Drama 11–12
Students build knowledge, understanding and skills through engagement with the interrelated practices of making, performing, and critically reflecting/studying.
Drama 11–12 Syllabus (2025)
The department is supporting teachers to engage with and enact the new Drama 11–12 Syllabus (2025) developed by NESA as part of the NSW Curriculum Reform.
The Drama 11–12 Syllabus (2025) is to be implemented from 2027, with planning beginning in 2026. The syllabus will be taught to Year 11 from Term 1, 2027. Schools are to begin teaching Year 12 in Term 4, 2027. The first HSC examination for Drama 11–12 Syllabus (2025) is in 2028.
Sample scope and sequences
Sample scope and sequences provide an overview of how to structure teaching and learning programs for Drama in Years 11 to 12. Knowledge, understanding and skills are built through engagement with the 3 content groups of making, performing, and critically reflecting.
All NSW public schools need to plan curriculum and develop teaching programs consistent with the Education Act 1990 (NSW) and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) syllabuses and credentialing requirements.
Scope and sequences form part of the ongoing documentation or evidence schools maintain to comply with the department’s policy, policy standards and registration requirements.
Developing a robust scope and sequence has many benefits and may help teachers and schools to:
- promote high expectations for student learning
- identify opportunities for explicit teaching
- create opportunities for students to receive feedback on their learning
- systematically plan for and undertake assessment
- collect and use data to monitor achievements and identify gaps in learning
- differentiate curriculum delivery to meet the needs of students at different levels of achievement
- collaborate with other teachers to plan for quality teaching and learning.
Sample assessment schedules
All NSW public schools need to plan school-based assessments to be consistent with the departments Curriculum policy standards, ACE rules and the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) syllabuses and credentialing requirements.
Drama Stage 6 Syllabus (2009)
The Drama Stage 6 Syllabus (2009) is to be taught until the implementation of the Drama 11–12 Syllabus (2025). The 2025 syllabus is to be implemented from 2027.
This Drama Stage 6 (2009) Quick Reference Guide 2026 provides an overview of support available to implement the Drama Stage 6 Syllabus (2009).
Making
Students will develop knowledge and understanding in making when:
- developing and adopting performance skills in a variety of theatrical situations, roles and characters
- interpreting, expressing and performing scripted and unscripted material through a variety of forms of media
- understanding, manipulating and analysing the use of the elements of drama in performance
- playbuilding and directing performances to communicate dramatic meaning as an individual and group performer
- demonstrating skills using the elements of production and valuing the contribution of an individual through the collaborative group performance process.
Performing
Students will develop knowledge and understanding in performing when:
- demonstrating performance skills with a dynamic and effective actor-audience relationship as an individual and group performer
- understanding the contribution and roles of the elements of production staff and how this attributes to how well an audience is engaged during a performance
- performing in a variety of styles and theatre spaces in a diverse range of theatrical contexts
- demonstrating exemplary knowledge of the elements of drama when performing
- appreciating the complexity of the performance process, commitment, focus and energy required for the theatre industry.
Critically studying
Students will develop knowledge and understanding in critically studying when:
- evaluating and appraising personal, professional and the performances of others in written and oral responses
- demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the impact of theatre and society as cultural and issues-based expressions in Australia and overseas
- researching, appreciating and analysing the value of various theatrical styles, the theatre industry and theatrical movements throughout history and the present.
Sample scope and sequences
The sample Stage 6 scope and sequence documents provide teachers with overviews for programming and assessment in the HSC and Preliminary drama courses.
Sample assessment schedules and tasks
The samples below have been provided to assist in planning for and assessing Stage 6 drama.
Assessment schedules
- HSC drama sample assessment schedule 1 (DOCX 49.58 KB)
- HSC drama sample assessment schedule 2 (DOCX 48.64 KB)
- HSC drama sample assessment schedule 3 (DOCX 48.82 KB)
Assessment tasks
- Contemporary Australian theatre practice:
- Significant plays of the 20th century:
- Individual project:
Sample assessment schedules and tasks
The samples below have been provided to assist in planning for and assessing Stage 6 drama.
Our Town – Thornton Wilder
The following sample assessment task is for a study of Thornton Wilder's play, Our Town.
Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) presents school productions, teacher training and workshops for secondary and primary students as well as drama, English and entertainment teachers.
The English National Theatre provides resource packs of current and past productions as well as a virtual tour of the venue.
The NSW Arts unit offers professional learning workshops and opportunities for teachers of the arts, including drama.
Teaching resources
Sample teaching and learning resources.
Student interviews
These videos explore a series of approaches and insights into the group performance processes and the various individual project options for the HSC drama course. These interviews are one component derived from our online professional learning module titled 'Stage 6 Drama - Inside the projects' (RG14249).
Logbook checklist
The logbook checklist (DOCX 44.2 KB) provides teachers with a straightforward guide for suggested logbook inclusions. By following this list, teachers can monitor their student's process through the individual project and or group performance through a rich investigative procedure.
Elements of drama poster and animated video
Elements of drama poster and brief animated video are available to print, play and display in your classroom via the links below.
Elements of drama summary and individual elements of drama poster (PDF 7.8 MB)
Watch the Elements of drama video (04:54).
Preliminary teaching resources
Sample teaching and learning resources for Year 11 Drama.
Preliminary rationale guide
The rationale guide (DOCX 73 KB) provides teachers with a student-centred scaffold to support Stage 5 and Year 11 drama students in developing an individual directorial intention. By using the guiding questions, students can begin to justify their creative decisions and make connections to intended dramatic meaning.
Group devising – using research as stimulus
The group devising – using research as stimulus learning sequence includes suggested activities and resource links for teaching improvisation, acting and playbuilding in the preliminary drama course. Students will use research and active improvisation to generate and refine an original piece of group devised theatre. This resource also includes a summative assessment task and marking rubrics.
Text and intention
The text and intention 9-week unit of work includes suggested learning activities, assessment and resource links for teaching theatrical traditions and performance styles in Year 11. Students will explore and research the approaches of various theatre practitioners, and work collaboratively to interpret and perform script extracts from 'Love and Information' by Caryl Churchill.
HSC teaching resources
Sample teaching and learning resources for Year 12 Drama.
Bogart, Landau and Viewpoints – student workbook
Bogart, Landau and Viewpoints – student workbook (DOCX 2.2 MB) – a resource exploring content for Topic 4: Approaches to Acting set for study in the 2025–2027 HSC drama course.
Introducing the HSC IP
An interactive online module to support students selecting and developing their HSC drama individual project (IP). This resource is flexibly designed for individual or whole class use.
Teachers can set activities or work through the series of individual project option activities. As students progress through the module, teachers can interact with students and provide feedback in various forms. There are two quizzes and an individual project questionnaire for students to complete in this module.
Teachers can collect student responses by duplicating the links below and providing these to students separately.
HSC IP rationale guide
The HSC IP rationale guide (DOCX 72 KB) provides teachers with a scaffold and sample paragraphs for suggested individual project rationale development. By using the scaffold, teachers can support HSC drama students in structuring and expressing a clear and succinct dramatic intention for the submitted project or individual performance.
Student-centred online modules
- Contemporary Australian theatre practice (Course prescriptions for Drama Stage 6 2025–2027) – a student-centred online module exploring 4 plays set for 2025–2027 study in Topic 2: Contemporary Australian theatre practice.
- Black comedy study module – exploring content for Topic 6: Black Comedy of the Stage 6 HSC drama course.
- Brecht study module – exploring content for Topic 8: Significant plays of the 20th Century of the Stage 6 HSC drama course.
- Jacques Lecoq study module – exploring content for Topic 4: Approaches to Acting of the Stage 6 HSC drama course.
- Vsevolod Meyerhold study module – exploring content for Topic 4: Approaches to Acting of the Stage 6 HSC drama course.
Assessment in the HSC
The Assessment in the HSC resource is designed to provide Stage 6 teachers with opportunities to develop their understanding of the assessment requirements for the practical and performance works in the HSC drama course. It has been written to support and compliment the NESA Creative Arts Assessment and Reporting in Stage 6 drama advice and requirements.
HSC drama teachers can use this resource to:
- familiarise themselves with the requirements of each practical and performance component
- develop their understanding of the language of the NESA assessment criteria for each of the practical and performance works
- develop confidence in applying assessment criteria through identification and analysis of work sample characteristics
- assist Year 12 students in making informed choices when selecting course options
- build student confidence and knowledge of success in each practical and performance work.
Contact
Stay connected with the creative arts curriculum team:
- subscribing to the Creative arts curriculum network
- joining the Creative arts statewide staffroom
- email creativearts7-12@det.nsw.edu.au.
Last modified date
06/05/2026
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