Subject:   BTEC Level 2 DIPLOMA IN PERFORMING ARTS

 Number of lessons per fortnight:    8

 What is a BTEC Level 2 Diploma?

BTEC First qualifications are undertaken in further education and sixth-form colleges, schools and other training providers, and have been since they were introduced in 1983. Their purpose, approaches to teaching, learning and assessment are established and understood by teaching professionals, employers and learners alike.

BTEC Firsts are Level 2 qualifications designed to provide specialist work-related qualifications in a range of sectors. They give learners the knowledge, understanding and skills that they need to prepare for employment.

On successful completion of a BTEC First qualification, learners can progress to or within employment and/or continue their study in the same, or related vocational area.

What units will I study?

All students will study a combination of units in order to make up 60 credits.  Most units are worth 10 credits each so over the course of 2 years, learners can expect to study 6 different units. 

These are made up from a mixture of dance and drama units and will be discussed with the group in order to match the learning to the interests of the learners.  There may be opportunities for students who have a particular interest in a specific area, such as technical theatre or design, to replace of these units with a unit form the technical theatre pathway.

How is the course assessed?

You will be assessed through your ability to complete a number of different assignments.  Reaching specific grading criteria will determine what grade you will get.

What are assignments?

Assignments are projects that are written by your teachers. During each assignment you will be given an assignment brief which explains everything for that project. You will find that the course is set up so that within each unit you will be given approximately three to four assignments to achieve the criteria needed to pass the unit.  For some units you may have the opportunity, in the second year of the course, to achieve higher grades and catch missed criteria.

An assignment brief will layout exactly what tasks you will need to complete to reach the criteria.  An assignment can last from one day to a period of weeks. It is really important to know exactly what you are looking for when reading an assignment brief. Your teacher will always go over the assignment, and there will always be an opportunity to ask any questions.

At the end of an assignment you will be given feedback by your teacher who will discuss all assessment decisions with you and explain how you met the grading criteria.  You will be told whether the assignment is a pass, merit or distinction.

What happens if I have not met all of the work at least at a ‘pass’ level?

On our BTEC Performing Arts course the teachers will make sure that an assignment explains exactly what you need to do to hit the ‘pass’ criteria. If you do not manage to meet all of the tasks with at least pass level you will be given the opportunity to meet the criteria again during the course.

Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills

The personal, learning and thinking skills (PLTS) provide a framework for describing the qualities and skills needed for success in learning and life.  The framework comprises six groups of skills:

• independent enquirers
• creative thinkers
• reflective learners
• team workers
• self-managers
• effective participants.

For each group of skills, a focus statement sums up the range of skills and qualities involved. This is accompanied by a set of outcome statements that describe the relevant skills, behaviours and personal qualities.

Through the Performing Arts curriculum, students are encouraged to develop these skills.  They are taught to recognise the behaviour and thinking related to each skill and to recognise how this thinking can be applied to other areas of their learning.

For more information on PLTS please see http://curriculum.qca.org.uk/key-stages-3-and-4/skills/plts/index.aspx

Equipment:

Writing equipment as listed in college prospectus.

Uniform:

You should wear your correct college uniform.  Short skirts or tight trousers that restrict movement should not be worn.

Contact: Mr Pinch

For more information visit http://www.edexcel.com/quals/firsts/pa-music/pa/Pages/default.aspx