Drama is taught to Year 7 and Year 8 classes in the Lower School.

Pupils are taught technical vocabulary, team building, communication and performing skills.

In September 1997 GCSE Drama (Edexcel) was introduced to Year 10. In September 2004 IGCSE Drama was introduced to Year 10 (Cambridge) as well as GCE AS Drama and Theatre Studies(Edexcel).

The aims and objectives of drama teaching at NES include the promotion of an understanding of and competence in the following creative dramatic forms :-              

• Movement, Tension, Focus, Language and Role PlayTo achieve a degree of self-actualisation, emotional and physical, via the Drama medium
• To explore and express ideas, issues and meaning via Drama and to appreciate how other disciplines use the art form to communicate
• To be able to respond creatively to various stimuli : verbal, visual, tactile, aural, historical and topical
• To be able to work creatively as an individual and also in various sizes of group as a positive, active and responsive participant
• To develop the ability to translate text into performance and to interpret a performance critically
• To gain a basic knowledge of the functions and workings of a theatre and the design and technical aspects involved in constructing a theatrical presentation
• To have a basic knowledge of the origins and forms of the theatre which can be used to develop skills in English, History and non-curricular topics

New English School has two major drama productions each year, the Lower School production in November and the Upper School production in March. Recent Lower School productions have included "Scratch Smith" and "Heroes", recent Upper School productions have included "Oklahoma!", "The Odd Couple" and Agatha Christie's "Appointment with Death".

The school has performed three times at the Edinburgh International Fringe.