text would use to bring an from list A extract from the text to (Comp 3) life Group presentations on these design elements 12 Presenting the To understand how to build a portfolio of process Group plenary Portfolios portfolio evidence Key statements from the (Comp 1) specification Exemplars

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Week Content Learning outcomes Exemplar activities Exemplar materials coverage and resources 13 Introducing To understand the key developments and A practical workshop Notes on the practitioner practitioners approaches made by the chosen practitioner exploring the work of the and signposts for further (Comp 1) selected practitioner study Selection of props, costumes, music, script extracts etc. 14 Introducing To understand how to bring a text to life for an Working in small groups, Studio/performance space exploration of a audience students take an extract text from a performance text (Comp 1) and explore how to bring the scene to life 15 Exploring an To understand how to bring a text to life for an Students develop ideas Studio/performance space extract in light of audience about how to bring the Recording equipment a practitioner extract to life using the (Comp 1) work of the practitioner and perform the extract to the rest of the class 16 Presenting the To understand how to build a portfolio of process Mini informal Portfolios portfolio evidence presentations of the The specification portfolio so far (Comp 1) To understand how assessment criteria/descriptors The Assessment apply to your work Improving the portfolio Objectives (AOs) The A level assessment grids Recording equipment 17 Devising To understand how to devise a group performance Recap on devising skills Studio/performance space (Comp 1) Practical session on effective use of stimulus materials

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Week Content Learning outcomes Exemplar activities Exemplar materials coverage and resources 18 Devising To understand how to devise using a key extract of Discussion of the extract Studio/performance space (Comp 1) a performance text as a stimulus selected Students structure the scene 19 Devising To understand how to use the work of a practitioner Discussion of the Studio/performance space (Comp 1) to inform the devising process practitioner and their tools, techniques and influences 20 Devising To understand how to develop the group Rehearsals Studio/performance space (Comp 1) performance Notes and feedback 21 Devising To understand how to realise the group performance Rehearsals Studio/performance space (Comp 1) Notes and feedback 22 Devising To understand how to realise the group performance Rehearsals Studio/performance space (Comp 1) Notes and feedback 23 Devising To understand how to realise the group performance Rehearsals Studio/performance space (Comp 1) Notes and feedback 24 Devising To understand how to realise the group performance Rehearsals Studio/performance space (Comp 1) Notes and feedback 25 Devising To understand how to realise the group performance Rehearsals Studio/performance space (Comp 1) Notes and feedback 26 Devising To understand how to realise the group performance Rehearsals Studio/performance space (Comp 1) Notes and feedback 27 Devising To understand how to develop the group Dress rehearsals Studio/performance space (Comp 1) performance Tech rehearsals Notes and feedback

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Week Content Learning outcomes Exemplar activities Exemplar materials coverage and resources 28 Devising Effective performance of devised work Performance Performance space (Comp 1) Technical support Production elements Recording equipment 29 Devising To understand how to analyse and evaluate their Students complete their Portfolios (Comp 1) performance work portfolio The specification The Assessment Objectives (AOs) The A level assessment grids 30 Devising To understand how to analyse and evaluate their Students complete their Portfolios (Comp 1) performance work portfolio The specification The Assessment Objectives (AOs) The A level assessment grids 31 Text A revisited To understand how to develop and realise work for Recap (discussion and Studio/performance space (Comp 3) performance as a theatre maker practical work) on what the initial explorations covered focusing on aspects of performer work 32 Text A revisited To understand how to develop and realise work for Recap (discussion and Studio/performance space (Comp 3) performance as a theatre maker practical work) on what the initial explorations covered focusing on aspects of designer work

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Week Content Learning outcomes Exemplar activities Exemplar materials coverage and resources 33 Mock exam To understand how to use notes to support exam Students prepare theatre Copies of Appendix 2: preparation and performance evaluation notes Live Theatre Evaluation revision notes form (Comp 3) 34 Mock exam To understand how to approach the exam question Students write responses Previous papers/SAMs preparation and to sample questions revision (Comp 3) 35 Mock To meet the expectation of the exam Exam practice Exam conditions, as examination required

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Year 2

Week Content coverage Learning outcomes Exemplar activities Exemplar materials and resources 1 Introducing the To understand how to approach the text as a Discussion to identify key Studio/performance space complete theatre maker aspects of the text performance text Workshop to explore the from list B text in practice (Comp 3) 2 Exploring the To understand how to approach the text as a In small groups, students Performance space complete theatre maker create and perform a five- Selection of performance text minute version of the costumes/props from list B work, to show to each (Comp 3) other 3 Exploring the To understand how to realise the text as a Practical exploration of Studio/performance space complete theatre maker the text performance text from list B (Comp 3) 4 Exploring the To understand how to realise the text as a Practical exploration of Copies of the chosen text complete theatre maker the text Studio/performance space performance text from list B (Comp 3) 5 Practitioner study To understand how theatre makers re-imagine Students use a case study Recording of the work, (Comp 3) work of a practitioner from the case study materials list in the specification, to see how they have re- imagined work

Week Content coverage Learning outcomes Exemplar activities Exemplar materials and resources 6 Practitioner study To understand how theatre makers re-imagine Students use a case study Recording of the work, (Comp 3) work of a practitioner from the case study materials list in the specification, to Performance space see how they have re- imagined work 7 Page to stage To understand how to re-imagine a Working in small groups, Extracts from the text workshop performance text for a contemporary audience students take an extract Studio/performance space (part 1) from a performance text (Comp 3) and explore how to re- imagine the scene for a contemporary audience 8 Page to stage To understand how to re-imagine a Students develop ideas Extracts from the text workshop performance text for a contemporary audience and refine the re- Studio/performance space (part 2) imagined concept (Comp 3) 9 Page to stage To understand how to re-imagine a Students develop ideas Extracts from the text workshop performance text for a contemporary audience and refine the re- Studio/performance space (part 3) imagined concept (Comp 3) 10 Theatre visit The ability to consider relevant aspects of Students revisit and refine Specification knowledge preparation theatre for analysis and evaluation purposes the groups theatre review and understanding points (Comp 3) form Proforma from specification A planned theatre visit 11 Theatre visit review To reflect on own experience as an audience Individual students Programme notes (Comp 3) member present their evaluations To understand the processes and practices used Group plenary in the production

Week Content coverage Learning outcomes Exemplar activities Exemplar materials and resources 12 Monologues/ To understand how to select a monologue and Introduction of new Texts duologues duologue performance or design from a key performance texts/key Studio/performance space (Comp 2) extract extracts Students explore the texts/extracts to find suitable monologues/duologues 13 Monologues/ To understand how to develop Exploration and rehearsal Extract duologues a monologue and duologue performance or of monologues/duologues Studio/performance space (Comp 2) design from a key extract 14 Monologues/ To understand creative intentions Rehearsal of Studio/performance space duologues monologues/duologues (Comp 2) 15 Monologues/ To understand creative intentions Rehearsal of Studio/performance space duologues monologues/duologues (Comp 2) (performance to examiner in week 24) 16 Group text To understand how to select an extract from a Introduction of new Texts performance text for performance or design performance texts/key Studio/performance space (Comp 2) extracts Students explore the texts/extracts to find suitable extracts 17 Group text To understand how to develop Exploration and Extract performance a group performance rehearsals of group piece Studio/performance space (Comp 2)

Week Content coverage Learning outcomes Exemplar activities Exemplar materials and resources 18 Group text To understand creative intentions Exploration and Studio/performance space performance rehearsals of group piece (Comp 2) 19 Group text To understand creative intentions Rehearsals of group piece Studio/performance space performance (Comp 2) 20 Group text To understand creative intentions Rehearsals of group piece Studio/performance space performance (Comp 2) 21 Group text To understand creative intentions Rehearsals of group piece Studio/performance space performance (Comp 2) 22 Group text To understand creative intentions Rehearsals of group piece Studio/performance space performance off-text (Comp 2) 23 Group text and To understand creative intentions Dress rehearsal of group Studio/performance space monologue/duologu piece e Tech rehearsals of group performance piece (Comp 2) Dress rehearsal of monologue/duologue Tech rehearsals of monologue/duologue

Week Content coverage Learning outcomes Exemplar activities Exemplar materials and resources 24 Group text and To realise artistic intentions in performance Performance to visiting Performance space monologue/duologu examiner Technical support e Production elements performance Recording equipment (Comp 2) 25 Revision of To understand the expectations of the exam Discussion and note Programme notes from production selected taking live theatre production to evaluate for exam purposes (Comp 3) 26 Revision of To understand the expectations of the exam Discussion Copies of text performance text Text surgery Any recordings of relevant from list B work (Comp 3) 27 Revision of To understand the expectations of the exam Practise questions Previous papers/SAMs performance text from list B (Comp 3) 28 Revision of To understand the expectations of the exam Discussion Copies of text performance text Text surgery Any recordings of relevant from list A work (Comp 3) 29 Revision of To understand the expectations of the exam Practise questions Previous papers/SAMs performance text from list A (Comp 3)

Week Content coverage Learning outcomes Exemplar activities Exemplar materials and resources 30 Final preparation of To understand how to use the notes effectively Students prepare the Copies of appendix 2: Live theatre evaluation in the exam points to be included Theatre Evaluation notes notes for the exam Students write a final form (Comp 3) draft of the 500 words allowed 31 Exam preparation To understand the expectations of the exam Students sit elements of a Previous papers/SAMs and revision previous paper (Comp 3) Discuss 32 Exam preparation To understand the expectation of the exam Students craft ‘model’ Previous papers/SAMs and revision responses and review (Comp 3) their exam preparations 33 External examination To meet the expectation of the exam Students complete the Exam conditions as external examination required