Drama – A walkthrough of text choices and the Drama Text Management Service

It’s the time of year when performance exams are in full swing and we start to think about next year’s plays and text choices. We’ve received a lot of questions about this subject, so to help I’ve pulled together a walkthrough to answer some of your FAQs.

OCR’s Drama and Theatre qualifications allow teachers to select performance texts that suit their students and ensure we can offer a diverse and inclusive experience for Drama students.

Background - helping you to meet the criteria

There is a wide range of choice out there, but we need to ensure your chosen texts meet the subject conditions for the qualifications.

Our Drama Text Management Service (DTMS) allows teachers to check their desired performance texts meet the subject conditions for the new Drama qualifications. It is mandatory that this is completed.

It is really important that this is done early on in the course – and that text choices are checked before you start teaching them with your students.

This is because, if any text you want to choose isn’t on the database of performance texts, we need time to check they fit the set criteria, then get the DTMS updated on the website so you can get it filled in and your confirmation received.

This applies to GCSE, AS and A Level.

So, what is the DTMS?

The Drama Text Management Service (DTMS) is the online tool that will confirm your combination of text choices are acceptable, and gives you an instant email reply which you’ll need to keep.

You may have more than one text being used by your class, so you need to fill in the DTMS for each different performance text.

You’ll find the text management service on the OCR website. There is also some guidance in the specification on pages 5 and 40 (GCSE) and page 7, 8 and 57 (A Level).

How do I know if my chosen text isn’t on the list?

When you fill in the DTMS form, you choose your set text(s) for the written paper from the drop down list.

Then there is space for you to type in the title of your chosen performance text. As you type, a list of titles will appear under the box. If your text does not show up, it is not yet on our database.

This is when you’ll need to fill in the suggest a text form.

OK, so what’s the suggest a text form?

If your choice is not on the list you can suggest it as a text using the suggest a text form.

Texts should be checked at the beginning of teaching them, to give plenty of time for the process to be approved before any assessment takes place.

And then what?

Our drama team will check the text, and add it to our database. Then the web team do the magic that adds it to the online tool. This is usually done by the drama team once a week, usually on a Friday.

A text being approved and entered on the database doesn’t mean the combination will be approved. So you’ll need to re-check the DTMS to get your confirmation. This confirmation is mandatory.

What if we change our minds, or don’t know which text we’re choosing?

There are lots of reasons why you might need to change your performance text, and this is fine, just make sure if this happens, you still check as early as you can, before starting to teach your new text.

You may have a choice of two or three options and are not yet decided which one you will do in the end and this is fine – you can fill in the DTMS as many times as you need to, even if you end up only doing one of them. Just hold on to your confirmation email, as your visiting examiner will need to see it.

So, to sum up:

The Drama Text Management Tool (DTMS) is what needs filling in to confirm your choices are valid.

You only need to use the suggest a text form if your choice doesn’t show up.

This needs to be done as early as you can, preferably before teaching the texts. Please don’t leave it until the last minute!

Stay connected

As always, any advice can be sought by contacting us on drama@ocr.org.uk or you can submit your comments below.

If you’d like to stay informed you can also sign up to receive email updates about any of our subjects or follow us on Twitter at @OCR_PerformArts.

For further information on drama visit our website.

About the author

Marie Bessant – Subject Advisor – Music and Performing Arts

Marie joined OCR in July 2014 as Music Subject Specialist after teaching Music for 10 years. With experience as Head of Department at secondary schools and FE colleges. Marie has a wealth of experience teaching Music and Performing Arts at GCSE, A Level, BTEC and HND. As OCR’s Music specialist Marie took the lead in the development for the new Music GCSEs and A Levels as well as overseeing resources, running training and CPD events, and supporting the performing arts teaching community. Marie also has the same responsibilities for Drama GCSE and A Level and the Cambridge Technical vocational Performing Arts qualifications. Alongside this Marie is an organist and pianist with a love for rock music.