April 2025 Drama update
Hello and welcome to this April update. The Easter break is almost upon us and hope that you and your students are doing well.
If you ever need to get in touch, please use my details below.
In this update you will find:
GCSE Drama The Crucible appendix
The appendix, where John and Abigail meet in secret, was omitted from editions of the published text between November 2023 and March 2025. Therefore we would like to assure you that the appendix will not feature as an unseen extract in the assessment in the examination paper.
However, we would like to give learners the opportunity to explore the appendix to have a fuller understanding of the play. We have provided a PDF copy of the extract to support with Teaching and Learning for this set text on the GCSE Drama qualification page.
We have also updated our FAQ document about this.
Component 1 update
You will be able to submit your Component 1 materials to your moderator from 15th April on Learner Work Transfer platform. The window will be open until 15th May.
For GCSE - you decide on the students to be sampled.
This must include the:
• highest overall scoring candidate
• lowest overall scoring candidate
• work of at least eight further candidates with a range of marks between
the highest and the lowest scoring candidates – ideally from the same
performance groups
For A level - we choose the sample, and you can find the details on Edexcel Online.
For further details of this process, please follow the instructions in the Administrative Support Guide
GCSE Drama: Supporting Students on Design Routes
This training session is for centres currently offering or considering offering design routes (Costume Design, Lighting Design, Set Design and Sound Design) in GCSE Drama.
We will explain the requirements of design routes in the specification and explore a range of practical teaching and learning strategies for supporting students following these routes.You will have the opportunity to evaluate exemplars of design work in Components 1 and 2 using the assessment criteria for designers.
| 1st July 2025 | 4-6pm BST | Book a place |
Facebook Drama group
We have a Facebook Drama community group for teachers. It's a private, professional group, created to support teacher in delivering our Drama and Theatre qualifications.
Teachers can use this group to field teaching and learning ideas, ask general questions and connection with other Drama and Theatre teachers.
I will be available to respond to queries on the group every week day between 9 and 5pm.
Teacher CPD in Peckham, London
As part of their 25th anniversary activity, Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation (CSSF) is a hosting a one-of-a-kind CPD event bringing together teachers and leading theatre practitioners; Playful Spaces (Saturday 12 July in Peckham) will explore how creativity can re-energise teaching practice and reintroduce joy to the classroom.
CSSF are looking for collaborators and offering sponsorship packages with the opportunity to receive tickets to attend Playful Spaces and other 25th anniversary activities.
Contact their Programmes and Creative Lead: Maddie.short@coramshakespeareschools.org.uk
Subject advisor
Paul Webster
Drama, Theatre and Performing Arts
