Drama at Willington allows the children to express themselves in a creative and collaborative way, through movement and interaction with others. The subject promotes imagination and multi-sensory learning and develops essential life-long skills such as creativity, enquiry, communication, empathy, self confidence, cooperation, leadership and negotiation. Above all, we aim to make Drama fun and an enjoyable, memorable learning experience for our pupils.

In the Pre-Prep department, Drama is integrated into the curriculum, with opportunities for exploring stories, role-play, and developing speaking and listening during circle time activities. All Pre-Prep children perform in Nativity style productions at the end of the Autumn term. In Years 3 and 4, Drama is used as a cross-curricular tool, as well as a vehicle for developing the pupils’ public speaking skills and poetry performance.

In Year 5 and 6, the pupils have a standalone Drama lesson per week. These lessons provide the children with opportunities to express their thoughts, opinions and emotions in a supportive environment, as well as providing meaningful cross-curricular links to other subjects such as English, History and PSHE. Previous cross-curricular topics have included Remembrance Day, the Anglo-Saxons, The Rainforest and Bullying. We also aim to develop the pupils’ speaking and listening skills by exploring key dramatic techniques such as voice and projection, gesture, mime and script work.

The Year 4 Production offers pupils an exciting introduction to a more formal style of performance. It provides valuable experience in stagecraft, teamwork, and presentation, helping to build confidence and prepare them for the larger-scale Year 6 Leavers’ Production. Previous Year 4 performances have included shows such as Wind in the Willows and Pantastic. The Year 6 Leavers’ Production is a highlight of the school year and a joyful celebration of our oldest pupils’ time at Willington. It offers them a final opportunity to showcase their talents, both on and off the stage, and to take pride in all they have achieved during their Willington journey. Previous productions have included The Tempest, The Greatest Show and I’m An 11-Year Old, Get Me Out of Here!

We offer various extra-curricular clubs such as LAMDA for Years 1-6, Podcasting for KS2, using our new school radio recording equipment, and for our younger pupils, Drama and Movement. In addition, we offer one-to-one peripatetic LAMDA sessions. We also run a Drama scholarship programme, for those pupils wishing to apply for 11+ Drama scholarships.