Drama

Children in Years 1 and 2 continue to experience role-play in their daily lessons, but also practise speaking and performing to an audience, initially through the Shell – Year 2 Wednesday morning assembly.  Participation is the key and the Nativity play for parents at Christmas involves all children, with the majority acting, speaking and dancing.

In Years 3 and 4, the children have their own production, which is performed in a theatre.  It is always wonderful to watch their faces when they first stand on the stage and experience the workings of a typical theatre.    In addition, small plays are performed to parents in whole-school assemblies, generally based around a class project.  Past assemblies have seen Year 4 dressed in traditional Indian costume and Year 3 in Roman togas.    We hope to produce children who are confident performers by Year 4.  We had a child who ‘dried up’ completely in her Year 1 class assembly, but gave an outstanding performance as Emmeline Pankhurst in Year 4.

Junior School Pupils in "The Lemonade Kid"

 

Music

The joy of music at this level is in participating: playing instruments, singing, performing and, above all, having fun!

In Years 1 and 2, through action songs, children are taught to listen and copy rhythms and melodies.  Untuned percussion is introduced to make simple accompaniments, with all the children wanting to play the drums!  Movement to music is taught, although it is not always synchronised, and this forms a large part of the annual Nativity play for parents.  Some children are already confident enough to perform as soloists, whilst others prefer to be part of a group.  Further opportunities are given to perform for an audience and, again, all children take part in the Mothers' Day/Spring assembly in March.  From Year 2, the delightful sound of children learning recorders can be heard around the school!  This is an excellent prelude to learning an orchestral instrument.