Facilities and Staff

We are very fortunate to have two drama studios and a Proscenium Stage in our main school hall, all three spaces fitted with colour changing LED lights. In 2023 we upgraded our main drama studio in the Sixth Form Centre with a new LED lighting rig, curtains and lighting desk, expanding our existing rig to 48 lights and since 2021 we have upgraded our sound systems in both drama studios. But facilities mean nothing without a dedicated team helping our student to get the most out of the latest theatre technology. 

We are fortunate to have two dedicated drama specialists at our school who deliver our KS4 and KS5 curriculum supported by additional drama specialists and English teachers who help deliver the KS3 curriculum and support many of our extracurricular activities. Our head of drama is an examiner and has worked for both AQA and Edexcel at both GCSE and A’Level. We have worked hard over the last three years to build a cohesive and cooperative approach to drama at the school and we are really proud of our teaching team. 

Mr A C Smith – Head of Department – BA (Hons) Theatre Studies and Spanish

Adrian has been teaching GCSE and A Level Drama since 2005. He joined us in 2020 having previously worked at the school briefly in 2016 and again in 2017. A Theatre graduate he has worked for both Edexcel and AQA as a Drama examiner for both GCSE and A Level. His main interests are Theatre History, Naturalism, Writing for Theatre, Directing and Production Design. Adrian manages the HOUSELIGHTS productions and is a keen advocate for Theatre for All. 

Mrs V Cackett – BA (Hons) Drama and English 

An alumni of Clarendon House, Vicki has been at the school since 2010 and co-directs our annual school production. A keen performer, prior to her teacher training she has worked with some touring theatre groups and has a key interest in Performance, Directing and Physical Theatre. Vicki runs our Key Stage 3 Drama club and supports the HOUSELIGHTS productions. 

Mrs M Gregory 

Maxine delivers some of our Key Stage 3 classes and runs our successful Shakespeare for Schools programme. When she is not in our lower school drama studio she can be found teaching English elsewhere in the school.

Mr R Potter – MA Humanities (English Lit.) 

Richard has been at the school since 2015 and mainly teaches English, however he supports us with our Key Stage 3 lessons and has supported on some of our productions. 

Mrs A Cross - BA(Hons) Drama and performance 

Ashiima joined us in 2023 and is a physical theatre specialist. She helps to teach our Key Stage 3 curriculum and will be running our National Youth Theatre programme from September 2023.