GCSE Drama
- Teaching from: September 2016
- Exams from: June 2018
- Specification code: 8261
- QAN code: 601/8575/2
We’re confident that you’ll approve of our new specification. We’ve worked closely with teachers across the country to develop a specification that will inspire, challenge and motivate you and your students.
We’ve kept as much emphasis as possible on the practical, so your students have every opportunity to take part in a performance. Students can study as a performer, or a designer, or both. For design, they can specialise in lighting, sound, set, costume and puppets.
Our specification is diverse, practical and accessible to students of all abilities, and provides opportunities for teachers and students who may have studied Performing Arts rather than Drama in the past.
Teaching resources
Plan
Prepare for your teaching year. Information, support and services to help you deliver the specification.
Teach
Teaching resources that you can use to plan your lessons and support your students’ learning.
Assess
Prepare your students for assessment. Specimen and past papers, mark schemes, example answers.
Key dates
- Coursework deadline for GCSE Drama and Performing Arts (8261/C)
Schools and colleges may set their own internal deadlines - Exam for GCSE Drama (8261/W)
Series: June 2019
Start time: pm
Duration: 1h 45m - GCSE Drama and Performing Arts (8261/X)
Specification news 
AQA do understand how hectic it is to be a teacher and they really keep us up to date and show their awareness.
Juliette McGirr,
Teacher
Thinking of teaching GCSE Drama with us?
Talk to us
Aimee Harris and the customer support team.
8am–5.30pm Monday to Friday
Tel: 01483 556301
Email: drama@aqa.org.uk