Drama Teacher

The Drama Department

The lively Department currently has 5 teachers and one Theatre Technician.  Academic standards are high and results are excellent. Colleagues use a range of teaching methods, with an emphasis on performance, group work and analysis. There is a range of teaching material available, including texts, props, costume and a variety of stimuli for devising.  The students also have access to our well-stocked School Library.  

In Year 7, 8 & 9 (Middle School), Drama is taught to every class for one lesson per week.  In Year 7, students are introduced to exploring Drama skills, they focus on a text and they devise their own documentary style performance.  In Year 8, students develop their practical skills, work with text, explore Theatre History and a variety of genres.  This culminates in a summer examination which is a performance of a short play.  In Year 9, students refine their skills, they experience live theatre and respond to it through their written work.  They work with contemporary texts and are introduced to devising using the theory of a theatre practitioner.  Their summer examination imitates the devising component of the Drama GCSE.  

In Years 10 and 11 (Upper School) we follow the AQA Drama GCSE specification. There are typically two groups in each year with 12-17 girls in each group.  Most of our students follow the performer pathway, however we do encourage girls to opt for the designer route if they are interested in this area.  Girls who do not choose to take the GCSE are welcome to get involved in co-curricular Drama.

Sixth Form students who choose Drama and Theatre (AQA) AS and A-Level are encouraged to produce innovative, high quality theatre that reflects their practical and theoretical knowledge.  This is enhanced by theatre visits locally and to the West End, as well as strong links with visiting theatre companies and practitioners.  Typically, one group will study this course in Years 12 & 13.

As part of St Helen’s rich co-curricular pursuits, the Department produce a Joint Play/ Musical each year, in collaboration with students from the local boy’s school, Merchant Taylors’.  Recent productions have included “9 to 5” and “Woyzeck”.  We also produce plays for girls in Middle School, such as “Lord of the Flies” and “The Glove Thief”.  These productions are in addition to showcases of examinationination work for parents and the School community.  A variety of weekly Drama clubs are held at lunch times ranging from Musical Theatre Club, Costume Club and the ‘1 O’Clock Club’, where students from all years come together to explore material which is exciting and enjoyable.  Students are also encouraged to attend The Technical Theatre Club run by our Theatre Technician.  Alongside the curriculum, the department also offers Lamda Acting qualifications.  This is a popular co-curricular activity with the girls. The Department also contributes to relevant aspects of the PSHCE Programme across Senior School. 

The Department is well equipped with a dedicated Drama Studio, a modern 140 seater performance space, a traditional School Hall and an extra Drama room.  We have lighting rigs and a recording studio that are maintained and used by our Theatre technician and students.

Teaching at St Helen’s

All teachers are expected to ensure the highest standards of teaching and learning by:

• Preparing and delivering challenging and differentiated lessons

• Setting homework in accordance with the School’s homework policy

• Marking work in accordance with the School’s marking policy

• Using all available data and information to ensure that each student is provided with an appropriate programme of study

• Having a good understanding of the schemes of work they are following and how these

         fit into the overall scheme of work for the subject they are teaching

• Keeping up to date with developments in the teaching of their subject

The teacher should have knowledge and understanding of:

• Effective learning and teaching styles

• Theory and practice of providing effectively for the individual needs of all children (e.g. classroom organisation, planning, and teaching strategies which remove barriers to learning and which stretch and challenge able, gifted and talented pupils)

• Monitoring, assessment, recording and reporting of pupils’ progress

• How assessment supports effective learning

• The need for high quality pastoral support to complement the academic experience of pupils aged 11-18

• The Legislation concerning Equality, Health & Safety, Individual Needs and Safeguarding / Child Protection

The teacher will be able to:

• Promote the School’s aims, ethos and whole school approach to learning

• Develop effective relationships with pupils, parents, staff and governors

• Create a happy, challenging and effective learning environment

• Communicate effectively (both orally and in writing) to a variety of audiences

• Work collaboratively with others

• Work in a fast-paced and stimulating environment

The teacher will be able to demonstrate:

• A willingness to participate in the wider life of the School

• A willingness to make a significant contribution to the School’s extensive co-curricular programme

Person specification

Essential:

• A good Honours degree in Drama or a related subject

• Experience of teaching Drama across the secondary age range to A Level and demonstrable passion for the subject

• A strong commitment to co-curricular Drama

• Detailed understanding of current developments in the secondary curriculum and assessment

• A clear motivation to work with young people

• The ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and boundaries with young people

• Commitment to further professional development

Desirable:

• A teaching qualification such as PGCE or equivalent

• Experience of professional or school theatrical production

• Evidence of further professional development

• Knowledge and experience of how IT can be used to support learning

The successful candidate will:

• Be an exceptional classroom practitioner and inspiring teacher

• Possess outstanding interpersonal and communication skills

• Have excellent time management and organisational skills

• Be creative, imaginative and energetic

• Be able to motivate others

Benefits of working at St Helen’s 

• competitive salary

• membership of the Teachers’ Pensions Scheme

• access to the School’s swimming pool and fitness suite

• on-site parking and excellent public transport links

• free lunch and refreshments

• generous sick pay and maternity/paternity pay

• a beautiful working environment – the School is set in a conservation site in excess of 20 acres

• a supportive community of highly motivated students and staff