2024-2025 Highlights: Junior School Drama

2024–2025 has been a vibrant and imaginative year for Drama in the Junior School. Pupils from Reception to Year 6 have developed performance skills, confidence and creativity through engaging lessons, group activities and three major stage productions.

Reception pupils delighted audiences with their festive production of The Jolly Christmas Postman. This charming adaptation of the popular storybook involved every child taking part in a retelling filled with familiar fairy tale characters, festive songs and simple dialogue. The inclusion of dancing added an extra layer of joy and merriment to the production, making it a memorable experience for all.

In the Summer Term, Year 2 pupils performed a magical version of The Wizard of Oz, bringing Dorothy’s journey to life with energy and enthusiasm. With colourful costumes, catchy songs and strong teamwork on stage, pupils told the story with confidence and clarity. This performance showcased their creativity, ensemble work and growing stage presence — creating special moments for their audience to cherish.

Year 6 pupils dazzled on stage in their Spring Term production of Mary Poppins Junior. They gave a polished and professional performance, featuring strong lead roles, confident ensemble numbers and complex choreography. The production also gave pupils the chance to demonstrate leadership and teamwork behind the scenes, taking on roles involving props, costume, hair and make-up, as well as set changes. It was a captivating showcase of talent and collaboration — and a true celebration of their creativity and progress throughout their time at the school.

Lessons provide an inclusive environment for all pupils, with a focus on developing key drama skills, performance etiquette, and the ability to articulate themselves with confidence, value others’ opinions and work harmoniously in groups. Pupils across all year groups build drama skills appropriate to their age and stage. In Reception and Key Stage 1, learning through imaginative play and storytelling helps to build early drama and communication skills. Cross-curricular links with English, Music, PSHE and History make learning more meaningful and engaging. In Key Stage 2, peer performance opportunities allow pupils to learn and deliver scripted dialogue. Schemes of work based on Royal Opera House productions such as The Nutcracker and Alice in Wonderland have enabled pupils to explore dance, singing and musical theatre techniques.

Beyond the classroom, our Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Drama Clubs offer pupils further opportunities to develop their improvisation and performance skills through vocal warm-ups, immersive storytelling, script work and devised pieces with costume and props. Assembly showcases, introduced this year, have given pupils the chance to present their work in front of a supportive audience.

From taking part in Michael Rosen poetry recitals, to learning about the origins of silent film and the conventions of slapstick, to creating their own movie trailers using iMovie and delving into the Shakespearean world of A Midsummer Night’s Dream — the Drama curriculum at Channing gives pupils the freedom to express themselves creatively and fosters a collaborative spirit in a safe and supportive environment.

Well done to all of the pupils at Channing for their hard work, dedication and enthusiasm in Drama this year!