BTEC National Award in Performaing Arts

A BTEC National Award is a practical, work-related course. The student learns by completing projects and assignments that are based on realistic workplace situation, activities and demands. Focus is on a particular area and the student dancer develops a range of specialist skills and knowledge. It is equivalent to one A Level which means when you have finished the course you can use it alongside other qualifications to go onto higher education.

A BTEC National Award is normally taken part-time alongside other qualifications. To enter onto this course you need either 4 GCSE's grade A*-C or a BTEC First or GNQV Intermediate. The course is made up of 6 units, two core units that everyone takes and four specialist units, these can include: Contemporary Dance, Choreography, Dance Performance, Ballet, Tap, Improvisation, Rehearsing and Performing. The course is assessed and graded throughout, and an overall grade for the qualification is awarded at the end of the course which is either PASS, MERIT or DISTINCTION.

Newlands has recently applied to become an approved centre to run this BTEC course and has been successful. The School was proved to have the correct resources, staffing, understanding of vocational assessment procedures and timetabling. This will enable the first students to go through the qualification and be certificated at the end of this academic year, in July 2007. This is an exciting development in the curriculum and will give increased opportunity to Post –16 students to achieve more and more with their practical dance training.

This year the school had successful canditates who all gained distinctions. Students have gone on to study at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, The London Studio Centre, The Urdang Academy and Performers College.

Co-Educational Day School and Boarding from 0-18 years

BTEC National Award in Performaing Arts

Dance