BTEC National Extended Diploma in Performing Arts

Applications Open: 3rd November 2025

Applications Close: 27th February 2026

Application Details: At Hartsdown Academy we run the International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme https://www.ibo.org/programmes/career-related-programme/ . Prospective students need to choose 1 Vocational Course (BTEC or OCR) and 2 IB Diploma Courses.

Entry Requirements: 5 x Grade 4-9 including Maths & English. A good attendance and behaviour record is also essential.

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices

The BTEC National Extended Diploma in Performing Arts provides training and development in three disciplines of dance, acting and singing. The course also provides opportunities to develop skills in creativity and performance, audition preparation and professional training in each discipline. The course is defined through a variety of units, enabling students to develop, both practical and theoretical skills in each discipline.

You will also be involved in events throughout the year - including an annual production.

The course is delivered through 7 core units that everyone studying this course nationally will cover, with an additional 5 units chosen by Hartsdown Academy. The core units cover areas of the performing arts.

Mandatory Units:

• Unit 1 - Investigating Practitioners Work*
• Unit 2 - Developing Skills and Techniques for Live Performance
• Unit 3 - Group Performance Workshop*
• Unit 4 - Performing Arts in the Community
• Unit 5 - Individual Performance Commission*
• Unit 6 - Final Live Performance
• Unit 7 - Employment Opportunities in the Performing Arts*

Optional Units could include:

• Unit 29 - Storytelling
• Unit 27 - Musical Theatre Techniques
• Unit 16 - Writing for Performance
• Unit 19 - Acting Styles
• Unit 15 - Theatre Directing
• Unit 24 - Children's Theatre Performance
• Unit 14 - Choreography for Live Performance
• Unit 13 - Healthy Dancer
• Unit 17 - Screen Acting

A combination of internally assessed units and external and controlled assessments.

Externally Assessed Unit

Unit 1 - Investigating Practitioners Work

You will explore practitioners within the industry - for example Lin Manuel Miranda and his work, Hamilton. You will research and explore their work and then write an extended essay, on a topic given by the exam board.

Unit 3 - Group Performance Workshop

This unit explores creating performance work. You will be given a stimulus or theme and with your group will create a piece of original theatre. You will document your progress in written milestones, develop, rehearse and perform your piece.

Unit 5 - Individual Performance Commission

This unit is completed in Year 13. It is a solo performance unit - based on your personal strengths. You will be given a stimulus/brief and asked to create a performance based on this. You can use existing material, so you might learn a monologue, a dance from specific repertoire or a song - a combination of these works too. It is essentially an audition preparation unit.

5+ English and Maths and 3 subjects at Grade 4+. Experience within Performing Arts is desirable.

Every year Performing Arts students from Hartsdown Academy progress to some of the best known universities and schools for Performing Arts in the country. Previously these have included:

• The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
• Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
• British and Irish Modern Music Institute Brighton
• Chichester University
• Salford University
• Reynolds Performing Arts Academy
• Canterbury Christ Church University

Our Performing Arts students have also gained employment in the entertainment or leisure industries, or in a variety of roles including:

• Performers
• Dancers
• Stuntmen
• Actors
• Comedians
• Stage managers
• Set Designers
• Teachers
• Choreographers
• Vocal Coach

There are so many benefits of studying Performing Arts - not just for the performing! You build so many transferable skills which benefit employers such as; communication, teamwork, resilience and initiative (the list goes on!).

UCAS Points
PPP - 48
MMM - 96
DDD - 144
D*D*D* - 168