Performing Arts; Dance BTEC Extended Certificate

Applications open: 10 November 2025

Application deadline: 13th February 2026

Entry Requirements: - 5 x GCSEs Grade 4-9 including English. Maths desirable. Please see individual courses for subject entry requirements. Please visit our website for more information https://www.maplesden.kent.sch.uk/830/welcome

Subject Choices: - You will need to select a minimum of 3 subjects to study and these can be a mixture of A Levels and BTECs with SEFA and MWBA in addition to your full time studies.

How to Apply: - Please apply via KentChoices

Investigating Practitioners’ Work (Exam unit): Students will study two choreographers/practitioners across the space of 6 weeks. The exam paper will give the students a theme and the students must link these two choreographers/practitioners to the theme in an essay based format under controlled conditions.

Developing Skills and Techniques for Live Performance: Students will study two performance pieces; 1) a pantomime in which students are the ensemble/swing (students may be expected to sing as a group) and 2) students will learn a dance professional work. Students will put the dance together and perform to an audience. Students will keep regular diaries, setting short and long term targets.

Group Performance Workshop (exam unit): Students will be given a stimulus and have to work in groups of 5 – 7 to choreograph a performance based on a given stimulus (from the exam paper). Students will write about their journey of choreographing.

Contemporary Dance Technique: Students will take part in contemporary dance technique lessons where they will develop an understanding of the range of practitioners throughout the history of contemporary dance as well as modern practitioners. Students will complete a research project as well as regular target setting and reviewing. Students will perform a group dance based on one of the chosen practitioners and incorporate a range of techniques to their performance.

Performance; Rehearsals; Workshops; Personal management; Log books/diaries/target setting/skills audits; Research projects

Maplesden is in proud partnership with the Hazlitt theatre, Maidstone; the only school in Maidstone to have a professional working partnership with a theatre.

BTEC Drama/Dance Merit or Higher or 4-9 in GCSE Dance or by Audition N,B: after school rehearsals will be required.

* Become a Performing Arts Ambassador (prefect)

* Take part in the annual production

* Be nominated (and maybe win!) an Oscars award and attend the special Oscars ceremony annually

* Maplesden Dance company (competition entries group)