The course is made up from 4 units, of which 3 are mandatory, 2 are externally assessed. Mandatory units include: Unit 1 Investigating Practitioners, Unit 2 Developing Skills and Techniques for Live Performance and Unit 3 Group Performance Workshop. Optional units will include Unit 12 Contemporary Dance Techniques, Unit 19 Acting Styles and Unit 27 Musical Theatre Techniques.  

Current class size at Year 10 is 15 students and Year 11 15 students. (New course for KS5, so potential for a class size of 9 or more.)

Miss Travers teaches Drama and Music. Mrs Goodhill teaches Dance. Miss Brown teaches Music and Drama. Each are specialist teachers in their area but can teach across the Performing Arts Department. Each teacher has also contributed to extra-curricular activities across the school, including the whole school musical of Grease, Drama Club, School of Rock, Choir and Dance academy. 

 Last Year 11 cohort for Performing Arts who started the BTEC Tech Award Level 1 and 2 at Forge Valley all passed. 6 students out of a class of 11 gained Level 2 Distinction*.  

BTEC Level 3 Sport and arts based A Levels

BTEC Nationals are widely recognized by higher education and the industry of Performing Arts as a signature vocational qualification. They provide progress to a higher level of study or work placements within the Performing Arts. 62% of larger companies have recruited employees with BTEC qualifications. BTEC Nationals are accepted by over 150 UK Universities and higher education institutes. The qualification gives learners specialist skills and training in the Performing Arts to allow them to enter apprenticeships or other employment within the industry.  

The Extended Certificate is for learners who are interested in learning about the performing arts sector alongside other fields of study, with a view to progressing to a wide range of higher education courses, not necessarily in performing arts. It is designed to be taken as part of a programme of study that includes other appropriate BTEC Nationals or A Levels and is equivalent in size to one A Level. 

The mandatory and optional content provides a balance of breadth and depth, while retaining a degree of choice for individual learners to study content relevant to their own interests and progression choices. Also, the content may be applied during delivery in a way that is relevant to local employment needs. The specification was written in collaboration with representatives and employers in the Performing Arts Industry to make sure that it is up to date.