Drama
The Drama department strives to offer an imaginative and challenging curriculum and the opportunity to participate at all levels within the school.
St James’ Drama Department strives to enrich and nurture the creative talents of all pupils. By encouraging performance opportunities we aim to furnish pupils with a variety of skills that will prepare them for the challenges that lie ahead. In accordance with the aims and philosophies of the school, we endeavour to play an essential part in providing a broad and balanced art curriculum for all pupils, ensuring that they fulfil their potential as individuals and as members of a group.
Pupils participate in one lesson of Drama per week at Key Stage 3 level. Here, all students study aspects of Drama which constitute creating, making, performing, appreciation and responding. The department helps to contribute to the social and personal education of the pupils by involving them directly in moral and ethical issues, through discussion, improvisation and role-play.
The schemes of work incorporate music, mime, design, dance and scripted work where appropriate. The course offered at St James’ is predominantly practical to engage interest in and enjoyment of all aspects of Drama.
The department also offers pupils the opportunity to study Drama at GCSE. Here students follow the Edexcel syllabus and over the past few years have enjoyed considerable success at this level. Indeed in the last Ofsted inspection the teaching in this subject was deemed “excellent”.
At Key Stage 4 pupils have enjoyed the opportunity to take part in numerous theatre trips. In conjunction with the Music and Art departments we visit various productions in the West End of London. During the course, students have also had the benefit of visiting practitioners, who have led GCSE based workshops.
Drama is also offered as an extra-curricular activity. Musicals and ‘Music and Drama Evenings’ are popular with many of our students, giving them a showcase to display their talents. This is also extended by participation in masses and assemblies.
The Drama department strives to offer an imaginative and challenging curriculum and the opportunity to participate at all levels within the school.