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BTEC LEVEL 1/ 2 TECH AWARD IN PERFORMING ARTS DANCE

For more information, please speak to Mrs R Butler (rebecca.butler@mascallsacademy.org.uk), Head of Performing Arts or Ms K Horn (kristina.horn@mascallsacademy.org.uk), Head of Dance.

The Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts is for learners who want to acquire sector-specific applied knowledge and skills through real life contexts by studying professionals’ work and processes used, the skills and techniques used in different roles, and how to contribute to the creation of a performance in either a performance or non-performance role as part of their Key Stage 4 learning. 

The qualification enables learners to develop their specific skills, such as refining work and applying skills for a performance using realistic vocational contexts, and personal skills, such as working with others, working to deadlines, and responding to feedback through a practical and skills-based approach to learning and assessment. The qualification will broaden learners’ experience and understanding of the varied progression options available to them.

Learners will develop their understanding of the performing arts by examining the work of performing arts professionals and the processes used to create performance.

To develop in the performing arts, you will need a broad understanding of performance work and influences. This component will help you to understand the requirements of being a performer (in acting, dance or musical theatre) and/or designer (in lighting, props, costume, set, makeup or sound) across at least three performances and performance styles.

Non-exam internal assessment set by Pearson, marked by the centre and moderated by Pearson. The Pearson-set Assignment will be completed in approximately 12 hours of supervised assessment. 60 marks.

Learners will develop their performing arts skills and techniques through the reproduction of acting, dance and/or musical theatre repertoire as performers or designers.

Working as a performer or designer requires the application of skills, techniques and practices that enable you to produce and interpret performance work. You will communicate intentions to an audience through a chosen discipline, such as performing or designing in any performance style from acting, dance or musical theatre.

Non-exam internal assessment set by Pearson, marked by the centre and moderated by Pearson. The Pearson-set Assignment will be completed in approximately 15 hours of supervised assessment. 60 marks.

Learners will be given the opportunity to work as part of a group to contribute to a workshop performance as either a performer or a designer in response to a brief and stimulus.

Live performance can happen in a number of places and for a range of reasons. For example, you may perform in a traditional performance space to an audience to communicate ideas about a particular theme or issue, or you may be part of a touring group that takes a performance to a community setting, such as a local school, to teach a young audience a safety message.

Task set and marked by Pearson completed under supervised conditions.

Learners will be given the set task in January, 12 weeks before the supervised assessment period, in order to carry out the development of creative ideas and rehearsal for the workshop performance.

The set task will be completed in 3 hours within the period timetabled by Pearson. 60 marks

The three components in the qualification give learners the opportunity to develop broad knowledge and understanding of the performing arts sector and specialist skills such as exploring professional work, reproducing repertoire and responding to stimulus at Levels 1 and 2.

The performing arts are a major part of the creative and cultural industries in the UK, which in 2017–2018 were growing at over five times the rate of the wider UK economy, contributing £111.7 billion a year to the economy. There were more than 9,000 enterprises in the performing arts industry in 2018, and in 2019 more than 82,000 people working in a wide range of roles from performers to designers and directors. The skills developed through the study of performing arts are integral to roles across the creative industry, including film and TV, theatre, games and advertising.

EDUQAS VOCATIONAL AWARD MUSIC

For more information, please speak to Miss H Couch (hannah.couch@mascallsacademy.org.uk).

The Eduqas course in Music is a fantastic vocational qualification in Music that allows you to develop a composition as well as a portfolio of performance repertoire.  You will use the first year to complete your composition unit with a set brief from the exam board, and then in the second year of study, you will prepare for your performance unit.   Your final unit consists of a professional pitch of a newly created product so you will need to develop your stagecraft and performing skills to prepare for this event.  Alongside this, you will also complete music theory units which will cover not only the history of contemporary music, but the socio-cultural changes that shaped styles of music too. There will be opportunities for you to showcase your developing performance work in both concerts and community events and it is strongly recommended that you use these opportunities to master your confidence.

There are three units covered across the two years, with units 1 and 2 occupying the main focus of study in Year 1 of the course.  The assignment brief for Unit 3 is not released until January of Year 11. 

Unit 1: Performance

This unit can be approached through any instrument, though we do recommend that students focus on one main instrument throughout the course.  Learners will research and perform an existing piece of work, and will produce a reflective journal of the process and an evaluation of their performance. They will need to consider effective ways of rehearsing and refining their work, as a professional performer would do. The aim of this unit is to build the learner’s musical knowledge and give them the ability to articulate their thoughts and feelings about music using the appropriate industry & theoretical language whilst drawing upon knowledge learned within this unit. 

Students will create an original piece of music or portfolio of pieces lasting between 3 and 10 minutes based on a creative brief which will contain contextual details of what is required including a set theme and a hypothetical event.  Their first task will be to research the theme itself and their choice of relevant, named practitioners, and to decide what their response will be, identifying how they intend to make it fit the brief.  Then they will begin the process of creating their piece, or pieces. The piece or pieces will need to be performed or presented to an audience (which can simply be fellow learners and the teacher.)  The audience should give feedback to the learner who will use this as part of their evaluation of their work and explain how they would choose to refine their piece.

A new brief will be published each year in the form of a commission, and students will respond to it by planning a music work in response. They will first need to learn about how a production is affected by factors such as the social context, the performance venue and the target audience. They will also need to learn about the work of different types of practitioners, and different organisations in Music.  When planning their piece they will need to consider which performance and production disciplines are required for their idea, the required resources and materials, and other aspects such as working to a budget and health and safety.  They will need to learn how to promote an event through different types of advertising, ranging from flyers and posters to social media campaigns or flash mob performances, and then they will have to pitch their idea, including some extracts of the performance itself, to a mock commissioning panel. This should ideally be not just the class teacher, but other members of staff, local performing arts contacts or other people who will listen and give feedback to the learners. 

Most of the coursework is internally assessed but Unit 3 Performing Arts in Practice is externally assessed by the exam board.  As with every unit, this can be written work, audio or video recordings, diagrams, illustrations or anything else which is relevant and appropriate. 

Completing this qualification will lead into further study at KS5 at Mascalls Academy into the vocational qualifications we offer there and beyond Sixth Form, this course can lead to higher education at college or university.  There are many varied careers linked to Music and include (but not limited to) performer, composer, conductor, music agent, session musician, music therapist, music journalist, music critic, stage manager, event management and many more. 

LEVEL 2 VOCATIONAL AWARD in Hospitality & Catering

For more information, please speak to Mrs C James (chloe.james@mascallsacademy.org.uk), Head of Design and Technology.

This course provides learners with the knowledge and understanding of the hospitality and catering industry. It develops learners’ ability to plan, prepare and cook dishes and equips learners with the practical skills required within the catering industry. Learners will complete tasks that mirror industry practice.

WJEC Vocational Awards in Hospitality and Catering consist of two units: 

  • Unit 1. Hospitality and catering industry: focuses on learning about different types of providers, legislation, food safety and the roles and responsibilities within the sector.
  • Unit 2. Hospitality and catering in action: develops learners’ practical skills for planning, preparing, cooking and presenting nutritional dishes meeting the client needs. Both units have also been designed to provide learners with an understanding of how the learning is relevant to the sector.  

WJEC Level 1/2 Vocational Award in Hospitality and Catering units are assessed through controlled internal assessment or external assessment. 

External assessment Unit 1: 40%

The Hospitality and Catering Industry will be externally assessed. The external assessment is available in June each year. Pupils will either sit an on-screen or paper version of the exam. Details of the external assessment are as follows: Duration: 90 minutes. Number of marks: 90

Hospitality and Catering in Action is internally assessed: 

This unit is internally assessed and externally moderated. All assessments must be conducted under controlled assessment conditions and controls have been determined for each stage of the assessment process: task setting, task taking and task marking. 

After completing the WJEC Vocational Award in Hospitality and Catering learners might be interested in progressing to other qualifications relevant to working in the sector, such as: 

  • WJEC Level 3 Applied Certificate / Diploma in Food Science and Nutrition Level 2/Level 3 Diplomas in Hospitality and Catering 
  • Level 2/Level 3 Diplomas in Professional Cooking
  • Level 3 Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management.
  • Events planning/management
  • Flight attendant
  • Chefs
  • Hotel manager
  • Spa manager
  • Beverage manager/ group sales person
  • Wedding coordinator
  • Cruise Ship Attendant
  • Front Desk Associate
  • Front Desk Supervisor
  • Front Office Attendant
  • Front-of-House Manager
  • Guest Relations Manager
  • Guest Services Associate
  • Guest Services Supervisor
  • Hotel Clerk
  • Hotel Receptionist
  • Reservationist
  • Reservations Agent
  • Dietitian
  • Sous Chef
  • Consumer Scientist.

OCR CAMBRIDGE NATIONAL SPORTS SCIENCE

For more information, please contact Mr J Carman (jamie.charman@mascallsacademy.org.uk), Head of PE.

This course is a vocational course in which the students learn about a number of different aspects of sport. The knowledge, understanding and skills learnt in studying an OCR Sports Science course will aid progression to further study and prepare learners to enter the workplace. In the sport sector, typical employment opportunities may include working as a coach, nutritionist, PE teacher or as a fitness instructor.

The OCR Sports Science course is the equivalent to 1 x GCSE. The course is made up of mandatory and specialist units which will be both internally and externally assessed. All units can be retaken on a second occasion if the grade achieved is not as high as desired. If retaken, the highest grade achieved will stand.

This unit is set and marked by OCR and will be in the form of a written exam. By completing this unit, learners will know how to prepare participants to take part in physical activity in a way which minimises the risk of injuries occurring, how to react to common injuries that can occur during sport and how to recognise the symptoms of some common medical conditions, providing a good foundation to undertake formal first aid training and qualifications.

This unit is set and marked internally in the form of written coursework. Although assessed in a written form, the lessons are taught through practical and therefore almost 50% of year 10 lessons will be taught practically through this unit. By completing this unit, learners will develop knowledge and understanding of the principles and methods of training and the application of these in the design of training programmes along with the practical skills in fitness testing.

This unit is set and marked internally in the form of written coursework. By completing this unit, learners will understand key aspects of the structure and function of the musculo-skeletal and cardio-respiratory systems and investigate some of the changes which occur to them in response to short and long-term physical activity.

This unit is set and marked internally in the form of written coursework. By completing this unit, learners will consider the composition of a healthy, balanced diet. They will also consider the necessity of certain nutrients in particular quantities and the effects of a poor diet. They will reflect upon the role that diet plays in different sports and activities, and use the knowledge gained to produce an appropriate, effective diet plan for a performer.

The internal work will be in the form of coursework. The coursework may be presented in different forms such as: a report/article, fitness plan, PowerPoint presentation, leaflet, teaching episode and many others. All coursework will be assessed by an internal and external moderator, who will award a Pass, Merit, or Distinction

Start a career in the sport or leisure industry. The course will give you an understanding of the vast array of jobs that are available in the sports industry. It will also allow you to work and train in another chosen career. (This course is good preparation for work in any area).