Drama
Download the full Drama curriculum here as a Word document.
Drama spans the curriculum and offers every child the chance of success. The subject serves as part of a child’s personal and social development. It promotes self-confidence and provides pupils with the opportunity to explore a range of emotions within a safe and structured environment. It can help pupils to consider the reactions and behaviour of others in a variety of circumstances through the exploration of different social situations and events. Moral dilemmas can be explored and the choices that pupils make can be reflected on afterwards, giving pupils more confidence as decision makers and within problem solving activities. Cooperation is developed through paired and group work and pupils are encouraged to rely on one another and appreciate the part that it is necessary to play to be an effective member of a team.
St Winifred’s offers pupils many opportunities to develop their acting and abilities in the performing arts. The Christmas production held at a local church and the play presented during the school’s Speech Day involve all pupils, from Nursery to Form 6. Each year group from Reception also creates and holds one class assembly each term, involving the preparation of a play or presentation around a central theme selected by pupils or staff. A yearly communication exam is held within school for all Upper School pupils. This requires pupils to articulate information clearly to the examiner before a question and answer session. All pupils are awarded a grade and certificate for their exam.
Timetable allocation is provided for focussed drama work. These lessons include time to rehearse for whole school productions and assemblies, as well as other specific activities to learn skills within the performing arts. They also include time to practise communication and language skills.
Assessment
Assessment is based around the speaking and listening section of the National Curriculum. These objectives can be found within appendix one. It is worth noting that, for the sake of clarity, the objectives have been divided into ‘Speaking’, ‘Listening’, ‘Group discussion and interaction’ and ‘Drama’. Assessment in Reception contributes to EYFS profiles, assessing pupils against the thirteen assessment scales derived from the early learning goals.
Activities
Drama lessons consist of working at drama exercises appropriate for the age of the pupil. These may include:
- music and movement
- mime
- improvisation on a given theme / using props
- retelling a stories through speech and action
- investigating non-verbal communication
- investigating body movement and posture
- presenting to an audience about a specific theme
- working from a script
- poetry recitation
- debating around a specific issue or question
- altering facial expression and gesture
- altering the use of tone and pitch of one's voice
- the use of sound effects and lighting
- the use of costumes and props
- making a radio or television programme
- drama games.
- writing and performing play scripts
Cross-curricular links are frequent and drama activities are not restricted to timetabled sessions. There are also opportunities for pupils to attend theatre productions, such as pantomimes, plays and musicals.
