The GCSE course assesses students’ ability and understanding of the ways in which:

 

 

use

 

to communicate

 

 

to an audience.

 

Students are expected to work on developing a range of skills as performers through making,  performing and responding to pieces of drama.

 

They are assessed on their practical work.

 

60% of the assessment is practical coursework, that takes place in lesson time and is assessed by the teacher. The students are given an original idea by the teacher (usually this is a script or part of a script from a longer play). They are assessed on the way they respond to the idea, and develop it into a piece of drama which they perform. They then evaluate the quality of their work and the contributions of other students. The practical work is supported by a folder of written coursework that is done in lesson time and for homework. The assessment takes place from September to March of Year 11, and students do a practice piece of coursework in Year 10.

 

40% of the GCSE is a performance at the end of Year 11, that is assessed by an edxaminer from the Edexcel exam board.

 

The whole of Year 10 is spent preparing for assessment in Year 11. The main method of assessment is formative: that is assessment that is aimed at helping students to improve and develop their skills and understanding. We always end every lesson by asking the following questions:

Twice a year students are given a grade which shows how well they are progressing towards GCSE, firstly in the annual report (in January/February) and then again at the end of the year after the exams.