Lifting Drama grades for GCSE

[NewApproachesInMime]

Are there any secondary school Drama teachers who can give me some hints at how to talk to DC about their drama grades?

DC absolutely loves Drama, like really loves it. They've attended Drama extra-curricular clubs and classes since primary school and it has given them so much over the years: they've gained confidence, a good work ethic, discipline, self-awareness and social skills. It's been a blessing for DC who is just a regular kid and not a 'big personality' to experience taking up a bit of space.

They've auditioned for, and been awarded, big parts in school productions for the third year running (cast and directed by DC's Drama teachers), requiring a multidisciplinary skills set; acting, singing, dancing and elements of physical theatre. At parents' evenings, the teacher (we only ever see one of the two teachers) sang DC's praises and said DC was "a rare all-rounder", who "set a gold standard for commitment and application" and has "a compelling stage presence". Our most recent meeting overran as the teacher had so many positive points to make. No negative feedback or "DC should work on x, y or z."

The only times I hear DC complain about Drama lessons is during collaborative groupwork, when it seems they're often grouped with classmates who don't enjoy the subject, tend to be disruptive, and DC feels like it's up to them to try to pull the project together as DC is focused and follows instructions. DC has felt deflated when overall group marks have been poor as a result of low engagement despite DC's efforts to enthuse and motivate their class mates. At other times, when working with similarly invested peers, they have received positive feedback and good group grades.

During the Christmas holidays, I received DC's mid-year report and my heart sank to see DC's Drama grade at 'below expected'. The school also grades attitudes to learning in each subject, and DC had been awarded the highest grade. The one-line feedback simply states that DC "should explore new approaches in mime". I can't make it fit and am wondering how to talk to DC about it as they're hoping to take GCSE Drama, thinking it is one of their stronger subjects and balances out the rest of their choices. I hate to bother the teachers for more insight, as they've already been so explicit in their positive feedback, but I feel stumped as to how we can lift DC's grades in order to make GCSE Drama a worthwhile choice.

If you teach Drama, what would you advise a pupil like DC? Apart from exploring new approaches in mime, obviously

Not a drama teacher.
What year group?
'Below expected' rather depends on what is expected. Is it individualised or 'for year group'? If individualised is it based on y6 SATs or something else?

Best thing would be for your DC to ask their teacher.

It's worth remembering that most children doing GCSE Drama actively want to study it. Many children in KS3 see Drama as a non-subject - and even tolerably sensible hardworking kids don't see it as a working lesson. So inevitably there's lots of messing. The situation will resolve when it's an exam subject.

In the meantime, just let the drama teachers know how much your DC wants to study the subject.

Thank you both.

@TeenToTwenties Year 9, so it's imminent. I assume 'expected' is based on year group.

@Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies DC's teachers know DC loves their subject, is signed up for every performing arts extra-curricular group going and helps in the department. I don't think it's a personality clash; there appeared to be genuine warmth when we met the teacher at parents evening. DC also loves English (but is dyslexic), so really gets into interpretive tasks and scripting, spending ages on Drama homework.

Ah you didn't say there was written homework. Perhaps they are missing the 'point' a bit with it?

My DD struggled to appreciate that with EngLit you talk about the words whereas with Drama you talk about everything except the words (staging, costume, delivery, lighting etc).

What's his written work like? The best on stage in our year came away with a C at GCSE - he was a great actor but a significant chunk of the grade came from written analysis which he struggled with.

I'm sure it's changed now, but when I sat it only around a quarter of the grade came from acting (which is how I managed an A* despite being pretty average at acting!)

Good point. I'll look into that. To date, the homework has been quite straightforward like 'rewrite the scene with an alternative ending', 'write a scene from X character's pov', 'design a set for Y scene in Z play' etc.

Right, this might be where the snag is. I might not be the best judge of the written homework -to me it looks creative and as if DC is really trying to work new and interesting angles, but I'm not expert.

As with all things at GCSE the key us hitting the mark schemes.

So for design a set there will possibly be key things to include (backdrop, lighting, levels or whatever) and then also to explain why those choices have been made, and the impact/effect it will have on the audience.
(Sense of location, telling the story, dramatic effect, incontinence leading to confusion or whatever).

Expected grades in secondary are not age related expectations like they are in primary but are set from ks2 sats.
this can lead to kids who did well in the sats getting very high targets for subjects like PE or drama that they are not necessarily as good at and makes it almost impossible for them to reach the targets.

it’s a common problem with kids who did well in the sats. Could this be the issue?

drama gcse is about 50:50 practical and written analysis. If they are below target it’s probably the written analysis.

Really useful feedback. Yes, DC got Greater Depth for SpaG, Reading and Maths, but Expected at Writing. There's a similar pattern in PE; DC is really sporty and is on two of the school sports teams (athletics and a team sport), doing really well, but is also graded 'below expected' in PE but with the highest grade for 'attitude'. DC isn't too worried about the PE grade though, because it's obvious to them that they're really good at it, but as the picture looks ambiguous in Drama, it's good to know it's based on SATs.