Through drama, learners have rich opportunities to be creative and to experience inspiration and enjoyment. Creating and presenting are prominent activities for all learners. Their acting and presenting skills are developed through participating in scripted or improvised drama. Exploring real and imaginary situations helps learners to understand and share their world. They develop their capacity to enjoy drama and their knowledge and understanding through evaluating technical aspects and scripts, and commenting on their work and the work of others.
Curriculum for Excellence: Expressive Arts
✨ Drama Learning in Glasgow
Glasgow’s Framework for Expressive Arts – Drama supports high-quality teaching and learning from Early to Fourth Level.
The framework provides:
- A clear progression of skills and experiences
- Benchmarks for each level
- Practical classroom and digital resources to inspire creativity and reflection
CREATE supports schools to provide inclusive, engaging drama experiences for all learners, building staff confidence and ensuring consistency of approach across the city.
🎟️ Partnerships and Opportunities
CREATE works in partnership with many of Scotland’s leading arts organisations — including The Tron Theatre, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, National Theatre of Scotland, Citizens Theatre, and Scottish Youth Theatre.
These collaborations connect schools with professional artists and practitioners, offering pupils authentic opportunities to explore devising, performance, and technical theatre.
🎭 Glasgow Schools’ Youth Theatre (GSYT)
After a number of years away, Glasgow Schools’ Youth Theatre proudly returned under CREATE’s direction. GSYT brings together talented young people from across the city to develop their skills in acting, devising, and ensemble performance.
Through working with professional directors, tutors and designers, participants experience the excitement and challenge of creating theatre to a professional standard. The project nurtures confidence, creativity, and teamwork, providing an invaluable platform for pupils to grow as performers and collaborators — and to see themselves as part of Glasgow’s thriving creative community.
📘 Professional Learning and Resources
Teachers can access a range of support and learning opportunities, including:
- CREATE CLPL Opportunities
- Expressive Arts Framework – Drama
- SQA National Qualifications: Drama
- SQA National Qualifications: Musical Theatre (NPA)
- SQA National Qualifications: Acting and Performance (NPA)
- National Expressive Arts PLC – Education Scotland (Glow login required)
🎬 Drama in Action
From classroom performances to full-scale productions, pupils across Glasgow bring stories to life through drama. These experiences develop creativity, teamwork, emotional literacy, and confidence — empowering young people to express their ideas and find their voice on and off stage.
