Derby secondary school Alvaston Moor Academy is making a song and dance about drama after appointing its first ever specialist teacher in the subject.
This term Claire Stopard joined the 880-pupil academy on Bracken’s Lane as its first ever drama specialist, and is currently teaching the subject to key stage three students.
She said: “Drama is important because it’s a subject that teaches students to use all of their intelligences. It demands of range of skills from them.”
Assistant principal Kate Broomfield explained that it was decided to focus on top-notch drama provision for students by appointing a specialist teacher in the subject for the first time.
One of the few subjects not on the national curriculum, drama is often side-lined and also took a back seat during Covid in many schools. Concerns have been raised by many in the acting profession, including stage and film star Mark Rylance, that drama is too marginalised in state schools and becoming the preserve of those who can afford a private education. Famous public school Eton has two theatres and puts on around 20 productions a year.
Drama came back onto the curriculum at Alvaston Moor at the start of this academic year and teachers say students are loving the opportunity to explore their creativity on the stage.
“For us, it’s about developing confidence in our students, and their oracy and speaking skills,” explained Kate. “It gives them the opportunity to play and come up with their own ideas: get creative and know that there aren’t necessarily language barriers there.
“We want to support skills development in all areas and not just traditional academic ones. Drama gives students so many chances to try things they couldn’t do otherwise.
“Students are really starting to be inspired. For some of them, it’s a real opportunity to be themselves. There’s a freedom attached to it.”
Claire said that only a few weeks into her role, she was already seeing a difference in students at the school, for around a third of whom English is not their first language.
She said: “What I love about the students here is they have got such a hugely different range of different types of experiences and cultures. From a dramatic point of view, there’s a lot you can draw upon.”
Alvaston Moor Academy is planning to put on a school show around Easter time, which will its first dramatic production in years to take place on the site.
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