Ackworth School

Drama at Ackworth School allows students the opportunity to develop their performance skills while at the same time encouraging confidence and self-belief.

During the First to Third Years, students explore a range of dramatic styles and techniques to give them a broad insight into the world of Theatre and Dramatic Arts. The students experience the excitement of performing on a purpose-built stage and develop a clear understanding of how to evaluate and enhance their performance work.

In the Fourth and Fifth Forms, students can opt to take a GCSE in Drama, following the Edexcel course. The students are assessed through written and practical coursework, responding to a variety of drama texts. A practical exam concludes the course at the end of the Fifth Year.

We offer Drama and Theatre Arts A level in the Sixth Form and follow the Edexcel course. This is a diverse and exciting specification which allows the students the opportunity to become part of a theatre company and follow the process through to performance as actors and backstage technicians. The students explore two contrasting plays whilst developing their theatrical knowledge and their performance skills. The A2 course focuses on a devising unit where the students have full control of their performance style and content whilst documenting the process. For the written examination, the students study a play from the point of view of the director and partake in an in-depth study of Greek Theatre.

This subject offers students the chance to be involved in extra-curricular productions including a musical, which is produced in close association with the Music Department, and a straight Drama production. Trips to the theatre are a regular occurrence throughout the academic year, giving the students the opportunity to experience the excitement and immediacy of live theatre.