Course Content - What will you be studying?

BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts equips students with knowledge and skills in a wide range of Performing Arts styles. This course focuses on Acting and Musical Theatre, therefore performing is essential.

This vocational course offers "real-life scenarios" for students to understand the theatre maker's process, including production and design elements and the roles and responsibilities within the Theatre Industry.

The course is broken down into 3 components, each with a different focus, which are completed over the 2 year course.

Component 1: Exploring the Performing Arts
Students will examine and explore a wide range of practitioners, styles and genres using research to enhance their understanding. They will study 3 famous pieces of performance repertoire (productions you would go and see at the Theatre). They will take part in practical workshops and group performances to apply and develop their skills and understanding of the practitioners style and process. Students will share their understanding of the creative intentions and processes used to create the productions; examining the styles and genres and the role and responsibilities of the creative teams in their coursework.

Component 2: Developing Skills and Techniques in the Performing Arts
Students will develop their performance skills and techniques through the reproduction of acting and/or musical theatre repertoire as performers. Students will be performing to an audience either as a solo or group performance and keeping track and reviewing their skill development and creative decisions in a log book.

Component 3: Responding to a Brief

Externally assessed exam unit. Students respond to a “real-life scenario” brief set by the exam board in small groups. They will have 12 weeks to develop a devised piece of drama drawing on their knowledge and skills from across the course. They will complete set written tasks about their ideas, process and evaluation and perform a “Workshop Performance” to an audience.

Assessment weighting - Exams / Coursework

As a creative subject with a focus on application, there is no written exam. All components, including the externally assessed synoptic component, are assessed through written coursework, practical activities in workshops and performance outcomes.

- Component 1 - 30% internally assessed coursework and performance

- Component 2 - 30% internally assessed coursework and performance

- Component 3 - 40% externally assessed written tasks and performance

Each component is graded at Level 1 or 2 Pass, Merit or Distinction and an average is calculated for the final grade which is up to Level 2 Distinction*.

Who is this course aimed at?

This course is aimed at students that have an interest in Performing Arts (acting and/or musical theatre) and particularly for those who are considering a career in the Theatre Industry once they leave school. A willingness to learn, take part and perform are essential, even if a student might not continue with this specialism beyond Year 11. Students need to be able to work in teams as well as independently on this course. The course is highly vocational so has the potential to provide students with knowledge and experience to take forward in their careers. This course enables students to develop the foundational skills that are integral to a wide range of roles (from performing to designing and directing) across the creative industries, including film and television, theatre, games, and advertising. Skills learned in Performing Arts are highly transferable including research, team work, projects, confidence and oracy.

Head of Subject

Hattie Key hkey@millbayacademy.org