LEVEL 3 BTEC
Performing Arts
Performing Arts at St Paul’s develops your skills, discipline and creativity as a performer. Through acting, movement and voice, you’ll gain hands-on experience in rehearsals and live productions while learning how to connect meaningfully with an audience.
Grow in confidence as you refine your technique, collaborate with others, and bring ideas to life on stage and beyond.
You arrive as you are, and you’re celebrated for it. You leave ready to take on the world.
— Sixth Form student
Why Choose Performing Arts at St Paul’s?
Performing Arts is all about energy, collaboration and self-expression. It is a place where every student can step into the spotlight and grow in confidence.
Learn through performance: Develop skills in acting, movement and voice, building confidence through rehearsals, workshops and live showcases.
Personal guidance: Benefit from small class sizes and supportive feedback that help you refine your technique and performance style.
Expert teachers: Work with industry-experienced staff who inspire creativity and professionalism, encouraging you to take bold artistic risks.
Creative community: Be part of a dynamic ensemble where students share ideas, collaborate on productions and celebrate each other’s successes.
Future opportunities: Performing Arts leads to exciting pathways in theatre, film, dance, production and directing, as well as careers that value communication and creativity.
Find your voice: Discover who you are as a performer. Express yourself, challenge boundaries, and take pride in every step of your creative journey.
Where Performing Arts Can Take You
After studying Performing Arts, many of our students continue their training at drama schools, conservatoires and universities, studying areas such as acting, dance, directing or stage production. Others apply their performance skills in related fields like film, media and event management, or in professions that value confidence, communication and collaboration.
I thought about leaving, but I realised no one else would care about me the way St Paul’s does. Here, I’m not starting over, I’m moving forward.
— Student Name
What You’ll Study
This qualification focuses on developing the technical, creative and analytical skills required for performance. You’ll take part in a range of workshops, rehearsals and live assessments, applying theoretical understanding to practical work.
Key areas of study include:
Performance skills in acting, voice and movement
Devising and interpreting performance material
Musical theatre and ensemble techniques
Preparing and evaluating live performances
Professional practice within the performing arts sector
Full details of the course can be found in the exam board’s official Pearson specification.
You arrive as you are, and you’re celebrated for it. You leave ready to take on the world.
— Sixth Form student
Our Performances
Our Sixth Form Performing Arts showcases the talent, passion, and individuality of our students. Through drama, music, and dance, each performance demonstrates creativity, collaboration, and expressive storytelling. From intimate studio pieces to large-scale productions, our evolving programme celebrates the imagination, dedication, and energy that define our performing arts community.
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Performing Arts Exam Results
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PASS RATE
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achieved
A* to C
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achieved
A* to B
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achieved
A* to A
Hear From Our Students
I was glad that class sizes were small, it meant that we had much more contact time, and the teaching could be shaped to match skill and talents.
I have loved performing and looking a different kinds of creativity.
This school has an excellent reputation of putting on large scale musicals – singing, acting and dancing is something I want to pursue in the future.
Entry Requirements
This course does not have additional entry requirements beyond our standard entry requirements.
These requirements are in place to help set you up for success and make sure you have the right foundation to enjoy the challenge of Sixth Form study.
I thought about leaving, but I realised no one else would care about me the way St Paul’s does. Here, I’m not starting over, I’m moving forward.
— Student Name
Mr M Joyce
SUBJECT LEADER FOR DRAMA
Thank you for your interest in Performing Arts at St Paul’s. Our team is passionate about helping students grow as confident, skilled and creative performers. Whether you’re drawn to acting, movement or musical theatre, we’ll support you in developing your technique, discipline and understanding of what it means to perform with purpose.
If you have any questions about studying Performing Arts or where it can take you in the future, from higher education to professional work in the creative industries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Send me a message
We’d love to hear from you, whether you want to talk about subject choices, entry requirements, or your future career ideas.
Are you ready to step into the spotlight, push your limits, and discover what you’re truly capable of as a performer?
Start your Performing Arts journey at St Paul’s.
Whatever course you choose, you’ll be joining a community where every student is known and loved. Our mission is not just to help you succeed academically, but to help you grow as a person, supported and celebrated every step of the way.
Performing Arts(Musical Theatre) Course Content
Take a look at how this course is broken down and the modules you will learn and how they are assessed.
| UNIT 27 Musical Theatre Techniques | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEIGHT |
60 (GLH) |
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FORMAT |
Mandatory Unit |
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Unit 27 is divided into four sections:
- Understand the key features of musical theatre performance
- Develop skills and techniques in musical theatre
and themes of performing arts practitioners - Apply musical theatre skills and techniques to a performance
- Review personal development and own performance.
| UNIT 2Developing Skills and Techniques for Live Performance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
WEIGHT |
90 (GLH) |
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|
FORMAT |
Mandatory Unit |
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Unit 2 is divided into four sections:
- Understand the role and skills of a
performer - Develop performance skills and
techniques for live performance - Apply performance skills and techniques
in selected styles - Review and reflect on development of
skills and techniques for live performance
| UNIT 3Group Performance Workshop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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WEIGHT |
120 (GLH) |
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|
FORMAT |
Mandatory Unit |
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Unit 3 is divided into five sections:
- Understand how to interpret and respond to stimulus for a group performance
- Develop and realise creative ideas for a group performance in response to stimulus
- Apply personal management and collaborative skills to a group performance workshop process
- Apply performance skills to communicate creative intentions during performance workshop
- Review and reflect on the effectiveness of the working process and the workshop performance
| UNITS 19 & 20Acting Styles & Developing the Voice for Performance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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|
WEIGHT |
120 (GLH) |
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FORMAT |
Mandatory Unit (Optional Choice) |
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Unit 19:
- Understand acting styles and techniques for performance
- Develop acting styles, skills and techniques for performance
- Apply acting styles, skills and techniques in rehearsal and performance
- Review personal development and own performance.
Unit 20:
- Explore the principles of voice production
- Develop vocal techniques for a performance
- Apply vocal techniques to a performance
- Review personal development and own performance.
