GCSE Drama - good choice for a quiet child??

[MyBonnyLiesOverTheOcean2020]

My daughter is trying to decide whether she should take GCSE drama or not. She's very quiet and loves performing at home but struggles to convey the performance element in front of others. She thinks doing GCSE drama will help her confidence. I've heard that they work in groups and I wonder if she'll just get drowned out by the many others who are more confident. Any feedback from anyone with some experience of the course would be great. Thanks.

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.

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.

Thank you so much everyone for taking the time to post such useful comments. She went with Art in the end but we'll have to sign her up for a drama club when we can.

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.

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.

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?

Thanks everyone. So interesting to hear everyone's views. She opted for Art in the end and we will pursue drama in groups outside school when we can.

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).

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

Thanks pointy and Chnandler - love your name btw.

@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.

Thanks lonecat

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.