At MGS, the Drama department (part of the Performing Arts faculty with Music), aims for students to feel they are in a safe, secure, inspiring space, where they can be both bold and brave.

All students are welcome in the department and all are invited to explore their talents and the opportunities made available to them.

We hope that in the future, many will look back and comment that some of their earliest endeavours in the worlds of Drama and Music were in the knowledgeable, supportive and friendly environment provided by us.

Curriculum

The curriculum at Key Stage 3 introduces our younger students to a range of different drama topics. These range from Greek Theatre to Stage Combat. Our lessons are designed to help develop life skills such as public speaking which benefit all our students, but also to give a taste of the GCSE Drama curriculum which helps them make an informed choice when they decide their options.

Key Stage 4 includes three components which include practical and theoretical elements. Drama is an academically rigorous subject, with an emphasis on high standards in both performance and in the accompanying written work.

The document linked below outlines how we have sequenced knowledge and skills in each academic year:

Enrichment

  • Bi-annual Showcases that exhibit the breadth and range of talent within our MGS Community.
  • Two productions per year – both plays and musicals.
  • Opportunities to perform at school events and bespoke year group evenings.
  • Drama Club to develop small sketches and perform extracts to a class, the school or wider audience.
  • Opportunities to learn about and explore design elements in lessons and as part of the school’s ‘Sound and Light’ team.

Click here to read our MGS Extra Prospectus and find out what clubs are on offer.

Click here to access the KS3 and KS4 Drama Super Curriculum.

Careers

Students do study Drama at university or a specific Drama school such as University of Creative Arts or RADA. We support them with their applications, including the choice and preparation of audition pieces. Drama is extremely versatile. It is useful for a wide range of careers as it develops presentation and public speaking skills, builds confidence, leadership skills, develops empathy and the ability to debate, discuss and collaborate.

Career ideas: acting, broadcast presenter, community arts work, dramatherapy, journalism, runner, film/theatre director, stage/TV management, arts administration, choreography, media research, music producer, special effects technician, talent agent, education, recruitment, marketing and many more.

Click here to find out more about careers in Drama.

Key Stage 3

Over a fortnightly timetable, KS3 students receive:

  • 2 hours of guided learning.
  • 1 hour of homework.

Key Stage 4

Qualification: GCSE Drama
Exam board: EDEXCEL (until Summer 2024) Eduqas/ WJEC (from September 2024)

Over a fortnightly timetable, GCSE students receive:

  • 4 hours of guided learning.
  • 2 hours of homework.

Click here to find out more about this GCSE course.