| Key Stage | Qualification | Course Code | Exam Board |
| KS4 | GCSE | AQA Drama 8261 | AQA |
| KS5 | A LEVEL | AQA Drama & Theatre Studies 7262 | AQA |
| KS5 | BTEC | Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Performing Arts | Pearson |
Years 10 & 11
GCSE Drama offers students the opportunities to develop their practical skills and to enhance their appreciation and understanding of live productions and a range of play texts. It enables students to create and explore fictional contexts in order to reflect on their own and others’ experience and understanding of the world; it encourages imaginative and analytical thinking and can play an important part in equipping students for the demands of society.
Course Content
The subject content for GCSE Drama is divided into three components:
| 1. Understanding Drama | 2. Devising Drama | 3. Texts in practice |
In practical components students may specialise in performing, lighting, sound, set, costume and/or puppets.
| Component | Assessment |
| Component 1: Understanding drama What’s assessed Knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre, Study of one set play from a choice of six, Analysis and evaluation of the work of live theatre makers | Written exam 1 hour and 45 minutes 40% of GCSE. |
| Component 2: Devising drama (practical) What’s assessed Process of creating devised drama, Performance of devised drama (students may contribute as performer or designer), Analysis and evaluation of own work | Devising log and devised performance 40% of GCSE |
| Component 3: Texts in practice (practical) What’s assessed Performance of two extracts from one play (students may contribute as performer or designer). Free choice of play but it must contrast with the set play chosen for Component 1. | Performance 20% of GCSE |
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Sixth Form (Drama and Theatre Studies)
| Component | Assessment |
| Component 1: Drama and Theatre Knowledge and understanding of drama and theatre. Study of two set plays. Analysis and evaluation of the work of live theatre makers. | Written exam 3 hours 40% of A Level |
| Component 2: Creating Original Drama Process of creating devised drama. Performance of devised drama. | Working Notebook Devised performance 30% of A Level |
| Component 3 – Making Theatre Practical exploration and interpretation of three extracts, each taken from a different play. (Methodology of a prescribed practitioner must be applied to Extract 3.) Extract 3 is to be performed as a final assessment piece. Reflective report analysing and evaluating theatrical interpretation of all three extracts. | Performance of Extract 3 Reflective report 30% of A Level |
Sixth Form (Performing Arts BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate)
| Unit | Assessment |
| 1: Investigating Practitioners’ Work A: Investigating contextual factors B: The relationships between contextual factors, creative intentions and themes C: Critical analysis of the work of performing arts practitioners D: Be able to present conclusions and independent judgements through effective investigation | Internal |
| 2: Developing Skills and Techniques for Live Performance A: Understand the role and skills of a performer B: Develop performance skills and techniques for live performance C: Apply performance skills and techniques in selected styles D: Review and reflect on development of skills and techniques for live performance | Internal |
| 3 – Group Performance Workshop A: Generating and exploring ideas from a stimulus B: Develop and realise creative ideas for a group performance in response to stimulus C: Personal management and collaborative skills D: Communicative creative intentions through group workshop performance E: Review and reflect on effectiveness of the working process and the workshop performance (The fourth unit is chosen for study, based on the current student intake and their own personal skills and interests.) | Synoptic External |
