PERFORMING ARTS
A s the take-up of drama declines at GCSE and A-level, it seems young people are finding it harder to get started in the profession, with the live entertainment industry now noticing a knock-on effect on staffing levels. It’s not that performing arts have lost their appeal. One survey by Ravensbourne University London found that three- quarters of 18- to 25-year-olds are drawn to the creative industries as a career. What they lack currently is a clear pathway to help them get there. Is this a picture that performing arts specialists in our local schools and colleges would recognise? Well, yes and no. The decline in students studying music and drama at school is a factor but by no means the only one, says John Johnson, director of drama and theatre at The Leys. “This news is depressing and not entirely surprising,” he acknowledges. “Schools can sometimes be easy targets in where to lay the blame when these news stories come around. However, in this case, I think it’s a result of a fine storm of neglect and underfunding, the lack of touring rep companies and accessible training programmes and – if I’m honest – the fall in numbers of pupils studying performing arts subjects nationally: 42% since 2010. Those
entering the industry have to start their pathway somewhere, and school is very often the gateway for pupils taking those first steps.” Covid-19, too, has had a significant impact, believes Naomi Akielan, head of drama at Kimbolton School. “During the pandemic, people [in the performing arts] were not just furloughed, but completely laid off. There was no support in place and the government’s response was just to retrain. I suspect that’s not helped with recruiting a new generation.” And with the increasing emphasis on subjects with in-demand career paths, such as sciences, technology and maths, making the case for preserving performing arts in schools could certainly seem like a challenging proposition. Positive thinking Fortunately, performing arts teachers are positive people who love what they do. They’re also given first-class support at the schools they work in, which are committed to delivering a multifaceted education
where music and drama shine alongside core academic subjects. It’s not just a parent-pleasing exercise. While the performing arts provide (quite literally) a public showcase for schools’ talented pupils, participation brings with it significant benefits to every other aspect of academic life. “The performing arts have so much to offer beyond just the stage,” stresses Joanna Davey, head of performing arts at Stoke College in Suffolk. “Whether it’s developing resilience, learning to navigate setbacks, building confidence or practising teamwork – every rehearsal is a life lesson in disguise.” Furthermore, she continues, students can hone skills including communication, leadership, time management and empathy, discovering the value of patience, persistence and flexibility. Crucially, “they also build strong friendships across year groups, which is important in a school like ours where community matters.” For Rachel Ellis, head of drama at Cambridge School of Visual and
There’s something so immediate, emotional and intrinsically human about the arts that you really can’t replace
60 JUNE 2025 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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