Performing Arts (Acting)

5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above

GCSE English Language or English Literature at grade 4

GCSE Maths at grade 3 or above

Successful audition

Students will study the following mandatory units:

Unit

Content

Unit 1: Investigating Practitioners’ work

Students investigate the work of performing arts practitioners and develop critical analysis skills and contextual understanding of how practitioners communicate themes in their work. Students write about the practitioners works in an exam, where they are allowed to take in pre-prepared notes.

This mandatory unit is externally assessed (exam board).

Unit 2: Developing skills for techniques and performers

Students explore technical performance skills with a focus on developing skills and techniques in at least two performance styles. Generally this is a full length play, and a smaller performance in a second style. Students are required to complete coursework and a presentation alongside the practical work.

Unit 3: Group Performance workshop

Students Students explore and integrate creative, physical and vocal skills and techniques, working collaboratively to create a performance in response to a given stimulus. Students will perform their devised piece of 10-20 minutes to an audience, and will complete four pieces of controlled coursework alongside to explain their creative process and ideas.

The following unit is optional:

Unit

Content

Unit 19: Acting Styles

Students develop acting methods by exploring different acting styles. They will apply techniques to the development, rehearsal and performance of their practical work. Students will perform in a full scale production to a live audience, and will complete coursework and an acting report alongside the practical work.

Course Delivery

The course is taught by specialist practitioners. Assignments are set at regular intervals throughout the course and a very high level of student involvement is expected in all areas. Lessons are a mixture of practical workshops and rehearsals, and theory based lessons, aimed to provide students with the necessary key skills required for further training in this area at HE or beyond. Performances are especially important and it is expected that evening rehearsals and performances will take priority over work or social commitments.

Students learn through:

Practical workshops and rehearsals

Devised and scripted performances

Theory-based lessons and analysis

Collaborative group work

Assessment includes:

Coursework assignments

Practical performances

Presentations and written analysis

External assessment (exam)

Students benefit from:

Specialist teaching from experienced practitioners

Access to rehearsal and performance spaces

Theatre-based learning environments

No specific additional costs are listed for this course.

Students can't take BTEC Acting and BTEC Musical Theatre together as it’s essentially the same qualification but with a different specialism.

It also cannot be taken with A Level Drama and Theatre due to cross-over.

This course supports progression into:

Higher education in acting or performing arts

Drama school and conservatoire training

Careers in acting and theatre

We have strong links with local theatre companies and professional actors, and offer workshops with them as part of the course. This year, companies have included Fourth Monkey and West Acting Workshop. Students benefit from regular workshops, visiting speakers and theatre trips.

All students will become a member of the St Brendan’s Performing Arts Academy, which offers a range of opportunities with external industry professionals and cross-curricular links with other courses such as Dance, Drama and Music. We have strong links with local theatre companies, performing arts professionals, and offer workshops with them as part of the academy. We aim for every student to flourish and achieve their full potential. Developing your performance skills opens your horizons to this incredible Billion-pound industry that caters for over a million jobs in the UK (2.29 million creative industry jobs in the year up to September 2021). For more information on the Performing Arts Academy, please see one of our experienced teachers.