Drama department wins prestigious national award

We are delighted to announce that Godalming College has won the ‘Outstanding School Drama Department’ category in the Music & Drama Education Awards 2024. 

The Music & Drama Education Awards celebrate the extraordinary contribution made by professionals, schools, companies, charities and other organisations to the lives of others through the medium of Drama and Music. 

“It was a great honour just to be shortlisted for this award and it just shows the dedication and hard work of our Drama department. They absolutely deserve this recognition”, says Oliver Stevens, Deputy Principal.   

ClassAction, our very own Drama, Dance and Performing Arts department, was one of five shortlisted Drama departments nationwide and faced stiff competition from Wellington College, Chiswick School, Morton School Sixth Form and Beaumont School.   

“It's wonderful to keep drama rooted in the curriculum”, says Andrew Pullen, Head of Department for Drama, Dance and Performing Arts at Godalming College. “Here at Godalming we celebrate drama as a unique practical and academic subject in its own right. The Performing Arts also are an important factor to people’s wellbeing and the UK economy and we hope to make a valuable contribution to both, here at the College.” 

The awarding panel was comprised of expert judges, such as Dr Steve Ball from the Drama and Theatre Education Alliance, Natalie Clarke from London Bubble, Alison Mears from Guildhall Drama School and Maddie Short from the Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation.   

In the category ‘Outstanding School Drama Department’, judges were looking for exceptional drama provision and for staff that go above and beyond to support students with access to drama and theatre opportunities in and out of school.  One of the most special elements of this award is that our DDPA department were nominated by ex-students. 

Mark Woodward, Director of Faculty says, “Emphasising the strength of the College's links to the industry, the judges agreed that Godalming's DDPA department provides excellent opportunities for learning with professional companies and practitioners, making them a deserving winner. They were also thoroughly impressed by the brilliant extracurricular options, passionate teaching staff and success and track record of our alumnx.  The team are thrilled to have received this thoroughly deserved accolade.” 

 See what some of our former students have to say about ClassAction: 

Ethan Rouse, now at Royal Welsh says "For the first time in my education, it felt like I was being treated as a serious practitioner and a theatre maker, rather than just a student, and that allowed me to develop valuable craft-skills which helped me get into drama school."  

"My experience with ClassAction gave me the ability to collaborate, ultimately preparing me for life at drama school and in the industry after that. I am forever thankful for what ClassAction has taught me - it is the foundation for all that I hope to achieve in the future," comments Harry Horton, now at Rose Bruford.  

"I would not have achieved all that I have since College without the support, drive and passion that bursts from this department. Being in a safe environment that pushed me has equipped me with the creative, professional and practical craft-skills needed to progress in this industry. I owe so much to ClassAction, and am incredibly grateful for my time there," says Emma Currier now at Mountview.