Opinion with Josie Clark

In the infancy of my teaching career as a drama teacher, I distinctly remember believing that the visiting examiners who graded my students were elusive figures, shrouded in theatrical mystic, largely detached from the daily realities of drama teaching. This naive perception could not be further from the truth as I was to discover when becoming a GCSE Drama examiner, with a particular focus on the practical elements of the qualification. I was originally attracted towards the role of an examiner when I was searching for new ventures that allowed me to stay firmly rooted within my head of drama responsibilities but continue evolving as a practitioner. Becoming a drama examiner has provided me with unbridled insight into a breadth of texts, genres and styles of theatre. It is one of the most impactful ways a drama teacher can increase their knowledge of a canon of plays and learn about the endless possibilities when interpreting dramatic material.