Our Curriculum: Our Vision

At Valley Gardens Middle School, we are enthusiastic about promoting the performing arts and dedicated to delivering a broad curriculum that caters for all students. Our drama provision enables students to develop key skills that are essential to creating well-rounded, adept individuals. Our aim is to inspire and motivate every learner to become a confident performer and ensure that they are provided with the oracy and communication skills to take into adulthood and the world of work. Our drama curriculum encourages our young people to actively engage with their peers in creating, performing and critically evaluating drama. We hope to hone students’ cultural capital and encourage them to develop a love of the theatre and the performing arts sector. We want our learners to have a diverse range of opportunities beyond the classroom. Our aim is to celebrate the talents of our young people and encourage these talents to flourish, be enjoyed and shared within our school as well as our wider community.

Each class receives one drama lesson per week.  Year 6, 7 and 8 are taught by a subject specialist in the main hall, offering lots of opportunities for performance and allowing our students to build their confidence in oracy. A small team of teachers, led by our Head of Drama, delivers drama lessons to our Year 5 classes and provides them with a range of social skills that will benefit them beyond the classroom.

In addition to curriculum time, pupils are given the opportunity to participate in a KS2 and KS3 drama club with performances throughout the year. They will also be offered the opportunity to work alongside the music department to create showcases and musical performances incorporating drama. 

Key Drama Skills and Assessment

In drama lessons, learners will be expected to develop their skills in three key areas:

• Create – Learners are encouraged to develop drama through improvisation and devise their own performances inspired by a range of stimuli. They will be asked to direct others and lead discussion in the development of drama and use a range of explorative strategies and drama techniques to build an understanding of characterisation and plot. They will also build a cohesive understanding of the dramatic elements needed to aid performance. In addition, students will explore existing scripts and develop their knowledge of playwrights, authors and poets. 
• Perform – Learners will perform independently, in small groups and as an ensemble, inspired by a range of contexts. They will be expected to use voice, facial expression, body language, movement, gesture and spatial awareness to enhance their performances whilst also being focused on engaging an audience and conveying a clear message.  
• Evaluate – Learners are given the opportunity to reflect on the performance of themselves and their peers in order to encourage critical reflection and promote progress in the creation and performance of drama. They will occasionally be given the option to evaluate a live performance and we are keen to offer a range of opportunities for learners to visit theatres and other performance spaces throughout the year.

What benefits are there for your young people?

• Builds Confidence

• Develops Creativity

• Improves Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication Skills

• Develops Empathy

• Improves Concentration

• Encourages Teamwork and Collaboration

• Empowers our young people and builds Leadership Skills

• Improves Social Skills

• Encourages Self-Expression (Promoting Mental Health)

• And, of course, provides Fun and Enjoyment!

To read a more detailed explanation of the benefits of drama click here!

Extra Curricular Opportunities

Drama Curriculum Progression Maps