KS5 (A Level) Curriculum

A Level Drama provides students with the opportunity to develop advanced performance, analytical and creative skills through both practical and written work. 

Students engage with a wide range of texts, practitioners and performance styles, encouraging independent thinking, creativity and a deeper understanding of theatre in both historical and contemporary contexts. The course develops confidence, communication, resilience and collaboration, equipping students with transferable skills that are highly valued in further education, the workplace and a wide range of career pathways. 

Edexcel, 9DRO

What qualities do I need to succeed on the A Level Drama Course?

Passion: A genuine interest in theatre and performance.

Creativity: Original, dynamic work is the key to high levels of success on this course.

Commitment: Students will be required to attend frequent after school rehearsals and give 100% effort in their work.

Team Player: Much of the course requires students to work in a group and develop their interactive skills.

Enthusiasm: The confidence to ‘have a go’ in all areas of the course.

Course Requirements

A GCSE grade 6 in Drama and a GCSE grade 5 in English Literature and Language is a required entry for the course. 

However, in exceptional circumstances related experience will be considered.

Course Outline

During the two-year course, students will study three components.

Component 1: Students will study a practitioner – Steven Berkoff and then create their own piece of theatre in the style of that practitioner as either an actor or designer.

Component 2: Requires students to create a group performance/design realisation of one key extract from a performance text and also a monologue or duologue performance/design realisation from a different performance text.

Component 3: A written exam consisting of:

Section A: Live Theatre Evaluation where students answer one extended response question from a choice of two requiring them to analyse and evaluate a live theatre performance they have seen.

Section B: Page to Stage: Realising a Performance Text where students answer two extended response questions based on an unseen extract from the performance text they have studied- Accidental Death of an Anarchist by Dario Fo, answering from the perspective of a performer and a designer.

Section C: Interpreting a Performance Text where students will answer one extended response question from a choice of two based on an unseen named section from their chosen performance text - Lysistrata.

We regularly arrange visits to a wide range of theatre, which have recently included: ‘Warhorse’,  ‘Othello’, ‘‘The Woman in Black’.

Career Opportunities

Inter-personal, teamwork and presentation skills, together with imagination and creativity are crucial to every career. Drama students are popular with all employers because they have creative, communication and organisational skills. Students develop confidence, self-presentation, analytical skills and self-discipline. They will also get used to working in a team and develop good research skills – abilities that will take them far.