Critical Curriculum Podcast

Created for non-specialist teachers in primary and secondary school

A New Direction's Critical Curriculum Podcast is hosted by Naranee Ruthra-Rajan and Andria Zafirakou. Each episode will uncover different areas and approaches to learning not often taught or neglected and explore what teachers can do to make space for them in their classrooms. 

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Episode 1: How can we support children's wellbeing through drama?

(this podcast is also available to download and listen to on multiple streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Listen Notes and more)

In the first episode of the Critical Curriculum podcast series, our hosts chat to special guests Hannah Joyce and Aileen Gonsalves about drama as a subject and a tool to utilise across the curriculum.

With awareness of the reticence some teachers may have, Hannah and Aileen give insights, strategies and techniques for teachers to takeaway and utilise in their classroom, including ideas for games, warm up exercises and teacher-in-role style activities.

If you’re already an experienced performer in your classroom or dipping your toe into dramatic waters for the first time, this podcast will support you in exploring your uniqueness as a teacher and how utilising drama can support your students in many different ways.

Resources and Mentions

Meet the Hosts

  • Naranee Ruthra-Rajan
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    Naranee Ruthra-Rajan worked in the research team of Creative Partnerships, the national creative learning schools programme from 2002 - 2011 before becoming a primary school teacher in London. She is a Senior Programmes Manager at A New Direction, where she has worked on programmes including Steve McQueen Year 3, We Belong, and Artsmark Support and led the process to create a new organisational Theory of Change. She set up the Teaching for Creativity programme to support teachers in developing their students' creativity through a broad and diverse curriculum.

  • Andria Zafirakou
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    Andria Zafirakou is a Vice Principal of England’s only seven-consecutive time Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ school. Her specialist subjects are arts and textiles and for the last nineteen years has worked in some of the most marginalised communities in London.

    She has been recognised as an education leader through accolades such as being a recipient of the million dollar Global Teacher Prize in 2018, a Culture Leader by the World Economic Forum, a Member of The High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession which was established by the UN Secretary-General in 2023, a Honorary Doctorate from the University of Worcester, and was nominated by the late Queen Elizabeth II for an MBE for her services to education.

    She is the author of the bestselling book “Those who can, Teach” which was published by Bloomsbury in April 2021 and her most recent book “Lessons in Life” was published by Quercus in May 2023.

Meet the Speakers

  • Aileen Gonsalves
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    Aileen Gonsalves has worked as a theatre practitioner for over 25 years. She specialises in authentic connection between actors, directors and the audience. She has developed an innovative new acting approach called The Gonsalves Method with its pioneering 5 conditions for authentic connection.

    She works internationally with teachers and artists doing masterclasses and CPD and the method is being adopted by universities in the UK like Northampton University and the newly formed London drama school Collective which specialises in working with under-represented groups. Twelve years ago, she founded Butterfly Theatre Collective, an immersive theatre company performing Shakespeare productions in caves, forests and places of extraordinary beauty. She has worked with the RSC for over 20 years as a director, actor and educational associate practitioner. More recently, she has co-written Shakespeare and Meisner for Bloomsbury and Arden for teachers and artists and is an associate artist with Kali Theatre which develops South Asian women writers. She is now working with non-artists using the Gonsalves Method including teachers, lawyers, doctors, politicians and anyone who uses communication in their work.

  • Hannah Joyce

    Hannah Joyce is a teacher and creative facilitator based in Lambeth. She has been working in schools for the last 25 years, both as a class teacher and a creative facilitator for major arts companies and programmes such as Steve McQueen Year 3. She has a wealth of experience of using expressive arts in her teaching and feels passionate about drama being an integral part of a child's education. More recently, she has been delivering a drama and emotional literacy programme for the Windmill Cluster in Lambeth.

Special thanks to:

Audio Producer: Mae-Li Evans

Music composed by Fever Woolf Productions

Have a topic in mind you'd like us to explore? You can contact us about the Critical Curriculum podcast by emailing schools@anewdirection.org.uk.

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