The National Curriculum

As I write my plays the message that it imparts is of paramount importance to me. I am, however, totally aware of what teachers are trying to accomplish and I thought it would be useful to point out those curriculum targets which we also attempt to achieve in our plays. We are conscious that many teachers have developed our themes and used them as extensive class projects and in the months to come I might have an opportunity to publish a lesson web that may be useful to all teachers.

This list is far from being exhaustive but it has been taken from advisory documents throughout the United Kingdom.

The targets mentioned are not in any order of importance but they may demonstrate that we will continually remain focused on the needs of children and teachers.

1. To give the children an opportunity of seeing the spoken language in a different form.
2. To provide children the occasion of being part of an interactive audience.
3. To demonstrate to children another form of thought and expression.
4. To set a situation that children can become involved in.
5. To show examples of role play and allow a development in follow up for structured play.
6. To develop in children the ability to concentrate and in particular their listening skills.
7. To develop a sense of belonging and responsibility.
8. To develop a sense of wider community and community responsibilities.
9. To develop the awareness that varying forms of expression can promote meaning.
10. To make children conscious of the fact that as individiuals their opinions are important.
11. To show that opinions should be based on evidence and experience.
12. To promote discussion and questioning skills.
13. To promote the philosophy that diversity of culture is enlightenment and not conflict.
14. To develop a sense of mutual understanding and appreciation.
15. To focus children to observe their environment and the need to preserve it for future generations.


I am sure that there are other aims achieved through our plays and our actors would only be too willing to lead the question and answer sessions in a direction which would be of most benefit to the school.

Debbie Gornall

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