GCSE Drama (old)

Ms B Dearden - Curriculum Team Leader Drama

WJEC GCSE Drama Course Specification (Current Year 11 - Summer 26 Exams)

Please note: Students starting GCSE Drama from September 2025 will follow the OCR course specification. Further information can be found here. Students who started GCSE Drama before September 2025 are following the WJEC Eduqas course specification (below).

Introduction

Drama supports and encourages personal expression and the exploration of a wide range of cultures, experiences, perspectives, and the world in which we live. Drama allows pupils to develop transferable skills in leadership, communication, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving.

This GCSE course gives students the opportunity to delve further into drama, exploring deeper issues and situations, as well as looking closer at characterisation and motivation. Students will study plays and playwrights, as well as going to see live theatre.

GCSE Drama involves performance – both devised and text. Students can opt to be examined on technical theatre instead of performance (set and props / lighting / sound / costume and makeup).

Students will be expected to attend at least one theatre visit, which they will write about in their final exam.

The WJEC Eduqas GCSE in Drama is an exciting, inspiring and practical course. The specification promotes involvement in and enjoyment of drama, as performers and/or designers. Additionally it provides opportunities to attend live theatre performances and to develop skills as informed and thoughtful audience members.

Assessment - GCSE Drama

Visit page

Drama Termly Overview GCSE

Download (pdf) | Preview

Equipment

Recommended Book: Find Me by Olwen Wymark: ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0573111367

Homework

Component 1 Coursework (set in 4 stages)
Component 1 Devising research and rehearsals.
Component 2 Line learning and rehearsals.
Component 3 Practice Essays

It is a course requirement that all students attend one live theatre visit during the course. This will be part of the Component 3 written exam.

Learning outside of the classroom

Year 10-13 Independent Production (Year 1)

Year 9-13 Musical Production (Year 2)

New View Play Writing Competition

Arts Award Gold

Theatre Visits and workshops as appropriate.

KS3 Drama

Visit page

KS4 Drama

GCSE Drama (old)

Visit page

GCSE Drama (new)

Visit page

KS5 Drama

A Level Drama

Visit page

Parents, staff and pupils are overwhelmingly happy with the quality of education at school and rightly so. Inspectors judge that this is an outstanding place to learn.

OFSTED
The curriculum is responsive to pupils’ interests and needs. They way in which it is organised helps to motivate pupils. The structure of the curriculum helps pupils to reach high standards.

OFSTED
Behaviour around the building is orderly and sensible. Within classrooms, behaviour is excellent.

OFSTED
Allerton High is a harmonious community. Pupils show high levels of respect towards other pupils and with adults in school. Pupils actively support each other and celebrate differences.

OFSTED
The school now has a history of outstanding outcomes for its pupils. Pupils make sustained progress across the curriculum and the standards that they reach are high.

OFSTED
Pupils show excellent attitudes to learning./ There is a thirst for knowledge and an excitement about lessons.

OFSTED
Teachers have high expectations of what pupils can achieve. There is a strong focus on the development of subject knowledge.

OFSTED
Leaders know their school well. They work relentlessly to make their school even better. They are highly effective in improving standards of provision.

OFSTED