Performing Arts Practice - Level 3 National Extended Diploma

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Full-time
Start date: 2nd September 2024
End date: 5th June 2026
Information Event: Yes

Course fee: FREE (Eligibility criteria may apply)

Course Content

This creative practice qualification has been developed alongside experts from the creative industries to focus on practical and progression focused learning. They provide students with opportunities to enter a broader range of higher education, apprenticeships, or employment roles.

Modules include:

Performing Arts Skills Development:

• Exploring Performance Styles
• Creating Performance Material
• Performing for an Audience

The Performing Arts Industry:

• Planning a career in the Industry
• Personal Performing Arts Profile:
• Using Development Plans to Refine Skills
• Producing a Personal Project
• Using Material for Self-promotion and Networking

Collaborative Performing Arts Project:

• Undertaking a Defined Creative or Administrative Role
• Using Creative Collaboration to Develop a Project
• Producing a Collaborative Project

If you are accepted onto this course without a Grade C or above in Maths and/or English you will be required to complete the relevant Essential Skills qualification. This will be a compulsory part of your timetable.

Some of our Performing Arts students share their experiences about the course.

Course Aims

This popular course aims to prepare you for a career in the Performing Arts industry and develop the skills required for study at higher levels.  

• The course is highly practical exploring all areas of Performing Arts. 
• You will perform in regular live project throughout the two years.
• Obtain a qualification equivalent to 3 A Levels.
• Learn about employment opportunities.
• Develop skills needed to start or progress in a career in the industry.
• Develop a range of personal skills and attitudes.

Special Features

• In the past year we have performed in local professional theatre settings allowing our students the opportunity to work with professional technicians and other industry professionals.
• Staff is made up of industry professionals, many of whom are working in the industry, alongside teaching. This allows students to get to know working professionals and encourages confident networking skills.
• Performing Arts are delighted to now have a bespoke performance area complete with industry standard lighting and sound. This means we can now offer both creative and technical performance training and our students will graduate from our Performing Arts courses have a broader skillset having learned their craft from industry professionals in a realistic theatrical environment.
• All students take classes in all aspects of Performing Arts; drama, dance and music.
• Students will perform for assessment purposes but have also been known to surprise other students and staff with their talents. This past year performing arts students treated everyone to a flash mob performance for Halloween.

Assessment Methods

• Highly practical with supporting reflective journals
• Research tasks presented in podcast format
• 4 major performances throughout the year, alongside smaller project-based work

Students will develop performing arts skills, learn to manage projects, gain self-analysis skills, and develop an appreciation of the performing arts industry and their future role in it.

Applicants should have at least 4 GCSE's at Grade C or above or other relevant qualifications.

Applicants will also be invited to perform an audition piece using their preferred medium of performance. This will be used to support their application.

Upon successful completion students may progress to employment or a related higher education such as the Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Performing Arts at our Newtownabbey campus or related degree programmes at University.