Drama

Our aim at Merrow Schools Federation is to provide opportunities for all pupils to take part in drama. While drama is not identified as a separate subject in the National Curriculum, it is included in the programme of study for English.

Developing skills

We believe that drama is an incredible tool for pupils to develop their skills in communication, confidence, self-awareness, working with others, empathy, and creativity. We use drama across different subjects to bring ideas to life. Throughout the school, pupils have opportunities to become more familiar and confident in using language in a great variety of different situations and for a range of audiences and purposes. This includes drama, formal presentations, and debate. By participating, all pupils gain knowledge, skills, and understanding in the artistic practice of drama. 

Drama across the curriculum

In English and across the curriculum, pupils are able to adopt, create, and sustain a range of roles, responding appropriately to others in role. In English lessons, they have the opportunity to read, rehearse, and perform poems and plays. This develops the skills of varying intonation, volume, and actions and helps to bring meaning and understanding to a text. Pupils have the opportunity to improvise, devise, and script drama for each other and a range of other audiences.

Performance opportunities

All children take part in class assemblies and are involved in Harvest Festivals. In Year 6, all pupils are involved in a leavers’ production, in which they rehearse, refine, share, and respond thoughtfully to drama. Children are able to respond to theatre performances, either through watching recorded performances, watching visiting theatre companies, or attending live performances at local theatres. We have a thriving drama club, which gives children further chances to perform in a Christmas production and spring showcase.

On leaving Merrow Schools Federation, a successful learner of this subject will:

• be able to speak fluently and with confidence;
• become more proficient in varying the intonation and volume of their voice;
• use role-play, improvisation and performance to develop understanding of stories, situations and characters;
• take part in class assemblies and other performance-based opportunities while gaining, maintaining and monitoring the interest of the audience;
• appreciate the role of dramatic arts in our literary heritage; and
• participate in and gain knowledge of drama.