
Performing Arts (Extended Diploma)
Course Overview This vocational course, equivalent to three A Levels, is designed for students who are serious about pursuing a career in the perform…
Full course details
This course is designed for students with a keen interest in studying, visiting and producing theatre.
Course Overview
This course is designed for students with a keen interest in studying, visiting and producing theatre. It primarily consists of studying play texts, live performance work and the ideas of influential theatre directors.
Assessment: |
Written Exam (40%) Practical Exam (60%) |
Duration: | 2 years |
Entry requirements: |
Standard entry requirements including GCSE grade 4 Maths plus grade 5 GCSE English Language and English Literature. Grade 5 in GCSE Drama also desirable. |
Exam board: | AQA |
Costs: |
£30 for textbooks plus £120 for theatre visits and workshops over the two years. |
Programme leader: |
You may be required to complete an activity before you start in order to help introduce you to the subject. Check back in the summer term for more details.
It is highly recommended that students have previous experience in the subject, ideally at GCSE level, or through alternative recognised qualifications. In addition, participation in school productions and extra-curricular drama groups is desirable.
The College is a LAMDA approved examination centre and offers students the opportunity to study for LAMDA examinations to complement their work in the subject.
It should be noted that the course requires considerable wider reading and progress throughout the course is monitored through a series of regular essays. This course also contains a practical element in which students create performance work of their own for external examination. This is scripted in year one and devised in year two.
You are also encouraged to supplement your programme with the Extended Project.
This course is excellent preparation for students who would like to pursue the subject or related subjects such as English, media or dance into higher education. Students have continued their studies in the subject at institutions such as Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Bath Spa University, Royal Holloway and Sheffield University
There are a variety of options for students considering a career in the field of drama, including teacher, actor, coach, art director, film practitioner, youth worker, stage manager and script writer.
This course is excellent preparation for students who would like to pursue the subject or related subjects such as English, media or dance into higher education.
Name: | Alex |
Course: | Drama and Theatre Studies |
I came to The Henley College from Chiltern Edge School. I’ve always enjoyed acting and as I did well in my drama GCSE I thought I’d carry on with it at A Level. When I took part in the Theatre Studies lesson during a Henley College open day, I knew I’d enjoy it because as well as having to learn the theory behind it, there was also a large element of practical work which I enjoyed very much.
I definitely enjoy the practical side of the course the most, with things like improvisation and devising my teacher never really set any boundaries that limited our work, so we were free to be ourselves. In our second ever lesson, he had the whole class following strangers around Henley town centre in order to help build a character profile for our next improvisation activity, it was a lot of fun! As a class we also got to go and see two productions on the West End for part of our exam, which was obviously one of my favourite parts of the year.
Taking part in this course has given me a lot more knowledge on the theory side of drama, as well as performance techniques which, I feel will definitely help if I want to go into drama further. I’m hoping to be able to get into a proper drama school in London, like Lamda or Mountview.
Filmed by second year Extended Diploma in Performing Arts student, Harry Assadourian.