Drama and Theatre - linear

Applications Open: - Friday 28th November 2025

Applications Close: - Friday 6 February 2026 - Please note - If you do not complete your application fully by the deadline of Friday 6 February 2026, we may not be able to consider it until August when GCSE results are published.

How to Apply:

Internal students - Applications to join our Sixth Form, via Applicaa, can be made via this link Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend (applicaa.com). PLEASE NOTE that you should use an e-mail address that you check regularly as the Applicca system will contact you with updates about your application.

External students - Year 11 Students from other schools applying to Mayfield Grammar School should apply via KentChoices using this link - https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk/login. Please note - After sending your application, you'll receive a welcome email from Applicaa asking for further information.

If you applied to us before the deadline but have not heard from us for a while please bear with us, we are working through the applications and will get back to you with our decision and advice as soon as we can. We will continue to send messages via Applicaa so please logon from time to time to check if we need some additional information from you

Applications After the deadline

Students who are interested in applying to Mayfield Grammar School for Sixth Form but have missed our application process can contact us once they have their GCSE results in August. After the publication of GCSE examinations results in August we ask that you make an appointment to discuss your application with the Sixth Form team. You need to call 01474 352896 or email admissions@mgsg.kent.sch.uk. Please check you have met our entry criteria for the subjects you want to study and read our Options Booklet under the Sixth Form tab on our website for our general entry criteria. If you meet our criteria, please get in touch, and bring your original documents for GCSE Results Summary and Birth Certificate as ID when you are offered an appointment.

Entry Requirements: -

Entry to the Sixth Form is dependent on demonstrating achievements which show general breadth of ability as well as depth in the specific courses chosen for study in the Sixth Form. For this reason you will need to have achieved all the following:

1. A minimum of 6 GCSEs at Grade 5 and above, preferably on the higher papers, in discrete subjects, with the exception of Combined Science, which counts as two subjects.

2. Grade 5 or above in GCSE English and GCSE Mathematics.

3. To have met the requirements of the individual subjects that you intend to study at A Level/Level 3, which are all, with the exception of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Languages, a minimum of Grade 6 at GCSE on the Higher papers. This is essential.

Essential skills

The most important skills that you need are collaboration and analytical thinking. You will need to evaluate objectively and develop your awareness of the influence of social and cultural context. Wider reading and a willingness to see live theatre is absolutely essential to succeed when studying this course. Students must be aware there are substantial practical and written elements to this course.

Year 12 and 13

The A Level course allows students the opportunity to study drama as a practical form. Students will create, perform and respond to theatre and develop their own creativity as theatre makers. They will consider the theoretical processes and practices involved in interpreting and performing theatre and how creative and artistic choices influence meaning to an audience. Students will achieve this by focusing on analysing sub text, the practical demands of a text, the relationship between performers and audience, spatial relationships on stage and character motivation and interaction. Students will use theory and practice to explore a range of theatrical periods, styles, and historical and social contexts. Students will consider how texts are constructed to be performed focusing on genre, structure, language, stage directions, and character construction.

This two year course is split into 3 main components:

• Devising

Students will develop their devising skills, based on sound knowledge of established drama practitioners, further developing their theatrical skills.

• Text in Performance

Students will perform excerpts of a published play, bringing them to life through their theatrical skills and by justifying their choices based on their knowledge of drama theory.

• Theatre Makers in Practice

Students will evaluate a live theatre production and practically explore and study a complete performance text – focusing on how this can be realised on stage in light of a chosen theatre practitioner.

Grade 6 in GCSE English, Grade 6 in GCSE English Literature, Grade 6 in GCSE Drama

University requirements

There are a wealth of universities offering Drama courses. These are some of the typical requirements: Exeter AAB-BBB, Kent ABB, Royal Holloway ABB-BBB. Drama Schools including: Rose Bruford College, LAMDA, Arts Educational, Mountview also offer BA courses (Please Note: some drama schools operate through UCAS applications and others have their own application process)

Links to Further Education

Drama and Theatre Studies, English; History; Acting, Lighting Design, Set Design, Costume Design, Journalism, Media, Teacher Training, or any other Arts subject

Links to Careers

Education; Theatre Director; Theatre Designer; Drama Therapist; Stage Manager; Law; Politics; Human Resources; Writer; Journalism; Author; Sales; Marketing; Screenwriter