The essential role of drama in education

: Published: 27 November 2025

GES theatre

By Sabine Hutcheson, Director of Marketing & Head of Secondary Admissions at Geneva English School

Why does Drama play an important role in children’s education?
Amongst the creative arts that are taught in most schools, namely Music, Art & Design, and Drama, the latter often doesn’t feature formally on the curriculum or, more often, is undervalued and amalgamated with language learning. Drama is, however, a key discipline through which children develop personally and emotionally and hone the skills that will serve them throughout their lives as successful members of their community.

How does Drama fit in a school's curriculum?
Drama is often overlooked in schools, as reflected, for example, in its complete absence from the Swiss curriculum. At Geneva English School, there is a deliberate effort to afford the same consideration to Drama as to the other creative arts. From the Early Years Programme all the way to Secondary school, children are taught by a specialist teacher, in a bespoke drama studio. From storytelling to interpreting characters, to using body language to convey emotions, to verbally articulating complex ideas, skills explored in Drama are essential for the personal growth of young people. At GES, Drama spills over into enrichment and extra-curricular activities, giving students the opportunity to perform in plays and musicals several times in the year, including optional theatre training for 16-18 year olds who perform to their peers in Primary school.

Drama as a tool for personal development
Drama is an invaluable tool for developing confidence, communication skills, and effective social and professional interaction. It acts as practice for life itself - teaching how to conduct oneself successfully, understand emotions, and interact more constructively with others. It links perfectly to the study of language, syntax, tone and vocabulary.

In the Geneva region, in addition to choosing a school that delivers Drama as part of its curriculum, international families have the opportunity to enrol their children in English-speaking theatre groups that offer structured and wide-ranging programmes, such as Simply Theatre. Beyond traditional theatrical performance, children and teenagers have access to LAMDA examinations in acting and musical theatre. The former, training for which can also be held within schools such as GES, covers Speaking Verse and Prose, Reading for Performance, and Speaking in Public. In doing so, young people learn to communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively, and also build their confidence and self-esteem.