Drama in Schools programme: Dublin City Council
Delivered by the Arts Office of Dublin City Council (2003 – 2013) and facilitated by Joanna Parkes and Sarah Fitzgibbon
In December 2002, ten teachers met for the first time, to attend a preliminary Drama workshop which would focus on the newly devised drama curriculum. Subsequently in 2003, these teachers participated in a six month training programme, in what was to become an annual Drama in Schools Programme. Over the next ten years, this initiative explored the potential of drama in a cross-curricular approach to teaching in mainstream primary schools throughout Dublin City.
Since 2003, thirty four teachers have participated in DCC’s Drama in Schools Programme with approximately eight hundred and seventy five children working directly with the programmes Educational Drama Facilitators, Sarah Fitzgibbon and Joanna Parkes (indirectly the programme has catered for many more).
Programme strands included:
- A: Experiential Drama and group support
Teachers were given the opportunity to experience out-of-school workshops. - B: Modelling and observation
The facilitator would deliver a drama scheme with the teacher’s class for six weeks. - C: Team teaching
The Facilitator and Teacher prepared and delivered a drama scheme for a number of weeks together. - D: Distance Mentoring
The teacher designed and delivered a scheme and received structured support and advice.
Between 2012- 2014 the programme adjusted its focus and began to work with both teachers and students attending the ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) units of eight mainstream schools.
A PDF report, outlining the programme’s process and outcomes, is available to download here.
The Drama Toolbox, a sample hands-on element of the Drama in Schools Programme (applicable to mainstream and ASD classes) is also available to download in PDF format.