We are delighted to have welcomed Headington Rye Preparatory School to our list of Trinity Champion Centres this year. In this blog, the school’s Speech & Drama teacher, Richard Kidd, writes about how his own experience with dyslexia helps him to support his students, and how incorporating Trinity's Drama exams into his teaching benefits them.
When we think of education, it’s easy to picture libraries, exam papers, and late-night study sessions - all focused on academic achievement. While those images can be beautiful, they didn’t play a central role in my own educational journey.
I’m dyslexic and, like many adults my age, I didn’t discover this until much later in life. It was during my time at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama that a teacher noticed me struggling through a text. He said, “I think you might be dyslexic. Would you like to get tested?”. I agreed and, when the results confirmed it, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. It wasn’t that I was lazy or lacking ability — I just had a different kind of brain.
Out of the 24 people in my year, nine of us were dyslexic. It made me reflect on the connection between creative and academic minds. Fast forward to today and I now use Trinity exams to help young people express themselves and discover a sense of ownership and pride, particularly in areas where they may have previously struggled to feel successful.
That’s not to say only someone with an artistic brain can thrive in Trinity exams — far from it! We see a wide range of talents and abilities. But something I’ve consistently noticed, and that my fellow teachers often comment on, is how some students, who don’t typically excel in traditional academic settings, really shine here - they excel in drama and, in particular, the Trinity exams.
One such student, who I’ll call Teressa, left a lasting impression on me this year after she joined our Year 6 Trinity Drama after-school club. I’d heard there had been a few challenges in the past — Teressa is autistic and sometimes finds it difficult to express herself or step into the spotlight. But she showed up, ready to give it a try.
We created a devised piece together, which was perfect as she didn’t have to follow a script. She could tell her own story and listen to others’ as well. Eventually, our piece evolved into a series of campfire ghost stories. On the day of the exam, Teressa and the rest of the group gave an outstanding performance, earning a 97% Distinction in her Speech and Drama exam.
The score was wonderful, but even more powerful was the message we received from her parents afterward. They told us they’d watched the group’s play and were amazed. “Drama has become so important to her,” they said. “She’s learned to manage her emotions and express herself in ways she never could before.” Teressa has already signed up for next year’s drama programme and even joined a local children’s theatre group.
Thanks to the Trinity Speech and Drama syllabuses, Teressa found something she truly excels at - something that’s earned her praise from her parents, teachers, and peers. Every child is different, and while academic brilliance deserves to be celebrated, qualifications like Trinity’s ensure more children have the chance to experience that feeling of success.
Would you like to learn more about becoming a Trinity Champion Centre? Find our more here.
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