Schools which take on drama programmes find improved student performance and positive school environment.

In a report on ‘Learning in Arts and Student Achievement and Social Development’ by Richard Deasy, it was found that “Schools integrating the arts into the curriculum as part of a comprehensive education reform strategy are documenting positive changes in the school environment and improved student performance.”

The Helen O’Grady Drama Academy knows the evidence is clear. All schools where the programme is run in the Cape Town Academy, the schools have shown improvement in the behaviour of the children, their learning experience and the results in the government standardised tests.

Having specialist drama teachers in schools is the best way to develop them in arts-based education. All the Academies teachers come from a background of arts education and many of actors themselves.

Unfortunately in many schools arts are marginalised to the limited national curriculum with less than an hour a week and this highly important subject is first to be dropped when there timetable or budget constraints. Drama education is neglected therefore in many schools meaning that children miss out on the opportunities such as amongst others: self-esteem, communication, concentration, coordination, boosting their reading and writing skills, developing right-brained imaginative thinking and socialisation. 

Much research has shown that arts education makes a significant contribution to children achieving success in school, work and life in general.

Since the Academy has been running its in-school drama at Sunlands Primary School in Cape Town, the school has noticed an immense change in the confidence of the children for public speaking, performance and their general socialisation. Sunlands Primary is one of these schools which has seen the enormous multi-layered benefit of drama classes for the children and is making the investment for the future.

Although the Academy runs its in-school drama programme as a further enhancement to their programme the school also offers an after school club to stimulate children even more.

For information about our international drama programme for schools, contact Helen O’Grady Drama Academy by going to our website: www.dramaafrica.com

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