Drama Statement of Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent

Drama is a subject area that we celebrate and enjoy across the school. Our intent is to ensure that Drama inspires our children to think creatively, enhance their learning experience, form personal connections between pupils and their peers, create opportunities to try new experiences and gain skills essential for their pathway of progression as they advance through the primary curriculum.

At CC and HT we are committed to developing a curiosity for Drama, as well as an understanding of how Drama promotes language development and how it’s collaborative nature provides opportunities for pupils to develop key skills of communication, negotiation, compromise and self-assertion. Pupils develop confidence when speaking and their vocabulary is extended when they adopt roles and characters. Working creatively together and problem solving in groups, these skills along with flexibility, empathy and risk taking are all brought together in various performances throughout their school life.

Implementation

Drama communicates through the language of theatre, as the pupils develop confidence and skills, they are able to communicate shared understanding and tell stories using dramatic form. This begins in Reception and continues with each year group; Year 5 and 6 get weekly sessions and each other year group gets weekly sessions over one half term per academic year.

Three interrelated activities characterize the delivery of drama at all levels….  MAKING,  PERFORMING, RESPONDING …

MAKING – encompasses the many processes and activities employed when exploring, devising, shaping and interpreting drama.

PERFORMING – covers the skills and knowledge displayed when enacting, presenting and producing theatre as well as the use of theatre technology  (lights etc.)

RESPONDING – incorporates reflecting on both emotional and intellectual reactions to the drama. This reflection deepens as the pupils gain a knowledge and understanding of how drama is created.

Impact

Drama helps the pupils to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others, helps form reassuring relationships and develop respect for others, helps develop social skills, learning how to manage  feelings, helps to understand appropriate behaviour in groups and gives confidence in their own abilities.

Drama promotes and supports the pupil’s emotional security and development of their character enabling them to take risks in a safe and secure environment.

A celebration of Drama learning is shared throughout the academic year…from in class performances, school performances and public performances; styles ranging from immersive theatre, radio plays and devised/scripted work. Each pupil finishes their drama journey in Year six by performing in a Shakespeare play (which has a lasting legacy and future impact on their secondary educational journey)

As a school we appreciate and understand the importance of drama within our curriculum. Research reveals that drama has a positive impact on children’s physical, emotional and social wellbeing as well as cognitive development.

“All the world’s a stage and we are merely players”

                                                           (William Shakespeare)