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Drama

“Drama is an incredibly powerful subject. It allows you to creatively explore and question  what we are all fascinated and driven by: human behaviour.

Drama at Mosslands is about creation. Creation of ideas; of new thinking; of imagination; of performance; and of young men who have a voice and the confidence to express their joys and concerns. “

(Mrs Brett, Subject Lead)

Why Drama? Drama provides each pupil in Year 7 and 8 with core life and communication skills. These skills underpin all the other curriculum subjects:

  • Confidence building
  • Problem solving, planning and critical thinking
  • Team Work skills & effective communication
  • Verbal reasoning and articulation of thought

Drama also develops and supports the emotional well-being of its pupils:

  • Builds self esteem
  • Develops self-discipline
  • Empathy
  • Cultural awareness

And most significantly, the physical learning approach harnesses:

  • Creativity
  • Imagination
  • Self-expression
  • Active learning

In Year 7 and 8, Drama is delivered once a fortnight. Each lesson will allow the pupils to develop their core Drama techniques.  They are encouraged to express themselves and to explore themes, issues and concerns in the world that they find themselves in.

Pupils can further their study of Drama and take Btec Tech Award Level 1 / 2 in Performing Arts (Acting) as an option at the end of Year 8. This practical course enables the pupils to further their drama performance skills and experiment with directing, devising and performing to an audience.

Theatre trips are organised throughout the academic year to support the KS4 exam course. We also have close connections to LIPA who showcase their productions to our exam cohorts throughout the academic year.

Facilities

Drama has a “black box” studio space with lighting rigs and staging blocks that the pupils can use to enhance their performance work.

Some KS3 Drama classes are taught on the main stage in the school hall, providing a great atmospheric space and an appreciation of how a performance space can be utilised.

Extra- Curricular Opportunities

The Drama Department offers exciting extra-curricular activities throughout the year, providing pupils with the opportunity to support and perform at whole school events such as the Carol Service and Arts Evening; or experiences in local theatres.

 

Drama

Year 7

You will begin your exciting, creative and imaginative Drama education with a range of technique workshop lessons. These will provide you with the opportunity to build confidence, establish group work skills and develop your “Drama Skills Toolkit”.  You will be encouraged to perform, create role plays and verbally evaluate the performance work of others. You will explore and develop work from a range of stimulus material: paintings, photographs, historical events, objects and real life stories!

You will then develop your drama skills toolkit to support your exploration of a range of issues and themes. All the schemes will enable you to further your performance skills, engage your imagination and make you question and explore the world around you.

You will be assessed each half term on specific skill development and your contribution to each workshop lesson.  

Year 8

Drama will continue to challenge you to look at the world around you in a different way and to focus and explore how humans behave in different situations.

Your “Drama Tool Kit” from Year 7 will be built upon; furthering your use of a range of techniques; still image, conscience alley, thoughts aloud, physical theatre and narration. You will begin to use the techniques independently to aid your exploration of the unit content and to reflect your level of understanding; experiencing different performance styles and exploring relevant social issues and concerns. 

You will continue to evaluate the work of other groups using success criteria. You will be given regular feedback from both your teacher and your peers to allow you to progress your skills.  

You will be given the opportunity to use the lighting desk in the Drama Studio, and to add music to your work to enhance meaning. You are encouraged to work collaboratively when using these additional elements. 

Your ability to critically evaluate your own and others’ performance work will continue; using a more refined success criteria to support your tracking of performance skills.