May 2026 Drama update

• Support for centres in the middle east
• Component 1 sampling this year
• Admin Support Guides
• Component 3 exams
• Component 3 assessment materials release dates
• Training events and support this term
• Thinking of switching to Pearson? 
• Drama and Theatre Facebook group
• Support and contact

Support for centres in the middle east

We know many centres are experiencing disruption due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to stay informed.

We recently ran an online support session which you can view below.

If you have any questions please do get in touch with us by either emailing drama.assessment@pearson.com or via the Pearson Portal

Component 1 sampling this year

There are some slight changes to the Component 1 sampling rules for students completing their GCSE and A Level Drama courses this year.

In both GCSE and A Level, the number of students to be sampled has been increased from 10 to 15. This guidance has been in the Administrative Support Guide since September (you can access the ASGs below).

Selecting students for GCSE Drama remains the same process this year; you select a range including the lowest and highest scoring students.

For A Level Drama and Theatre, the process is different; you must submit all the Component 1 marks for your students; we will then select those those to be sampled (the selection is usually displayed within six hours of submitting the marks). 

Any questions, please do get in touch with us.

Admin Support Guides 2026

The Administrative Support Guide is the go-to place for all the information and guidance your centre needs for administering the three Components successfully.

It contains:

• guidance on submitting your Component 1 work by 15th May
• 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 exams

The Component 3 exams for both GCSE Drama and A Level Drama and Theatre are happening in May this year, with the A level exam appearing a lot earlier in the exam timetable than in previous years.

I hope you and your students are feeling confident about the exam and wish them well; if they need any last minute revision and guidance, we do have lots of exemplars available on our website, plus the Lead Examiner reports provide some excellent hints and guidance on approaches to meeting the requirements of each question.

Component 3 Assessment Material release dates

The question papers, mark scheme and examiner reports for the May Component 3 exams will be released as follows:

GCSE and A Level Drama training events this term

We have some free face to face and online training events happening this term for both GCSE and A Level, including practical workshops with Kneehigh, New to Edexcel, and Sharing Best Practice in Pedagogy.

We are really excited about the workshops with Mike Shepherd, former artistic director of Kneehigh Theatre Company.

These events will aim to:
• give teachers the knowledge, skills and confidence to apply the working methodologies of Kneehigh within a practical context for GCSE and A Level Pearson Edexcel specifications
• provide high-quality CPD for teachers in making work accessible to students of all abilities and interests (with embedded references to music, dance, design and direction/devising/adapting rather than just acting)
• provide opportunities for learning and experience for teachers of all levels of experience, including ECTs, experienced teachers and trainees.

Come join us!

Thinking of switching to Pearson? 

We have created helpful guides to support teachers when switching to Pearson for our GCSE Drama and A Level Drama and Theatre qualifications.

We will also be hosting two online events for teachers who are switching, or are considering switching, to Pearson:

GCSE Drama: Switching To Pearson – Tuesday 12th May (4pm-5.30pm) 

A Level Drama and Theatre: Switching to Pearson – Thursday 14th May (4pm-5.30pm) 

Please sign up to be informed when the events are available for registration.

Switching to Pearson: GCSE Drama and A Level Drama & Theatre – Fill in form 

Pearson Edexcel Drama and Theatre Facebook Group

Join the Pearson Edexcel Drama and Theatre Facebook Group

Support and contact

Please feel free to get in touch, if you require any help or support in your teaching and assessment of the qualifications.