I would like to welcome a new Drama Teacher to the region, Helen-Marie started at Ross High this week and it’s great to see East Lothian Council upping it’s staffing in Drama across the region. We now have Drama Departments in 4 of the 6 Secondary Schools in the region, which is brilliant.

Helen-Marie was actually in my graduation class at Moray House so it’s great to be in the same council with her and hopefully working alongside her on some exciting projects.

Welcome Helen-Marie, hope you have a fantastic time in the council! JAZZ HANDS!

I had an interesting chat with a fellow teacher the other who stated they thought that their subject (RMPS) was a curriculum for excllence, then I spoke to another teacher who felt their subject (English)  was also a curriculum for excellence. Then I went into Moray House to guest speak to the Drama students on the PGDE course about life since leaving Edinburgh Uni to find written in huge letters DRAMA IS A CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE! mmm…. so when i say they feel their subject is a CfE what I mean is that they feel they already teach the 4 main components of the the new way to approach education in Scotland (successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors)

It’s been interesting to read the way many teachers across Scotland are still unclear what this new curriculum will mean to them and the pupils they teach. The CfE will effect the new S1 pupils entering secondary school in session 2009/2010.

I have to agree that I do feel CfE is what we’ve been teaching in Drama since the subject was recognised in the 1960s. It is also interesting to note that not all schools across Scotland have Drama Departments and in most schools we are small departments (there are some schools who have big Drama Departments of 4 or more teachers - I know… hard to believe but it’s true!).

Drama enables the pupil to fulfil the four main outcomes of CfE and helps the pupil in skills for life long learning. All pupils must look at issues that affect them and the world in which they live in. They must use skills that will help them to a day to day basis as well as in the future, skills such as self-control, team work, confidence etc.  Most teachers will have to use various Drama techniques to meet the requirements of the outcomes; skills such as role play/team work/communication/perspective etc 

From this point of view my question is why is Drama still not fully recognised as a ‘proper’ subject. As a teacher, and I am sure I am not the only one there, I am constantly having to defend my subject on why it is not a ‘mikey mouse’ subject and why it is important all pupils should have Drama in their curriculum. I am luck at Knox that I have a supportive Head Teacher and my uptake from Drama is excellent however I still get bemused when teachers ask me ’so what do you actually do in Drama?’ do I ask that for those in Georgraphy, Chemistry, Maths, Business Management etc.

I do believe that a Curriculum for Excellence IS Drama and I would hope that councils throughout Scotland would try and secure departments, where they can, in schools to make sure that the young people of Scotland experience the most from their education.

As you have read in my previous post; pupils created an Award Winning Drama with Students from Queen Margaret University. The Mussell-Inn project has been an amazing opportunity for our pupils and they have gained a lot from the experience.

As a school, Knox Academy, has created a great relationship with the people running the project and has been great, as an ex graduate, to see the excellent work of the tutors continue in this difficult time (see No room for the arts).

We recieved good news on Friday that our students will be performing the award winning Drama for the Queen on July 4th. Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II will open the University and she has asked to see the Drama. This is a great expereince for our young people and they are very excited about the opportunity to act infront of her.

In a recent post I spoke out a collaborative projected between Knox Academy and Queen Margaret University. 10 pupils from S1 worked with final year community theatre students from the BA(Hons) Drama and Theatre Arts course. The final piece told the story of a small town in East Lothian called North Barr.  The pupils worked really hard and seeing the finished product was a joy to watch with some great storytelling and imagery used. A big thank you to the four students from QM who worked really hard on their project to make it a success. It gave our pupils a real chance to shine and show the people of East Lothian the talent we have here at Knox Academy.  The ‘Mussel-In’ project received the Santander Community Award for contribution to their local community with Knox Academy sharing the award. We are over the moon for all those involved and again a big thank you to everyone who supported the project. The four students who created the project should be very proud of their work and I’m sure we will see them nuturing the young talent of Scotland in the coming years.

Sad news leaked today that East Lothian’s new educational institute - Queen Margaret University - is to axe its School of Drama and Creative Industries! There are only two ‘conservatoire’ training schools in Scotland for Drama; Queen Margaret and The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Both schools have been under threat with RSAMD having to cut £600,000 from it’s budget next year. As an ex graduate from Queen Margaret I am devastated, gutted and emotional by this new direction. The School of Drama has been on a downward slope since leaving the Gateway Theatre on Elm Row to join the new campus; students have had to put up with cramped working conditions, non sound proof studios, no theatre and non creative surroundings. Having already had two students begin their training at Drama school, one starting this year and being a teacher of tomorrow’s creative artists I am left without words at what this country is doing to our future. A very sad day indeed for our future artists. for more details click here for the article in the Scotsman.