January 2025 BTEC Performing Arts update

• BTEC Nationals in Performing Arts funding update for 2026/27
• BTEC Post-16 Level 2 and 3 Briefing session for Performing Arts 
• New Podcasts for Units 3 and 5
• Tech Award results for January series
• Tech Award Key dates
• Tech Award Component 3 brief 2025 
• Tech Award Exemplars
• Kneehigh Legacy Project
• Audition Ready app discount
• Support and Contact

BTEC Nationals in Performing Arts funding update for 2026/27

Good news: the DFE have announced that BTEC Nationals in Performing Arts, Performing Arts Practice and Production Arts Practice will be fully funded in 2026/27.

On 12 December 2024, the DfE published the outcomes of the Review of Qualifications Reform at Level 3 in England.

This confirms which qualifications will be funded for 16–19 learners in England for the academic years 2025/26 and 2026/27.

We have updated our funding guide to reflect the latest guidance for academic years 2025/2026 and 2026/27.

Find out more and access the Funding Guide

To support your curriculum planning and guide you through these changes, we will be running a Performing Arts support event on 15th January - please see details below.

BTEC Post-16 Level 2 and 3 Briefing Session 

We will be offering a briefing session for Performing and Production Arts to provide our centres in England with the latest news of the Government reforms on qualifications and funding. We will provide all the updates you need and there'll be an opportunity to ask questions.

New Podcasts for Units 3 and 5

To support teachers with preparing students for meeting the requirements of two of the BTEC Nationals in Performing Arts externally assessed units, we have released a brand new series of podcasts. I'm in conversation with the Lead Examiners for these units about ways to help students prepare to meet the demands of these units.

Unit 3: Group Performance Workshop

There are five episodes in conversation with Lead Examiner Fiona Dorman Jackson:

Part 1: Preparation for teaching Unit 3 

Part 2: Unit 3 Milestone 1 interpretation of the stimulus

Part 3: Unit 3 Milestones 2 and 3 the Development of creative ideas

Part 4:  Unit 3 The Performance

Part 5: Unit 3 Milestone 4 review and reflection 

Unit 5: Individual Performance Commission

There are four episodes in conversation with Lead Examiner Katie Berry:

Part one: Preparation for teaching Unit 5

Part two: Activity 1 the Written proposal 

Part three: Activity 2 the performance

Part four: Activity 3 the written evaluation

Coming soon: brand new exemplar work for these units

Tech Award results for January series

If you submitted your sample and marks by 15 December 2024, you should receive the draft moderation report by 17 January 2025. Based on the feedback in the draft report, you are able to make adjustments to the marks initially submitted if you choose by 24 January 2025.

The final results for the January series of internally assessed components for the BTEC Tech Award in Performing Arts / Dance approach (2022) will be released to centres on 19 March 2025 with results being released to learners on 20 March 2025.

Tech Award key dates

Tech Award Component 3 brief 2025

The brief for the externally assessed component 3 - Responding to a Brief will be released on 13 January. This is under a gold padlock in the 'Secure Tests' area of the website. This means only your Exams Officer can access it and they will then need to share it with you. 

Secure Tests

Tech Award Exemplars

There are exemplars available for Components 1, 2 and 3 on our website.

The new Component 3 work includes a design student.

Kneehigh Legacy Project

The Kneehigh Legacy Project is an Arts Council funded project in which they are preserving, celebrating and broadening the influence of Kneehigh’s work and ensuring that the best learning resources are available for students and teachers who wish to explore the company’s work. Although Kneehigh closed as a company in 2022, the work and influence of the company remains vital and is a superb tool for inspiring the next generation of young theatre makers. 
Their education strategy is a core component of their activity. With this in mind, they'd love to hear your views and ideas about what learning materials and CPD would be most helpful and effective. They are therefore inviting you to share your views via an online survey, which also gives you and your students the chance to enter a draw to win a one hour Zoom call with founder and former artistic director of Kneehigh, Mike Shepherd!
The survey is open from 6th January to 17th  February 2025. 

Kneehigh Legacy Project survey

Audition Ready app discount

We are pleased to announce that we have arranged with Audition Ready for BTEC learners to receive a £2 monthly discount on the subscription to the app.
Fully loaded with video tutorials delivered by top industry professionals, the Audition Ready App is created to help young talent interested in preparing for Screen Castings and Theatre Auditions.

Use the code PN24 at https://app.auditionready.co.uk to receive the discount.

Support and contact

Please feel free to get in touch, if you require any help or support in the teaching and assessment of our performing arts courses.
You can access my contact details below.