At Mercia Learning Trust, we know the transformative power of drama in education. It’s why we launched our Primary Partnership Programme with Sheffield Theatres, ensuring every child in our primary schools has access to high-quality drama experiences.

In secondary schools, drama is a timetabled subject, but in primary schools, it’s often limited by curriculum pressures or a lack of specialist expertise. This partnership is changing that.

What the programme includes

• Teacher CPD, giving primary teachers the skills to embed drama into their lessons
• Artists and directors in residence, working directly with children
• Theatre visits, including free transport and tickets for some schools
• Drama-led curriculum days and careers assemblies
• Opportunities to perform in professional spaces

A Standout Moment: MerciaEdCon 2025 Performance

One of the highlights of the year so far was at our MerciaEdCon 2025 staff conference, where children from across our trust took to the stage for a performance about love. Created and directed by Sam from Sheffield Theatres, the bespoke piece ended with a moving rendition of All You Need Is Love, bringing the whole audience together.

As one of our young performers put it:

I thought, ‘I can do this!’, and it turned out much better than I thought. I’m really really really glad I was chosen. I loved it. It was so fun to perform.

What’s Next?

The partnership continues to grow, with upcoming careers assemblies, curriculum days, and a Festival of Drama at the Playhouse Theatre. We are already exploring ways to sustain and expand this work into the next academic year.

A huge thank you to Sheffield Theatres, our incredible teachers, and our funder—Blenheim Park Developments-who made this project possible.