Drama

Learning Through Our Pathways

Engage

Experiencing drama

Pupils experience drama through multisensory activities that encourage exploration, anticipation, persistence and initiation.

They may take part in immersive play, role play and other dramatic experiences, communicating their involvement and enjoyment through speech, AAC, gesture, signs or symbols.

Discovery

Exploring dramatic ideas

Pupils begin to discover different aspects of drama through focused activities and explicit lessons.

They explore dramatic techniques and begin to use their voice and actions to communicate ideas, knowledge and understanding. Drama also provides opportunities to explore themes from literacy in a different and highly practical way.

Develop

Building dramatic skills

Pupils develop their knowledge and understanding of drama through increasingly focused learning.

They become more confident using appropriate dramatic vocabulary and techniques, contributing to the planning, evaluation and recording of dramatic compositions and applying their learning in different contexts.

Deepen

Performing and creating independently

Pupils deepen their understanding of key dramatic skills and concepts and apply what they have learnt with increasing independence.

They communicate dramatic ideas in different ways, explore a variety of dramatic styles and develop the confidence to perform, reflect upon and evaluate their work.

Communication Through Drama

Finding different ways to express ourselves

Communication is central to Drama at Newman.

Pupils are encouraged to communicate through speech, AAC, gesture, signs, symbols, voice and actions, allowing them to participate in ways appropriate to their individual communication needs.

As their skills develop, pupils encounter and use drama-specific vocabulary to express ideas and demonstrate their understanding.

Drama provides a practical context in which pupils can develop confidence expressing opinions, communicating with others and contributing to shared creative experiences.

Developing Dramatic Skills

Learning through participation

Pupils develop their understanding of drama by actively taking part.

Depending upon their pathway and individual needs, learning can include:

• multisensory and immersive dramatic experiences
• role play and imaginative exploration
• using voice, actions and movement to communicate
• exploring dramatic concepts and techniques
• contributing ideas to dramatic compositions
• developing performance skills
• using appropriate drama vocabulary
• reflecting upon and appraising performances
• exploring different dramatic styles and concepts
• working independently and collaboratively.

Through these experiences, pupils develop their knowledge alongside important communication, creative and interpersonal skills.

Drama & Literacy

Bringing learning to life

Drama has an important connection with literacy at Newman.

For pupils following the Discovery, Develop and Deepen pathways, drama provides opportunities to further explore themes and topics encountered within literacy.

Practical dramatic experiences can help pupils communicate their understanding in different ways, providing an additional route into stories, characters, ideas and situations.

At Dinnington and NAR, pupils follow an adapted form of the English National Curriculum for Speaking and Listening through drama, reinforcing the close relationship between dramatic learning, communication and English.

Communication • Independence • Resilience

Newman’s curriculum drivers are embedded throughout Drama.

Communication develops as pupils express their enjoyment, ideas and understanding using communication methods appropriate to them. Pupils progressively develop their dramatic vocabulary and confidence communicating in different situations.

Independence grows as pupils begin to initiate activities, explore dramatic concepts for themselves and apply previously learnt skills with decreasing levels of support.

Resilience develops through experimenting with ideas, performing and reflecting upon learning. Pupils are encouraged to express opinions, ask questions and use previous experiences to further develop their dramatic skills.

Drama Across Newman

An approach shaped around our pupils

At Whiston, Drama forms an integral part of the wider curriculum. It can be delivered through continuous provision or planned lessons, helping pupils explore subject-specific concepts while supporting the development of communication skills.

At Dinnington, Key Stage 3 pupils and some Key Stage 4 pupils access Drama, generally through weekly lessons during the Summer Term. Learning follows an adapted form of the English Speaking and Listening curriculum.

At NAR, the majority of Key Stage 3 pupils similarly access Drama during the Summer Term. Individual programmes may differ for pupils following a bespoke curriculum.

At Dinnington and NAR, Drama is not studied as a specific subject in Key Stages 4 and 5.

Progression

Building confidence and understanding

Progression in Drama reflects each pupil’s starting point and curriculum pathway.

Pupils may begin with sensory experiences, developing engagement and enjoyment through sound, rhythm, rhyme and exciting dramatic experiences.

As their skills develop, pupils become increasingly confident using drama to communicate ideas and demonstrate understanding.

The curriculum flightpath also connects progression with wider English learning. The subject overview identifies AQA Unit Awards for pupils on the Discovery pathway, AQA Step Up to English within Develop, and progression towards Functional Skills and English Language GCSE within Deepen.