May 2025 Drama update
Hello and welcome to the May update.
I hope that the summer term has started well for you and your students.
If you ever need to get in touch, please use my details below.
In this update you will find:
Support for teachers and students during summer exams
There's lots of support and guidance for you and your students with the Component 3 exams.
You can find information from Ofqual, JCQ and Pearson on exams, including 'top tips for exam day' for students - this guide includes exam advice, what happens after an exam and where to find more support.
Plus support for your students with exam stress and wellbeing
And we have a range of resources and support we have available to help you through the exam season. Have a look and find out more
GCSE Drama Component 3 exam
The GCSE Drama Component 3 exam takes place in the morning of Thursday 8th May. I hope that all students are prepared and feeling confident.
Please make sure that the correct exam entries have been made for Component 3. You can check on Edexcel Online via your exams office.
There are two entry codes and the correct one should be used, according to the set text being studied:
| 1DRO 3A List A |
1DRO 3B List B |
|---|---|
| A Doll's House | 100 |
| An Inspector Calls | 1984 |
| Antigone | Blue Stockings |
| Government Inspector | DNA |
| The Crucible | The Free9 |
| Twelfth Night | Gone Too Far! |
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
You can now submit your Component 1 materials to your moderator via the 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
