DRAMA
SCQF LEVEL 5 - NATIONAL 5
Throughout the course you will have the opportunity to create and perform your own drama and play texts to a range of audiences, as well experiencing live performances. With a wide range of roles to choose from and an emphasis on collaborative teamwork, National 5 Drama will not only benefit those interested in a career in the performing and creative industries but develop both intra and interpersonal skills in all young people, allowing them to become well rounded individuals and prepare them for the world of work.
_edited.jpg)
QUALIFICATION
National 5 Drama
DURATION
1 Year full time/
5 periods per week
COURSEWORK
None
EXAM
Question Paper – 1hr 30mins Practical Performance
COST
Excursions to the Theatre
TEACHERS
Mr Paterson
WHY TAKE THIS COURSE?
This course makes a valuable contribution to your general education and personal development by providing you with a broad range of skills which incorporates practical experience of understanding, creating and performing drama. It also allows you to develop and extend your interest in theatre and acquire more specialist skills in areas of interest to you such as acting, lighting, sound, set, costume or make up and to choose which role you will be assessed in.
Skill Development Scotland state:
Around 100,000 people are employed in the creative and digital industry in Scotland.
Drama prepares you for this world by combining creative learning with the practical demands of theatre production, giving you the responsibility of creative decision making as part of a team. You can set your own goals and measure your own achievement against clear standards. Whether your strengths lie towards acting, technical design or artistic design, if you enjoy taking on a role as part of a team this is the course for you.
What are the benefits of taking drama in and beyond the classroom, including academic progress?
What opportunities and benefits are there in the creative industries?
What is happening now and in the near future in the areas such as film, tv and performance in Scotland
wHAT WILL YOU EXPERIENCE?
Drama courses incorporate active learning to engage pupils through activities such as creating, presenting, and understanding drama. Core teamwork tasks in addition to independent work suit all styles of learning and prepare students for the world of work.
This style of active learning is also very popular with students and most enjoy, and look forward to, going to their classes.
Taking drama will give pupils the opportunity to explore all areas of theatre production including acting, technical and design roles as well as theatre visits to expand their experience of live performance
The course assessment consists of:
A practical production of a play text performed to an audience for which each candidate choses their role, whether acting or production and carries out all requirements under examination of their role. This includes a short, written preparation for performance in which the candidate outlines the process by which prepared for this production. This is marked jointly by the centre and visiting SQA assessor.
A question paper testing in Section 1 their evaluation of their own role and that of others in a performance and, in Section 2, the understanding of the drama process by a creative response sat under exam conditions in May and marked by SQA.
KEY FACTS
Everything you need to know before selecting this course
entry requirements
Studying Drama in S3 would be beneficial however many candidates would be capable of achieving National 5 Drama without achieving National 4 - please speak to the Principal Teacher of Performing Arts if this is the case. Having completed the National 4 Drama or a course in a related field such as Music, Music Technology, Art and Design would be beneficial.
what will you get?
National 5 in Drama.
The course is graded
A: Band 1, Band 2
B: Band 3, Band 4
C: Band 5, Band 6
D: Band 7
progress
Everything you need to know about future pathways from this course
EMPLOYMENT
my world of work
Some typical careers that you might immediately think of include actor, dancer, presenter, director or a theatre technician in sound or lighting as well as stage manager and in film and television production, an area that is expanding in Scotland. Make -up artists, costume and production designers in theatre, film and T.V. but there are a whole range of jobs in the creative industries at entry level such assistants in wardrobe, production, direction, camera and sound as well as sound engineer, rigger, playworkers and stagehand.
There are a whole range of careers in related fields such as drama therapist, psychotherapist, drama teacher, events management, journalist, advertising copyrighter, writer, HR manger and especially lawyer.
However, most careers that involve working with others even if not directly linked to performing arts benefit from a grounding in drama allowing young people to become more rounded individuals, strong assets to a team with strengths in dealing with people and being creative problem solvers.
Primary teacher, doctor, nurse, dentist, orthodontist, beautician, sales, vet, nursery nurse, receptionist, restaurant manager, IT Analyst, librarian, local government project officer, project manager, trainer, finance, management positions and college/university lecturer are only some examples.
Skills developed through Drama:
Problem Solving: working independently, resilience, time management, positive work ethic, creative ideas in response to stimuli, structure and staging solutions, conducting focused research and using technology creatively.
Leadership: continual opportunities for taking leadership in teams and projects, building confidence in presentation, directing others, organisational skills. All drama courses require you to complete coursework which demands you take responsibility for your own learning and have a proactive, motivated attitude towards your studies.
Teamwork: creating and performing in a group, planning with others, understanding roles and relationships, goal setting and negotiation.
Communication: performing in a group, presenting to an audience, creating mood and atmosphere, interaction with others, using clear and concise and technical language to effectively express your thoughts and ideas when analysing theatre and in planning and reviewing your drama.
Other: design and graphic skills, spatial awareness, vocal, movement and memory skills.
This link will take you to an excellent resource on MyWOW which looks at potential career routes when you select a combination of subjects.
STUDENT STORIES
Information from pupils who have studied this course as to how they feel it was.
Erin - S4
At Nat 5 we did a group play called ‘Bernarda Alba’ which was really good fun as when the class began none of us really knew each other but as we started acting together we all became good friends and got on well together. The exam was actually good fun, which may sound crazy! But it really let you be creative as a section of the exam you had to make your own drama, which I found really fun. What I found surprising was how precise you had be in your explanations as either a director, actor, designer etc. I would recommend this course as it is good fun and it is also a good way to make friends with other people who aren’t in your year as there was a mixture of years in my class from S4 to S6.
