S3 Drama:
Reporting Window 2

The topics we have covered in this reporting window are:

Drama Skills

·   Christmas Drama (Drama Form) - Term Two

Learners worked collaboratively to develop their own devised drama piece. The dramas were Christmas themed and relevant to the intended audience.  The dramas were developed from a stimulus through brainstorming and group discussion and brought in elements of Pantomime and use of Drama Conventions This collaborative process allowed learners to experience leadership, negotiation and decision making through the creative process. This process also provided learners with the opportunity to further develop their performance skills, using voice and movement to enhance characterisation.

·   Dan Nolan – Characterisation and Story-Telling – Term Three

Learners were given the stimulus of a missing young person and through discussion and improvisation, devised a drama featuring strong story-telling elements and well-developed characters. This process also provided learners with the opportunity to use Drama Conventions in relation to structure and to develop their performance skills, using voice and movement to enhance characterisation.

·   Musical Theatre – Term Three

Learners will work collaboratively to develop their own Musical Theatre based performance working with well-known musicals that they can develop in their own way.  Learners will be encouraged to use song and music to enhance story telling as well as develop larger than life characters, pushing them to explore stylised voice and movement skills using voice and movement to enhance characterisation, for example, pitch, pace, volume, facial expression, gesture and body language. as well as develop an understanding of choreography and movement.  This collaborative process will allow learners to experience leadership, negotiation and decision making through the creative process.

By term three, the majority of work covered in S3 Drama is aimed towards pupils achieving CfE Level 4 Outcomes. Whilst recognising that some learners may find aspects of this level challenging and may be working below this level, at this stage in the year, we would be looking for learners to be meeting this standard as an indication of suitability for N5 drama. However, learners working below this level continue to be offered support while they continue to work within CfE Level 3 content to ensure progression in learning.

An overview of working grade descriptions for S3 Drama is given below:

Third A to D: While continuing to experience CfE Level 4 Outcomes, learners at this level are finding that the work can be challenging, and most tasks require further explanation and to be broken down to ensure progress and build confidence. 

National 5 Drama as one of the main 6 subjects would be challenging but National 4 Drama could be an option.

Fourth A: Making excellent progress at CfE Level 4, performing well against all the outcomes covered. Learners always attempt to demonstrate sensitivity, precision and depth in the portrayal of a character, using their understanding of characterisation to create characters and show confidence in presenting their work to an audience. Learners will take the opportunity to lead negotiation and decision making, working with others to devise, rehearse and refine dramas and scripts. They will take every opportunity to use theatre arts technology to enhance tension, mood and atmosphere in drama work and can analyse technical aspects of drama and scripts, making informed judgments and considered opinions on their own and others’ work. 

National 5 Drama as one of the main 6 subjects is strongly recommended.

Fourth B: Making good progress at CfE Level 4, performing well against most of the outcomes. Learners demonstrate some sensitivity, precision, and depth in the portrayal of a character, using their understanding of characterisation to create characters and generally show confidence in presenting their work to an audience. Learners will mostly take the opportunity to lead negotiation and decision making, working with others to devise, rehearse and refine dramas and scripts. They will take most opportunities to use theatre arts technology to enhance tension, mood and atmosphere in drama work and generally can analyse technical aspects of drama and scripts, making informed judgments and considered opinions on their own and others’ work.  

National 5 Drama as one of the main 6 subjects is strongly recommended. National 5 Drama as one of the main 6 subjects is strongly recommended.

Fourth C: Making reasonable progress at CfE Level 4, performing well against some of the outcomes but finding others more challenging. Learners occasionally demonstrate some sensitivity, precision, and depth in the portrayal of a character, sometimes showing confidence in presenting their work to an audience. Learners will occasionally take the opportunity to lead negotiation and decision making, working with others to devise, rehearse and refine dramas and scripts. They will take some opportunities to use theatre arts technology to enhance tension, mood and atmosphere in drama work and occasionally can analyse technical aspects of drama and scripts, making general judgments and sharing basic opinions on their own and others’ work.  

National 5 Drama as one of the main 6 subjects would be possible with the right attitude and application

Fourth D: Making some progress at CfE Level 4, performing well against few of the outcomes covered while finding the majority challenging. Learners are having difficulty demonstrating any sensitivity, precision, and depth in the portrayal of a character, rarely showing confidence in presenting their work to an audience. They find taking the opportunity to lead negotiation and decision making, challenging when working with others to devise, rehearse and refine dramas and scripts. They will rarely take opportunities to use theatre arts technology to enhance tension, mood and atmosphere in drama work and find making general judgments and sharing basic opinions on their own and others’ work to be challenging. 

National 5 Drama as one of the main 6 subjects would be challenging but National 4 Drama could be an option.