GCSE Drama - good choice for a quiet child??

Do you also think English Literature isn't a real GCSE?

I won't ask what you think of art or product design

@HellonHeels

True. The 2nd para/ line was a generalisation, not meant to be linked to the examples.

Lets be honest though, some qualifications are worth less for the majority of people: GCSE Art, Drama, French (unless you are going to work internationally).

Same with some degrees: Gender studies, fashion, etc

The good thing about GCSEs is that it's possible to do a range of subjects - the STEM subjects and the arts and humanties.

My dd is shy but very good at drama and did find some of the bigger characters frustrating but the teacher handled it well and she got a good grade. Also learned some great skills and confidence and has performed since.

You know, it is possible to do a mixture of GCSEs. My daughter is set for a science career AND a GCSE in Drama. STEAM beats STEM these days, creativity is massively important.

She could still get a good grade if academic as a lot is written work.

Has she done school plays etc with the people who would be in her class? If so she knows them and what they would be like?

My ds has also just chosen drama. He has been encouraged as he has enjoyed the elements of English that have got him debating and writing stories. He never, ever wanted to perform before he got to secondary school but had slowly started to take to drama. All those that I know that have taken it have really enjoyed it and this course allows for set design, lighting and make up to be elements if performing is not your full interest. He is looking forward to doing something different as a choice.

If she struggles to perform I think drama would cause her a lot of stress. My daughter is a bit younger but performs with her dance school - she absolutely loves performing but is still nervous and anxious the night before a performance. That type of stress in a shy child might make the course really stressful for her.

Like pp’s idea of trying a summer course before jumping in, because at least then she’d be able to quit if it really didn’t suit. Of course that may not be practical at the moment.

So GCSE drama is so much better than Key Stage 3 drama because everyone who is in the class has chosen it.

It is a lot of group work and performance to the class most lessons.

Depending on the exam board, usually about 60% is practical and 40% is written work.

There are options to do one of the practical sections as a technical skill (lighting, sound, costume design) but they tend to be the exception and so pupils that do that, have to really manage their workload with guidance only.
You need to be able to learn lines. Inherent in it is 'fear and risk' - you have to get on stage and you don't know what might happen - and you have to do it anyway.

For me, I was a quiet young person, and I loved the subject, how my teachers taught it and the class I was in. I can truthfully tell you that drama was where I found my voice.

I went on to be a school drama teacher for 17 years and GCSE drama remains my favourite thing to teach - there is so much scope for creativity and trying different theatre styles.

BUT there are some spectacularly bad drama teachers out there (it seems to be either you have an amazing drama department or a crap one and not much in the middle). So I would have a look at the past results, how long has the drama teacher been there (you don't want a high turnover in a department) , what are the quality of the school productions.

Id recommend a real GCSE instead; Statistics, History, IT, etc.

Yes, I favour STEM over arts anyday.

Drama transformed my extremely shy daughter. But she started earlier and did a few summer courses first. She did drama GCSE and a level too and loved them.

How much does she enjoy the subject? A substantial amount of the course is written and theoretical.