GCSE Drama - good choice for a quiet child??

Art is another very good GCSE - big, demanding workload but then so is Drama if it's done right. Your DD is going to have a really good, broad set of GCSEs.

@MyBonnyLiesOverTheOcean2020 looking for a good Lamda teacher could be a good call as Lamda does acting, musical theatre and public speaking exams- public speaking maybe more up her street as is less putting yourself out there performance and more clear, confident, well presented facts.

OP good call. there are so many ways kids can enjoy drama.

DD2 did Drama GCSE to challenge herself and her lack of confidence, and it was a great decision. She found it tough, but towards the end of the first year of the course she was a different person: mentally tougher, more confident, more resilient.

She's planning a science degree and coming into that with a broad mix of GCSEs, including triple science, history, geography and indeed French, so it's perfectly possible to have a set of very academic GCSEs as well as broadening that with a venture into the arts. IT GCSE hasn't been a thing for some years now, it's Computer Science, and my DD1 did Statistics and found it an absolute piece of cake (it wasn't offered any more when DD2 chose options).

Personally our (rather reserved) son decided against it. The performance part was just something he couldn't face and assuming it will help her confidence is a big leap of faith?

That said, GCSE choices must be the things they love. If she loves this then maybe a quiet word with the teacher so she fully understands what it would involve?

DD has done drama and LAMDA exams all her life - she is incredibly shy and anxious, but excels on stage. It has also really helped her in cross over for her Alevels in Eng Lit and Class Civ and History. Many of the themes for these subjects can be compared and contrasted with what she studied and performed in Drama.

I think the key thing is your daughter seems interested in doing this. Both my shy children are doing drama and we have encouraged them because they are shy. They are both doing very well but they have only just started so unfort I am not much help to you. Perhaps speak to the schools drama teacher about whether they think the subject would suit your daughter.

If she likes it then take it. My son is a show off and enjoyed it. My daughter is shy and would rather die than draw attention to herself.
She will have to work in groups and pairs though, so she must be sure she can get her ideas across.
As for it being 'real', jeez i can't believe the arts vs other subjects is still an argument. Out of nine to eleven subjects surely there is room for both? A well rounded student will have more options.

For drama you need cracking teachers and motivated students! Look at the school’s results in drama. This will tell you if it’s a good choice at your school.

is a bit risky as IME schools are not keen on GCSE changes, certainly after the first week or so. And you would have a limited choice (only the subjects that matched that option and had space). Better to pick what you want first off

My DD had no problem swapping GCSE for a different subject (I can’t remember what the other subject was now - it was a while ago - but it was a subject within the GCSE choice group that included drama).

Yes of course it’s best to study what you want first off. My DD definitely wanted to study drama. Unfortunately there were only 7 in the class - DD...and 6 others who were only there because they were time wasting tbh. If the class had been larger DD would have placed herself into a group more suited to herself. She found it impossible to perform within a group who didn’t want to perform. They also did no homework so when having to work together to produce short plays etc nobody did it except DD. The others then didn’t want to perform the play - other than stand there with a script (which should have been learnt) - for assessment.

There is a lot of creative writing involved, as well as knowing the various roles within the industry etc However, drama involves a great deal of group work and if the group you are working with are uninterested and unresponsive there is no point.

DS was in a class of 27 and the groups were sorted, according to who works well with who, by the drama teacher - so a lot more scope for him.

Drama is one of those subjects where you need others to succeed.

HypnoRuler don’t be a nob.

Even if there was anything valid in what you’re saying, the way subjects are grouped at gcse means that pupils have to choose an arts subject!

The column with drama usually includes music, art etc
Then there will be another column with humanities subjects - history, geography, RE.

Modern language is compulsory, I believe.
As are sciences and maths.

Ensures a breadth of education at GCSE level.

But no, you’re right, there’s only one worthwhile path in life and only one kind of intelligence. We don’t need creative or linguistic minds, only scientific and mathematical ones. Everyone else is a waste of oxygen. Better to take stem subjects than arts subjects even if your natural ability lies in the arts. Better to get a fistful of C’s in stem subjects than A*’s in languages 🙄🙄🙄

Bell end.

I did GCSE drama 20 years ago. I was very shy at the time. The way our GCSE options were structured I had to do one of drama, dance or art so chose drama. I was rubbish at it but it did help with my confidence as I was having to perform our work in front of everyone on a weekly basis. I have no qualms now speaking in public, and actually, I enjoy it and volunteer at work for presenting the client training seminars my employer runs. Most other colleagues fear doing these so it makes me popular with both colleagues and management and it's good networking opportunities for me as clients know me.

Also I should add, the groups have been mixed up a lot and for devised performances they obviously arrange between themselves however she has done scripted pieces where she has been given her role by the teacher.

DD has done gcse drama, however the last two years have made it challenging, they have obviously done a lot more monologue/duo stuff than I would presume is usual. Their trip to the two live performances have obviously been cancelled too. She has enjoyed it and says that there is a wide range of people that do this and that the teacher is aware of those that work well together/conflicts and people trying to be cliquey. She has really enjoyed it but isn't taking it further. However I think it's one of those subjects that if you should enjoy you should take. Many benefits for confidence and public speaking in future. You do have to be prepared to perform in front of others though, there's no avoiding that.

My DD did drama GCSE last year. It involves a bit of performance, but a lot of other stuff as well!

The main performance bit involved a group, duo or monologue which they had to work up amongst themselves - costume, staging etc, and keep a log of their progress. The end result should have involved an external examiner coming to the school to grade each performance (due to covid theirs were filmed instead)

They studied a play in depth (Noughts and Crosses) - again characterisation, script, costume stage design etc. They had to be able to write eng. lit type essays, as well as the more technical elements.

They had to study a live performance and again do the above.

They also had to know some of the technical aspects of staging a play.

I used to run kids drama classes and lost count of how many parents came up to me and said, I wish I'd done something like this as a child. I have to give presentations/reports/run training courses etc etc at work and I find myself just mumbling and the anxiety of standing up in front of everyone etc etc.

Saying that group work is a huge part of GCSE drama. If your dd thinks she may struggle with this it might be an opti0n for her to join an out of school group where there is less pressure or do LAMDA exams instead.

At my DDs Inn of Court, a short course was offered to pupil barristers from RADA. It covered things like voice projection, deportment, engaging your target audience etc. I think being able to speak to others assertively and engagingly when needed, and certainly with confidence, is important for so many roles. Gcse Drama is a great start.

A huge number of barristers have drama qualifications and being able to stand up in front of 300 people and speak clearly, engage them and not disappear into a corner out of terror is an invaluable skill for scientists as well as accountants, doctors and teachers, to name but a few professions.

The poster who said it's pointless is ridiculous 😂

It's hugely helpful to learn communication skills, how to adapt to different situations appropriately and confidently, think on your feet etc.

Great shout from another poster to ask for the teacher's advice. Most of the curriculum for theatre studies during my GCSEs was theory so it's by no means all performance.

That theory really helps with the skills I mentioned above. Plus she can take on roles she is comfortable with and also directing / writing and more.

Great she is willing to do something brave by stepping out of her comfort zone - that's a bloody good start!

Lots of helpful comments here (and a few not so helpful!) So much will depend on the teacher and the class, but yes, it can make a huge, life changing difference in confidence. I taught at a highly academic grammar school and many pupils chose to do drama alongside sciences. Medics need to be able to communicate, present, speak in public and work with others. And who doesn't? I think it adds huge value.

@MarleytheDog you make some good points but this:

In your shoes I would allow your dd to give drama a try and if she doesn’t enjoy it she can drop out and choose another subject instead.

is a bit risky as IME schools are not keen on GCSE changes, certainly after the first week or so. And you would have a limited choice (only the subjects that matched that option and had space). Better to pick what you want first off.