Course Leader:

Mrs H Whitmore – hwhitmore@sackvilleschool.org.uk

Exam board: AQA 

Guidance: Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, ideally including a 5 or above in English language or literature; this will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Some previous performance experience in or outside of school, commitment and good attendance.

Course Start Date: 09/2026

Course length: 2 Years

Course description:

The course has been designed to give learners the opportunity to develop and expand your acting skills and explore how theatre has developed through the ages. This is a course that will suit those who enjoy drama and the performing arts, are committed to developing as performers and who want to be assessed in both a theory and practical context. Over the duration of the course you will perform extracts from three plays, devise your own performance and explore theatre development through an exploration of two set texts. 

 

You would enjoy this course if you:

• love acting and are comfortable performing

• enjoy working as part of a team

• are interested in learning more about theatre styles and practitioners

• are organised and good at meeting deadlines throughout the course

• enjoy exploring in the theory of performance as well as the practical

 

Course units:

Component One: Drama and theatre (40%)- Exam 

The practical and critical study of two set texts and live theatre analysis. 

Component Two: Creating original drama (30%) ( practical)
Students take part in a series of practical workshops and then devise a performance in the style of theatre practitioner. Students will also complete a written note book alongside this.

Component Three: Making Theatre  (30%)
Students will explore and interpret three extracts (Extract 1, 2 and 3) each taken from a different play. A visiting examiner from the exam board will come in to assess this unit in year 13. 

AQA Drama Specification 

Assessment:

One exam which consists of questions focused on two set texts and a live theatre review. A devised performance which you will develop as part of a group and complete a work notebook alongside this. A practical exploration of a script performed to an examiner, you will also complete a reflective report which will highlight how you explored the other two sections of script.

What can I do with this qualification?

The course helps you to develop a range of important transferable skills including creativity, teamwork, leadership and self-evaluation skills which are useful in almost any future career. Many of our students go on to further study of Drama and or Performing Arts in a higher education context or career paths in the performing arts industry. Drama also lends itself well to careers in law, teaching, hospitality and leisure, drama therapy, broadcasting, sales, PR, marketing, HR and arts administration. It combines well with subjects such as English language and literature, media, art, film studies and music.