New to Teaching Pearson Edexcel GCSE Drama

ABOUT THIS COURSE

This new course offers an introduction and overview of Pearson Edexcel GCSE Drama, providing essential skills and tips to effectively deliver the specification, ensuring maximum student engagement and achievement. It is ideal for teachers new to teaching Drama, in their first few years of teaching, or those seeking to build confidence in teaching the course. While the focus of the day will be on the Pearson Edexcel specification, many ideas will be applicable across all Drama lessons.

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BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

• Equip teachers with the material and confidence to deliver GCSE Drama effectively to all ability ranges.
• Gain an exceptional understanding of the key challenges in GCSE Drama and strategies to overcome them.
• Learn how to take a Level 4 student and help them achieve a Level 9.
• Gain insight into the content of the course, exam structure, and marking criteria.
• Leave with ready-to-use resources for lessons and assessment preparation.
• Understand how to scaffold lower-ability students and stretch higher-ability learners.

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PROGRAMME

10.00am Overview of the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Drama Course

• Explanation of the content of the specification, identifying key pressure points and how to address them.
• Two approaches to structuring your course based on student ability. When to introduce devising drama and when to introduce the set text?
• Building a positive group dynamic using ensemble work and physical theatre in Term 1.
• Planning your set text for the students you have, selecting effective devised stimuli, and preparing scripted pieces.
• Motivating lower-ability students to achieve beyond expectations.

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10.40am Break

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11.00am Component 1: The Complexities and Challenges

• Exploring stimuli that inspire high-quality devised performances.
• Strategies for giving feedback without directing and creating devising exercises that foster innovation.
• Teaching students to create detailed working diaries, capturing key moments in the devising process.
• Using the assessment criteria and key vocabulary to ensure top marks in the devising log.
• Best practices for completing the statement of dramatic intentions before performance.

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12.00pm Component 2: Performing from a Text

• Selecting texts that allow students to demonstrate a range of skills and emotions.
• Teaching Stanislavski-based techniques, such as ‘Actioning’, and incorporating the ideas of practitioners like Katie Mitchell.
• Overcoming common rehearsal challenges, including issues with attendance, engagement, and time constraints.
• Preparing students for performance assessments using Pearson Edexcel marking criteria and feedback strategies.

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1.00pm Lunch

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2.00pm How to Teach Component 3 Effectively

• Teaching Section A: Understanding Drama – engaging students with set texts and how to apply theoretical knowledge.
• Approaching Section B: Live Theatre Evaluation – guiding students to write insightful, evaluative responses.
• Using online resources and recorded performances to supplement live theatre experiences.
• Structuring answers to longer questions to maximise marks, including sentence starters and key terminology.

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3.00pm Achieving Unbelievable Results

• What it takes to move a student from Level 4 to Level 9.
• Overcoming barriers, including apathy and lack of confidence in written work.
• Structuring the written exam for clarity and depth, ensuring students gain the highest marks.
• Analysing exemplar responses to understand how to meet top band criteria.

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3.30pm Depart