Why do kids study drama and why does it get so many hours in the Curriculum

[AllotmentMum]

There are lots of things about today's secondary schools that this old grammar school girl doesn't understand. DD's Year 8 timetable is one of them. Can anyone explain to me the point of drama, and why it gets more classroom time that English, maths or science, and more than twice the hours given over to both modern languages combined. Any teachers out there who can bring me up to date?

think I've just found one and being used currently

Allotment mum - I am really intrigued by your dd's timetable. If they are only doing 2 hrs each of Maths/English/Science/MFL and no humanities. What on earth are they doing with all the rest of the time?

I agree completely that 1 hr a week of MFL is a complete waste of time. You might as well not bother doing a language IMO.

ds1 is in yr8. He has 30 (50 min) lessons a week, which break down as follows:
4 English
4 Maths
4 Science
3 MFL
5 Humanities (2 history, 1 geog, 1 RE, 1 citizenship)
5 Arts (1 music, 1 art, 2 dance, 1 drama)
2 PE
1 IT
2 Tech (on a carousel)

I know our local Academy has a radical new curriculum, which I don't like at all. At the end of yr7 I wrote to ds1's school to say what a fantastic year ds1 had had, and how much he'd benefited from having traditional academic subjects taught by subject specialists. In your position I would write a letter to school to express your concerns, but only to possibly make a difference for future students. It won't make a difference to your dd.

In the Academy they have the following curriculum (25 1 hr lessons) in yr7:
2 English
2 Maths
2 Science
2 PE
1 PSHE
1 IT
5 Zone A (Humanities, MFL, English) - project-based learning, "competencies curriculum"
5 Zone B (Science, Maths, Tech)
5 Zone C (Art, Music, Drama, IT)

So many subjects are not delivered by subject specialists and the focus is on acquiring "skills for learning" rather than academic study.

Roisin, that sounds a bit like the "Opening Minds" or "Integrated curriculum" that my local Comp has just started. I don't like the idea of it at all.

The school I used to teach in does Opening Minds. I think it has its merits, but the main issue I've noticed is that the range of subjects the students want to take at KS4 has dropped - the same range is still offered, but some are just not being opted for. It's a real shame. I used to teach in a school in London where this kind of curriclum was followed by a small number of students - the ones who had the most problems transferring from primary school and were the most immature. It worked for them, and they were then re-integrated into mainstream school in either Yr 8 or Yr 9, depending on how they were progressing. I don't think it works across whole year groups though.

Playscripts are studied in English e.g Shakespeare. The Drama trips have been to comtemporary plays.

I really wouldn't be happy about your dd's timetable. Drama as a school subject no doubt has its merits but I do not like to see it take hours away from English, maths, science. I agree with you too that the MFL is almost ot worth doing at that rate which is a shame when your dd shows aptitude.

She should not be missing the maths they are doing to sit in an office, ready to run errands. I suppose they do that on a roster but is it really necessary?

I suppose there is no alternative school within reasonable travelling distance which might have a different set-up that better suits your dc and is a realistic option for you? Any chance you can call and ask, even out of catchment, you might strike lucky.

can you break it down like Roisin did her as a comparison:
R: "ds1 is in yr8. He has 30 (50 min) lessons a week, which break down as follows:
4 English
4 Maths
4 Science
3 MFL
5 Humanities (2 history, 1 geog, 1 RE, 1 citizenship)
5 Arts (1 music, 1 art, 2 dance, 1 drama)
2 PE
1 IT
2 Tech (on a carousel)"

So as I understand it allotment, your dd has:
1 French
1 Spanish
3 drama
0 history/geography

and what else?

Ah come on, everyone, am I the only cynic? It's because we live in such a media-driven age and they (educators) are assuming that this is a way (desperate ploy) to motivate and enthuse youngsters, especially those who otherwise want to jack in the entire educational experience (by KS3). It's a concession to our celebrity-fame obsessed age. (sigh)

I went to a performing and creative arts specialist school, btw, 25 years ago! I was (AM) a complete non-talent at any kind of performing (that includes teaching and sales),

how did you get into that school iljk? Did you have the talent when you joined and lose it there?

I think we need less of this drama and so on kind of thing at school and just more grammar schools, flood the country with grammar schools

I tend to agree with you, ll

In our school it's the ones who have lost an interest who are least likely to opt for Drama in key stage 4. Not sure if it's classed as a soft option at A level.

I am a Drama teacher and concur with all the feedback the OP has been given.

Outlining your concerns to the school that your DD is unhappy stuck on a carousel arrangement of Art / Drama and Music won't do any good - the timetable has been written for this year and would be very difficult to unpick at this stage - but I'm sure if the school is interested in student voice (which it should be) than it's always worth raising for future planning.

Sorry to be off line for so long, but now have DD's timetable in hand. Not absolutely certain if the lessons are 50 mins or one hour long, but you can get the general gist.

1 French
1 Spanish
2 Maths
3 English
3 Science
2 Food Tech (Textiles next term)
1 Info Tech
2 PE
3 Drama
5 Competence Theme - which seems to be this "open minds" system a few people have mentioned.
The school is a new Academy, and definitely is focusing on "learning to learn" rather than academic skills. I tried to get my DD into a not-so-local-grammar for Year 7, but failed. I am having another attempt at a Year 9 transfer, but unfortunately DD is not keen as it will mean leaving all her friends behind, as well as a long bus journey. However, I'm worried sick that unless move her she will have limited chance of a decent clutch of GCSEs. Have become quite paranoid about it, I admit.

Doesn't look too terrible. The Competence Theme stuff will cover humanities, so not seeing Geography or History as specific subjects shouldn't worry you too much. If the expressive arts is a carousel thing, then again, don't panic - she won't be getting more Drama than Maths for the whole year. It seems fairly wide and balanced, and remember, it will change again for Yr 8. Don't start worrying about GCSEs yet! It's not even half term yet - let her settle before you start panicking about sending her somewhere else.

She's Year 8 now, so this is the second year of the drama and competence theme based timetable. I just worry that by the time they get round to a more academic focus there will be a lot of catching up to do. The Competence Theme does seem to be an awful lot of chit chat with no solid content. My DD can't even tell me what its about, and I've got to admit I don't understand the concept. I think they should get us aged parents into a room and explain how education has changed and what their point is. I went to a very traditional school and I want to know when the algebra, irregular verbs and capital cities are going to arrive. !

I think the answer to your last question is that they probably aren't AllotmentMum.
I've got no gripe with drama, every child should study it, I studied it at university too. But not to the exclusion of a proper grounding in MFL or Maths if that's what the child prefers.
I hate this specialist school tyranny. It has colluded in the removal of MFL and other more challenging subjects from the reach of huge numbers of kids. Our local LEA doesn't have a single non-faith school offering Latin to GCSE. Most of the schools only offer French or German as MFL. Most of them are sports or humanities or performing arts specialist schools, or "Harris Academies" . Where's the choice there?

How depressing though that Humanities and Social Sciences are relegated to the 'everything else' category, as if they weren't made up of distinct disciplines...

Was cheered by maths and science provision at open evening today. Somewhat depressed however at lack of Proper Art. Must be 'rotated' with fecking Food Technology. FGS. I do happen to think drawing, painting and art appreciation is Pretty Bloody Important. Along with calculus and speaking French.

I see you are quite worried already so don't want to exacerbate things but 2 hours of maths....

I don't want this competence thing is either that takes up 5 hours a week, in particular as you say at the expense of more traditional subjects. Where are they going to acquire in-depth general knowledge even in history and geography if it is not taught. I also agree with you that you do need to learn English grammar at some stage. The evidence for that is all around us really.

Is there much chance of doing some history/geography/English after school with good textbooks - or is she going to be too tired? I don't know what I would do in your shoes.

I really think more MFL is necessary if it is going to achieve anything and more maths. Also don't consider a good understanding of basic themes in history and geography as some kind of educational extra, like perhaps embroidering scarves or making matroyshka dolls. Perhaps she is acquiring or developping English skills via the drama but I'm not totally convinced to be honest.

sorry, should have read:

I don't know what this competence....

You really cannot make any proper progress with a modern language unless you study it (nearly) every day. Four days out of five is a minimum.

I would give the year 9 transfer a serious whack. Even pester the school a bit and find out what they want, really prepare for it, etc. You know dd will be sad about leaving her friends but she doesn't understand the bigger picture (life after school etc). Also if she does move to the grammar school, she can keep in touch with her old friends and make new friends there.

I know in an ideal world you would like things at the current school to be different but it is unlikely that it'll happen.

For purposes of comparison, this is my DD's timetable for year 7 grammar school:

English 3
Maths 2
French 2
German 2
Physics 1
Chemistry 1
Biology 1
History 2
Geography 1
RE 1
IT 1
CDT 1
Food Tech. 1 (Textiles next term)
PSE 1
Drama 1
Music 1
Art 1
Games 1
PE 1

Some of the concerns expressed about your DD's timetable would apply here, too, especially about Maths & MFL time. Secondary schools have a very packed timetable. IT, CDT, Food Tech. and PSE were yet to be invented in my day (we did a bit of sewing one year but no cooking). We did one language in first year, then took a second + optional Latin in next year.

I offer you this without comment, really , except to suggest that it may be possible that depth is being sacrificed for breadth across the system.

Maybe the drama class and the competence theme are brilliantly taught and it's a lovely school for all I know but it isn't going to ever be the type of school you had in mind.

I'm not saying the school is bad as such but you would like dd to have an education similar to the one you had yourself, I take it and this she is not going to get there.

If you cannot move, perhaps you could supplement from home if that is at all feasible but I do find it annoying that what I consider fundamental core educational subjects are not well covered at schools. Galore Park has books for Spanish and French which I have not used (have a look on the publisher's site, I think you can look inside the books). I think they might be good to use at home, just a little bit every day. That together with watching DVDs etc might be something dd is willing to do since she likes languages.

To have to supplement maths, >English, French and Spanish and cover geography and history from scratch after a long school day seems unrealistic to me though. What a pain.

Hope it turns out well for you and dd, whatever happens.

that's interesting pyro, dd is not at secondary yet so I will have to see what lies in store for us curriculum-wise when the time comes.

I expect that depth has given place to breadth as you say. In my day, a very long time ago, IT for instance didn't play any role in my school syllabus; nowadays of course it is essential, drama was optional and I suppose generally a lot of things were different. I know my mother thought the curriculum "dumbed down" as compared to her own school days - as indeed it was.

Drama as never appeared on my DC timetables. Specialist Arts & Music school. I know there is a drama club after school but my boys have never shown any interest. Ours get to choose arts options in year 8 so maybe some take it up then.
It is an option at GCSE.