I consider myself really fortunate to be a teacher of Drama at Queen Mary’s High School.  The word Drama is derived from the Greek word for ‘action’ or ‘to do’ and I believe that the active learning that the subject encourages is one of the best ways for our students to develop a whole range of abilities from team building to problems solving, as well as honing their presentational and performance skills.

How lucky to teach a subject which encourages creative freedom and individual expression but also demands that students show discipline, teamwork and the need to empathise and explore the lives of others peoples, places and times.

Alfred Hitchcock once said ‘what is Drama, but life with the dull bits cut out?’  and I can really say that there is never a dull moment teaching our imaginative and talented students.  From the earliest, tentative steps of a Year 7 performing for her classmates for the first time, to the polished final devised projects of an accomplished cast of Year 13 students, the pleasure to be derived from working with so many varied, but equally valid and important groups of performers is always a ‘buzz’ which never diminishes.

In addition to curricular work, the range of performance work in the school from Junior Shows through to Murder Mystery evenings demonstrates enthusiasm and ability that I feel it is important to constantly tap and channel.   I am proud to be a part of such a highly committed and talented group of staff at QM and feel that in Drama, we play an important role in creating a rich educational experience for all of our students.