Here we explore the John Roan curriculum principles in the context of the drama curriculum:
- Entitlement: The drama curriculum is designed to develop the confidence to excel and experience a broad range of theatrical styles and play texts. Where possible the curriculum should encompass activity from outside of the classroom and build on pupils’ learning from beyond the classroom which include school productions and Founders Day performances.
- Coherence: The drama curriculum is based around the following key skills, Devising, Script Exploration and Performance. Every year group covers these fundamentals with the skills being built every year with ever increasing complexity of stimuli or scripts.
- Mastery: The curriculum is based on a mastery model, in which the ambition is that all pupils are taught and achieve the essential knowledge and skills in each of the years of the curriculum so that both knowledge and skills can be re-used effectively in future learning to achieve greater depth of drama.
- Adaptability: The curriculum is planned and overseen by the head of drama and are adapted for the local needs of our school community and the individual classes in which teachers deliver this content.
- Representation: The drama curricula in our schools is unlikely to remain static for extended periods of time. It needs to respond to the changing nature of the school and society.
- Education with character: Drama plays a vital role in delivering a values-led education, aiming to:
- Give our pupils ambition: to perform to a high standard, and to support others who also aim for high standards.
- Build confidence: to enable pupils to build their confidence in lesson time to enable them to perform their work for their peers.
- Foster creativity: to be able to take ownership of their own ideas and develop them into interesting performances.
- Instil respect: for each other in rehearsals and during performances.
- Drive enthusiasm: to pursue their drama talents and interests through an engaging curriculum and co-curriculum.
- Encourage determination: to persevere and strive when refining and improving performance.