We have a brilliant exploration of how everyday Drama practice can nurture ownership, confidence, and resilience while fostering a sense of belonging within the ensemble, written by the wonderful Bindya Chauhan, who is one of our Credible Specialist for GCSE and A Level Drama.
February 2026 Drama update
Mon Feb 02 14:45:00 UTC 2026
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I hope this spring term is going well so far. In this February update you will find all the latest news on our GCSE and A Level Drama and Theatre qualifications.
Please do get in touch if you have any questions using my details below.
In this update you will find information on:
- Key dates
- GCSE and A Level Drama and Theatre Component 2 information 2025/2026
- A Level Component 3 new exemplars
- Admin Support Guides 2026
- Component 3 live theatre declaration
- Finding Your Main Character Energy
- Music and Drama Education EXPO 2026
- Ofqual consultation for on-screen assessment
- Drama and Theatre Facebook group
- Help Improve Exam Equity for Neurodivergent Students!
- Support and contact
Summer 2026 entry deadline
The deadline for making entries for UK GCSE and A level centres offering Drama is 21 February 2026.
The deadline for international centres offering GCSE and A Level Drama is 21 March 2026.
GCSE and A Level Drama and Theatre Component 2 information 2025/2026
Here is an update on the Component 2 assessment window for this academic year.
The Component 2 assessment window opened on the 5th January and runs until the 24th April.
If you haven't heard from your examiner for Component 2 please do get in touch with us by emailing drama.assessment@pearson.com or contacting us via the
Please note: Exam entries must be made in your centre before the Component 2 assessment takes place. Please speak to your exams office about this.
A Level Component 3 new exemplars
We have brand new exemplars for the three sections of Component 3.
The purpose of this pack is to provide teachers and students with some examples of
responses to A level Drama and Theatre Component 3 (9DR0/03).
The responses were taken from the Summer 2025 examination series; you will find a sample of responses, examiner commentaries and marks.
| Section | Play | Practitioner |
| A | Three Muskateers | |
| A | Metapmorphosis | |
| A | Ocean At The End Of The Lane | |
| A | Our Country's Good | |
| B | Machinal | |
| B | Accidental Death of an Anarchist | |
| C | Antigone | Brecht |
| C | Hedda Gabler | Stanislavski |
| C | The Tempest | Kneehigh |
| C | Dr Faustus | Berkoff |
Admin Support Guides 2026
The Administrative Support Guide for the 2025-26 academic year is the go-to place for all the information and guidance your centre needs for administering the three Components successfully.
It contains:
- the key dates for this academic year
- a breakdown of the requirements for each Component
- a link to the Live Theatre Evaluation Confirmation Form
- guidance on how to use LWT
- contact details for your assessment team and Subject Advisor
Component 3 live theatre declaration
As part of the GCSE Drama and A Level Drama & Theatre qualifications, students are required to watch a live theatre performance as a member of a live audience. Centres are required to submit a Live Theatre Performance Confirmation Survey to confirm that this requirement has been met.
You must submit a confirmation of visiting live theatre to us by 1st May in the year of assessment using this survey.
Please submit a form for each qualification being offered in your centre e.g. one for GCSE, one for A level.
The 2026 Music and Drama Education EXPO takes place on 12 and 13 February in the Business Design Centre in London
.Both days are free and there are tons of workshops, talks, seminars and opportunities to learn about what's happening in the world of performing arts, music and drama education.
On Thursday at 1015am in the Exhibitor Showcase Theatre myself and the Subject Advisor for Music, Jeff Hole, will be leading a session on the future of Key Stage 4 and 5 qualifications in Music, Drama and Performing Arts.
We will be discussing our perspective on the future of Key Stage 4 and 5 qualifications in Music, Drama and Performing Arts, sharing research findings, priorities from teachers and students, and what the future holds for these subjects.
Ofqual consultation for on-screen assessment
Ofqual has launched a consultation on proposals for how on-screen assessment should be regulated in GCSEs, AS and A levels in England. Whilst they propose a controlled introduction of on-screen assessment, pen-and-paper will remain central to most exams.
As teachers working directly with students, you understand their needs and the challenges this proposal may present.
Your opinion counts. The consultation closes on 5 March 2026. Please take a look and have your say.
Do you teach GCSE Drama or A level Drama and Theatre?
Then this group was made for you. It’s a friendly, professional space where you can share ideas, swap tips, and ask those everyday teaching questions.
Whether you're after inspiration or support, this is a great place to collaborate with others and get the latest news.
Help Improve Exam Equity for Neurodivergent Students!
Pearson has partnered with the UCL Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE), to look at how neurotypical and neurodivergent (e.g. those who are autistic/have ADHD) students answer GCSE exam questions
Exam Inequality for Neurodivergent Students
We hope this will allow us to make our exams more accessible for all students.
We would be very grateful if centres would consider taking part in the next phase of this very important project.
Find out more and express an interest in the research
Subject advisor
Paul Webster
Drama, Theatre and Performing Arts
Facebook :
Phone :
+44 (0) 344 463 2535
(Teaching Services team | Mon - Fri, 8am - 5pm GMT)
