Performing Arts

Performing Arts at King’s Academy Ringmer offers students a dynamic and comprehensive pathway to explore the disciplines of dance, drama, and musical theatre through two distinct qualifications:

GCSE Dance (AQA 8236)

and the Level 1/2 Award in Performing Arts (WJEC 5639QA). Both pathways are designed to develop practical performance skills, creativity, and critical understanding of the performing arts industry.

Dance GCSE (AQA 8236)

The GCSE Dance course combines performance, choreography, and critical appreciation. Students learn to perform set phrases and create original choreography, demonstrating physical control, technical precision, and expressive interpretation. The course encourages students to develop their own artistic voice while understanding the choreographic process and the work of professional dance companies. Assessment includes practical performances and a written exam that evaluates students’ knowledge of professional works, choreographic devices, and dance theory.

Click here for the AQA Dance GCSE webpages.

Level 1/2 Vocational Award WJEC (5639QA)

The Level 1/2 Vocational Award offers a broader focus on practical skills across acting, dance, and musical theatre. Students engage in workshops and rehearsals to develop performance techniques, characterisation, and stagecraft. Assessment is through internally assessed units and an externally moderated final performance, providing a realistic insight into the demands of the performing arts industry. This pathway fosters teamwork, communication, and confidence, essential for success in live performance contexts.

Click here for the WJEC Perfomring Arts webpages.

Both qualifications nurture creativity, resilience, and collaboration, equipping students with transferable skills valuable in many careers beyond the arts. GCSE Dance is graded on the 9–1 scale, while the vocational award is graded from Level 1 Pass to Level 2 Distinction*. This subject is ideal for students passionate about performance and those considering further study or careers in theatre, dance, production, or arts management.

Studying Performing Arts at Ringmer encourages students to express themselves, develop discipline, and appreciate the cultural significance of the performing arts in society, making it a vibrant and rewarding choice within the curriculum.