Performing Arts Summary

Performing Arts will provide students with challenging and inspiring new experiences.  

This qualification asks students to work as a company with a professional ethos, you will receive teaching in a broad range of specialist units that make up the BTEC Extended Certificate. You will acquire a variety of techniques that will challenge and enable you to develop your own style in preparation for higher education and a career within the industry. You will widen your knowledge of the industry by working with professional companies, attending performances and working from live industry related assignment briefs. Students are introduced to a wide range of theatrical styles and contexts as they explore plays practically and work on performances. 

A variety of units will be explored over the two years which may include: investigating practitioners’ work (Core Unit-externally assessed), group performance workshop (Core Unit-externally assessed), developing Skills and Techniques for live performance (Core Unit), interpreting classical text for performance, developing the voice for performance, improvisation, acting styles, movement in performance, variety performance, musical theatre techniques.

Entry Requirements

  • 5 x Grade 5 or above (including English Language and Mathematics);
  • Grade 5/ Level 2 Merit in Drama if previously studied 

Course Duration

2 years full-time

Specification

Pearson BTEC

How you will study

There will be continuous assessments throughout the course, which will all involve some aspect of performance and usually to a live audience. Some units will be assessed internally by your teacher and some will be assessed by the exam board. You will be expected to produce a portfolio for each unit, which must include: research, diary entries, books read, character profiles, self and peer evaluations and critiques of any amateur or professional productions. It must be made clear that the BTEC is a performance course and although some written work is required, the main emphasis will be on your performance technique.  

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Component breakdown

  • Investigating Practitioners’ Work- Mandatory and Synoptic- External 
  • Developing Skills and Techniques for Live Performance- Mandatory- Internal (coursework) 
  • Group Performance Workshop- Mandatory- External 
  • Optional Unit 

Careers and Destinations

Drama is considered a strong stand-alone qualification with real and credible value for students at both higher education and in their future careers as it develops individual inter-personal skills. Recent students have gone on to study Law, Education, Directing and Drama at university. 

Related courses

Music
Art & Design
History