Technical Awards - Performing arts video transcript

Technical Awards: Performing arts 

Sandra Allan – Qualifications Developer

We’ve developed a new Technical Award in Performing arts. This qualification is for the practically minded learner but is still as robust as a GCSE. In market testing, teachers really liked the flexibility of this multi-disciplinary qualification. It lets learners apply a wide range of skills by staging their own production. In Unit 1 learners are going to have the opportunity to unlock their creativity.

This unit is all about planning, preparing and coming up with an idea for production. This is really exciting for learners. They get to take on briefs from real life practitioners, companies that they may not necessarily have the opportunity to have access to. These include people like Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, Dame Judi Dench, organisations like EMI and Future DJs. Once the learner has really understood this, they get the opportunity to pitch their idea, stand in front of a camera, really communicate with an audience in front of them. Once they come onto the next unit, they can then put all of this experience into practice: they get to put on a performance. This can be the Christmas performance; this can be their idea from Unit 1.

Now whether that be part of it, as a performer – acting, singing, dancing – or whether it be backstage, technical, costume design, makeup; we want learners to be able to be part of the performing arts industry and we understand it’s not just about one discipline. In Unit 3, learners get the opportunity to apply all their knowledge learned from Unit 1 and Unit 2 into a written assessment. The questions are not discipline specific. They will be drawing on the learners’ experience and knowledge of performing arts industry and their creative practice.

Transferable skills are a natural and important part of this qualification. Learners will have the ability to communicate more effectively, problem-solve and work as a team. These are really important skills to take forward in the performing arts world.

To download our specification and register for updates go to aqa.org.uk/technicalawards