The CCEA GCSE Drama specification motivates and inspires students to build and showcase their competence in a range of creative, practical and performance skills.

This comprehensive and innovative course encourages students to develop a personal interest in drama. Students choose one of two pathways – performance (acting), or design (costume, lighting, multimedia, set or sound). They work creatively with others, generating, developing and communicating their ideas for a devised performance and for a scripted performance. They also explore social, historical and cultural influences on drama texts and activities.

Both the theoretical and practical elements of the course help students to become critical thinkers with enquiring minds, confident communicators, and independent learners.

This qualification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed through the Area of Learning The Arts.

This specification is a linear qualification: students take all the assessment at the end of the course.

The specification has three components:

• Component 1: Devised Performance
• Component 2: Scripted Performance
• Component 3: Knowledge and Understanding of Drama.