At Gatehouse School, Drama and Performance are an integral part of our curriculum and school culture. From Nursery to Year 6, pupils develop creativity, confidence and communication skills through a wide range of opportunities to rehearse, perform and express themselves.
Drama lessons are closely linked to each year group’s English curriculum, enhancing learning through role play, storytelling and character exploration. While not every session leads to a final performance, lessons are carefully designed to:
Build confidence in public speaking
Strengthen teamwork and active listening
Encourage empathy and imagination
Introduce theatre styles and history
Promote learning through creative play
From the earliest years, Gatehouse pupils rehearse and perform in our purpose-built Wallbank Hall, making use of professional lighting and sound systems. Each class presents at least one whole-school assembly per year, often sharing their learning from PSHE in imaginative ways.
Our performance calendar gives all pupils the chance to shine and build their stagecraft across the year:
Autumn Term
Annual Poetry Competition
Nursery Nativity
Spring Term
Year 4 Poetry Performance Project (featuring limericks, kennings, haikus and more)
ISA Shakespeare Monologue Competition
Year 2 Musical Theatre Production
Summer Term
Gatehouse’s Got Talent!
Year 6 Musical Production
From Year 3 onwards, pupils may opt to take LAMDA Communication and Performance tuition, working towards graded group acting exams. These sessions help pupils develop:
Confidence in spoken word
Interpretation and performance skills
A love of literature and drama
Clear, expressive communication
At Gatehouse, Drama and Performance are more than just shows and scripts. They are a key part of developing articulate, empathetic, and self-assured learners who are ready to express themselves and connect with others.