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Drama, Film and Theatre Studies

Development has commenced on a new specification for Leaving Certificate Drama, Film and Theatre Studies.

Context
NCCA advises the Minister for Education on curriculum and assessment for early childhood education, for primary and post-primary schools. As part of the broader reform of Senior Cycle, it is envisaged that a new specification for LC Drama, Theatre and Film Studies will be introduced into schools on a phased basis from September 2025. The Development Group for Leaving Certificate Drama, Theatre and Film Studies will have a key role in this work. The Group will include nominees of the education partners, the Department of Education and other key education agencies. 

The first phase of developing the specification involves convening of a development group and a consultation on the background paper. You can find out more about this below.

 

The Draft Specification for Leaving Certificate Drama, Film & Theatre Studies was approved for public consultation and it ran from 2nd February - 5th April 2024.

The consultation involved in-depth engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders across Ireland. NCCA have also contacted schools to participate in school-based focus groups involving teachers, students and school leaders. 

This consultation has now closed.

The feedback from this consultation will help to inform the work of the Development Group for Leaving Certificate Drama, Film and Theatre Studies in refining the draft specification prior to final approval and publication.

The first step in the development of Leaving Certificate Drama, Film and Theatre Studies was the research and publication of a Background paper and Brief for the review of the subject.

Background Paper and Brief for the Review of Leaving Certificate Drama, Film and Theatre Studies.

A public consultation on the Background paper and brief took place from 5th September 2022 to 28th October 2022.

The development group for Leaving Certificate Drama, Film and Theatre Studies was convened on 27th September 2022 and will progress the development of a new specification guided by the brief and the findings of the consultation on the Background paper.

Leaving Certificate Drama, Film and Theatre Studies will be developed to support the realisation of the purpose and vision for a redeveloped senior cycle as set out the Senior Cycle Review: Advisory Report (NCCA, 2022). The guiding principles, as described in the Advisory Report, provide a touchstone for the Development Group as they undertake the task of preparing a curriculum specification for Leaving Certificate Drama, Film and Theatre Studies.