A positive spin on drama and citizenship

Summary

This project shows a girls’ comprehensive school working with East-Side Educational Trust, a charity that uses creative arts and drama initiatives to develop young people’s language and literacy and promote their independent learning. The school was keen to develop pupils’ understanding of citizenship through drama. It also wanted to increase their confidence and willingness to express opinions.

A group of year 9 girls attended three after-school workshops led by a professional actor chosen by East-Side. In the workshops, which had a strong citizenship focus, the pupils explored the notion of ‘spin’ in the media and the concept of democracy through taking part in discussions and improvisations and presenting their own speeches. They also used an extract from a play to consider the issue of refugees. The project ended with a shared performance that brought together the pupils’ work from all three workshops.

The pupils’ confidence increased considerably over the course of the project and they are now much more willing to speak out in class. Working with an actor broadened the pupils’ horizons and her professionalism inspired commitment and discipline. The pupils’ knowledge and understanding of aspects of citizenship, and their drama skills, improved.

This case study highlights the benefits to be gained from organisations running projects in the school setting. The relationship between East-Side and the school is now much stronger and the drama teachers believe that observing the workshops will have a long-term effect on their teaching. The project also shows the value of organisations being able and willing to tailor what they offer to meet a school’s priorities and needs. East-Side feels that the support of Deutsche Bank – both in terms of money and advice – has helped them to achieve this.