Powering through: advocating for our subject
Jo lee
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
It is no secret that a National Plan for Drama Education would be monumental in developing further respect for our subject in the school ecosystem. However, until one emerges from government, Jo Lee asks what we can do as teachers to have a similar impact
Adobe Stock/ Ontsnan
At the recent Music & Drama Expo 2024, co-chair of the Drama and Theatre Education Alliance (DTEA) Steve Ball, listed 6Cs as barriers for accessing the arts: Cost, Communication, Curriculum, Capacity, Coaches and Careers. This is a largely bleak but accurate portrayal of the current situation.
When discussing curriculum, Steve highlighted the lack of a drama National Curriculum. National Drama has published a ‘vision for a future curriculum’ and the University of Bedfordshire have been hosting meetings with drama specialists to create Primary and KS3 Drama curriculum documents. There is a great need to see drama being advocated for at governmental level, but at best it is still a work in progress. So, what can be done while we are waiting? I offer my own collection of Cs:
Cross-curricular opportunities
Drama is the perfect tool to enhance any subject, especially in traditionally difficult student engagement areas. Using drama as a cross curricular tool for the non-Drama specialist was my MEd research and the results were remarkable.
I've seen:
- Year 2 children learn to tell the time when booking appointments in role
- Year 5 scientists writing in role as a water particle moving from one state to another
- Year 8 Spanish students actively learning vocabulary about clothes and hobbies
- GCSE History students using Hot Seating to gain knowledge and understanding of various characters in the French Revolution
- A Level Psychology students using Conscience Alley to explore the differing views within a case study
The list goes on. One of the greatest joys of drama is the endless opportunities that are available for curriculum links. If you are a drama teacher wanting to raise the status of your subject, or a teacher wanting to further engage your students … connect with each other!
Collaborations
Staff cooperation and early timetable planning are the key to success. Look at what the priorities are within your school and see where collaborative opportunities are available.
Drama can offer a flexibility that other subjects cannot. We can lead the way, being able to enhance key issues that the school is promoting (such as wellbeing or sustainability, and so on) while providing a platform for drama to shine and building transferable skills for students. These can quickly turn into celebrations.
Celebrations
The ‘Seize The Day’ campaign will celebrate and advocate for the work of drama throughout the country. I will be lucky enough to support 11 primary schools in Hampshire coming together to share their knowledge and understanding of various local habitats, in a collaboration between The Grange Festival Learning and the University of Winchester. Workshops have been run in various primary schools around the county. These schools will come together in celebration of creative opportunities, community and collaboration. Find more about this on page 20.
I often ask ‘who advocates for drama?’. Allow the people who celebrate drama to be heard. From the proud grandparents watching a show, to former pupils returning to confidently share the skills they homed in school-based drama as they embarked upon further education or early career stages. Their voices celebrate and advocate for Drama within your school.
Community
We felt the strength of the drama community when we came together at the Music and Drama Education Expo (MDEE) 2024. There was a buzz of excitement and hope during the Expo. The International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) speaks about ‘finding your tribe’ and that's exactly what we need to do.
Find your drama allies. There is an incredibly supportive online drama community; organisations like Drama Matters seeks to ensure that there's no such thing as a ‘one person department’ because we support each other. Posts on various Facebook forums are a wealth of information and support. National Drama and DTEA continue to fly the flag for drama, advocating for the subject at the highest levels. There is a strong community, you just need to access it.
Curriculum delivery
There may not (yet) be an official curriculum but that doesn't mean that there aren't numerous curriculums that have been developed and honed over many years. Colleagues within the community are ready to share and support one another; there is a wealth of experience out there.
Continuity and progression
Trace the transferable skills. I've won over many cynical parents by emphasising the skills that drama will provide for future study and employability. Recognise the opportunity for personal gains as well as the professional attributes.
CPD for creative risk taking
We can run it and attend it: within your school, local area, nationally and internationally.
I'm a huge advocate of job-alike-workshops where teachers run workshops for each other. There are conferences, workshops and online forums, so keep learning from each other and sharing best practices.
Let's be honest about what a lot of teachers think about drama. The loss of control, when desks are moved aside or when they step into ‘teacher in role’ is a legitimate fear. Supporting your colleagues through CPD is the answer: model for them, team teach if possible and allow them to try techniques within a safe space.
Conferences
It was at the WAAE (World Alliance for Arts Education) conference in 2019 that I first heard of the UNESCO 2010 Seoul Agenda advocating for Arts education as a ‘fundamental component’ of education.
I feel very fortunate to attend conferences like WAAE, Scenario 24 and National Drama. These are wonderful opportunities to share best practice. Even though there is a cost in accessing these events, the published materials that result from them advocate for the highest standards and are often shared freely.
Likewise the 2030 Global Sustainability Goals, specifically Goal 4.7 states: ‘By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity.’ Drama is the perfect subject to help achieve this goal.
It is easy to be sitting in a school, feeling that you are fighting a one-sided battle against the prevailing education system. Have literature and evidence to support your argument with school leadership.
Clubs
Finally, let's not forget our extracurricular offerings: drama clubs, showcases, productions, assemblies. I was in a hugely privileged position recently to see a school production of West Side Story which was performed at the same school in 1964 and 2024. Members of the original cast were invited onto the stage at the end. 60 years separated these performers. It was a reminder that you never forget the productions you do at school!
So, let's not allow the current lack of a National Curriculum for Drama stop us. Be realistic about what you can do and reach out to others for support.
