It’s hard to believe that National Poetry Day on October 1st marks the beginning of my second month at ECS. Yet the theme for this year’s Poetry Day of ‘Vision’ seems incredibly apt. Having been appointed just before lockdown, the ensuing months passed in a growing mixture of anticipation and trepidation as I looked towards September 1st when I would be the ‘newbie’ wrestling with new systems and rules, not to mention names and faces, in addition to the increasingly complex Covid-19 guidance. But here I am, one month on, ready to celebrate the creativity and performance skills of our pupils and staff on October 1st. My vision for Drama and English at ECS is beginning to take shape.
‘See It Like A Poet’ is the tagline for this year’s National Poetry Day and we have certainly been encouraging pupils to explore viewpoint and to challenge assumptions and stereotypes in their work this term.
In preparation for Thursday, Years 7 and 8 have been reading a range of poetry. Year 8 have focused on the theme of power while Year 7 have explored imagery and poetic voice. Both year groups have explored poetic and narrative forms in their own creative writing.
In Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 pupils have again been exploring a range of poetry and prose, experimenting with their own writing and presentation of texts.
Covid-19 guidelines have demanded many adaptations to the Drama curriculum, but the Year 6 Creativity and Performance Hub are preparing some exciting work based on improvisation in both music and drama. Year 7 and 8 Enrichment Drama students are working hard to maintain physical distancing while developing their first pieces. I hope that we will be able to film and share both their monologues and the Year 6 projects with you in the coming weeks. Year 5 and 6 Drama Club begins this Friday and I am excited to be welcoming them into Kalendar Hall to begin preparing some performances.
And what of my vision for Drama and English, you may ask. Building on the strengths of the department, drawing on the skills and enthusiasm of a talented team of teachers, my aim is that we stimulate the imaginations of your sons and daughters by offering them an enriching, challenging and diverse experience in all their lessons. Watch out for some exciting news about the updated format for Declamations which will be released after half-term.
I will leave you with the website for the National Poetry Day so that you, too, can ‘see it like a poet’. It would be fantastic to receive photographs or film footage of you enjoying poetry at home: https://nationalpoetryday.co.uk/poems/poems/
