Drama 'immense' help for pupils' confidence

Pupils with a severe lack of confidence and the inability to speak five years ago have made "immense" improvement after taking part in drama, a teacher said.

Students from Greenfields School, in Kettering, and Northgate School, in Northampton, perform modern-day interpretations of Shakespeare with Coram Shakespeare Schools Theatre Festival (CSSF).

CSSF encouraged children to use the arts to develop social and emotional skills, and broaden their curriculum.

Robert Valentine, drama teacher at Northgate School, which caters for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Send) said: "Drama is so important for their self esteem, their confidence and being able to hold a conversation."

He added that social and communication skills, taught through drama, were vital for their future when they left school.

Some of Mr Valentine's pupils have been there from Year 7 to Year 11.

"The change I have seen in them over the past five years has been immense and really rewarding," he told the BBC.

"Some didn't want to take part in drama, some wouldn't even speak and had very minimal communication and severe lack of confidence.

"It is lovely to see their faces light up on the stage and [see] their confidence."

For 25 years, CSSF has invited a range of schools and pupils - from primary to secondary - to take part in abridged Shakespearean performances.

More than 350,000 young people have taken part in the festival, including pupils with special educational needs and pupils in Pupil Referral Units.

Lauren Brewer, programmes coordinator at the CSSF, said this year, it was prioritising reimagining and reinterpreting Shakespeare to interest new audiences.

"What is so amazing about this project is that it has such a wide reach," she said.

"We work with people who are really enthusiastic about performing arts, but also young people that have never ever performed on stage before."

Tony Hughes, a teacher from Greenfields School said: "You can see the children grow, particularly in confidence.

"They change in a matter of weeks and months."

The school has been part of CSSF for the past eight years and had their most recent performance at The Deco Theatre in Northampton in March.

The students began rehearsing for the performance six months ago, and have shown commitment throughout, according to their teacher.

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