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Drama in English Schools

Rhiannon Jones

BA (Hons) Drama University of Winchester

GTP University of Reading
Acting Head of Drama at Cantell School, Southampton
 The State of Play

Drama Education in 2015

 The National Curriculum Review
The Introduction of The Ebacc
Government funding and state schools
1. The Review of The National
Curriculum in 2014
Michael Gove & Nicky Morgan
Drama does NOT feature as a
subject in its own right on the
National Curriculum
Primary National
Curriculum

English
Structure of The National Curriculum 2014:
Spoken Language (Primary)
Structure of The National Curriculum 2014:
Years 3 & 4 (L.KS2) Reading
Structure of The National Curriculum 2014:
Years 3 & 4 (L.KS2) Reading Cont.
Structure of The National Curriculum 2014:
Years 3 & 4 (L.KS2) Writing
Structure of The National Curriculum 2014:
Years 5 & 6 (U.KS2) Reading
Structure of The National Curriculum 2014:
Years 5 & 6 (U.KS2) Reading Cont.
Structure of The National Curriculum 2014:
Years 5 & 6 (U.KS2) Writing
 Structure of The
National Curriculum
2014:
Years 5 & 6 (U.KS2)
Writing Cont.
 Primary Statement
• Equipment- stage and radio mics
• Nothing specifically planned in the curriculum,
however reception and Years 5 and 6 participate in
school shows. Sometimes they do role play in classes
for example acting out times in history or situations in
books.
• Rock challenge, talent shows, lots of musical
performances.
• Speaking and listening, hot seating, freeze frame, role
play, performing speeches, conscience ally are skills
explored or used
• No assessing in Drama
Secondary National
Curriculum

English
Structure of The National Curriculum 2014:
Years 7-9 (KS3) Reading
Structure of The National Curriculum 2014:
Years 7-9 (KS3) Writing & Speaking
Structure of The National Curriculum 2014:
Years 7-9 (KS3) Cont.
Structure of The National Curriculum
2014: Year 10 &11 KS4 Reading
Structure of The National Curriculum
2014: Year 10 & 11 KS4 Writing
Structure of The National Curriculum 2014:
Year 10 & 11 KS4 Speaking
2.Introduction of the
English Baccalaureate
“The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) is a school performance measure. It allows
people to see how many pupils get a grade C or above in the core academic
subjects at key stage 4 in any government-funded school.
We introduced the EBacc measure in 2010. In June 2015, we announced our
intention that all pupils who start year 7 in September 2015 take the EBacc
subjects when they reach their GCSEs in 2020. We plan to consult on detailed
proposals to achieve this aim in autumn 2015”.
Department for Education- June 2015

EBacc subjects
The EBacc is made up of:
English
mathematics
history or geography
the sciences
a language

English
To pass the English element of the EBacc, pupils need to get 1 of the following:
an A* to C in English GCSE
an A* to C in English language GCSE and any grade in English literature GCSE
 The Issue of EBacc
All teachers, parents/carers, and
pupils involved in the qualitative
work shared the view that pupils
should primarily be guided by their
interests and talents when selecting
GCSE subjects and, where pupils had
specific careers in mind, their career
aspirations. For some pupils this will
mean selecting EBacc subjects at
GCSE, but in many cases pupils’
interests and abilities will lie in other
subject choices.
The most commonly withdrawn subject is
drama or performing arts, with almost a
quarter (23%) of teachers whose schools have
withdrawn a subject saying that they no longer
offer this.
 The Issue of EBACC
“computer science graduates are reported to have the worst
unemployment rates of any subject at 14%” Sept. 2013
….. Computer Science is an EBACC subject.

List of degree courses with highest unemployment rates

published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency in the
same year included:
Languages
Business & Administration
Engineering
Mathematical Science
Physical & Biological Sciences
Historical & Philosophical Studies.