Drama and Dance is one of the subject teams within the Arts Faculty (the others are Art and Design, Media Studies and Music).

The team currently comprises of a specialist subject leader, a specialist Drama teacher and a specialist Dance teacher.

Teaching and learning in Drama benefits from excellent facilities including a specialist drama studio, a specialist dance studio and a professionally equipped main performance space with seating and full audio visual facilities. The college’s selection as a ‘Pathfinder’ for Building Schools of the Future has also seen the addition of a substantial new performing arts centre on the site.

Drama and Dance are taught as part of the core curriculum throughout Key Stage 3 which allows students to experiment with movement and basic character work. In Year 7, pupils are introduced to basic body actions and how to link these to create movement material. In Year 8, students hone their mime and mask skills and focus on the creation of physical characterisation. They develop their knowledge of dynamics, muscle tension and choreography. In Year 9, students follow a course in devising and approaches to scripted pieces.  They are introduced to professional dance works and perform and choreograph in a variety of genres.

At Key Stage 3, students have one lesson of Drama and one lesson of Dance per fortnight.

At Key Stage 4, Drama is a popular GCSE option. The board follows the AQA syllabus. At Key Stage 5, AS and A2 Theatre Studies (AQA) is a thriving elective for students in Years 12 and 13.

The curriculum has developed over the last academic year and the department now offers GCSE Dance and is currently in the progress of widening the examination offer to include Dance at A-level as well as vocational qualifications and cross curricular courses involving Music and Art and Design.

There is a strong tradition of extra-curricular activities in the subject and the arts in general including at least one full-scale production each year, workshop performances and showcasing exam work as well as a range of after-hours clubs.