UCAS Information – Performing Arts

Additional contextualised information for UCAS references – Performing Arts

Performing Arts (Acting/Musical Theatre/Dance/Production Arts) and Music department under normal circumstances, teaching UAL Performing & Production Arts or Music Performance and Production at Harlow College involves up to three and half days per week. This would include both practical and theoretical lessons. 

After lockdown, rehearsals and classes continued at a 50% onsite and 50% remote learning, until full capacity was restored. All of the acting, dance, musical theatre and music projects, were performed in a theatre or studio setting, with no audience present.  Lines were still learnt, choreography still maintained, band music performed, own costumed where possible, with masks/and or visors on throughout rehearsal period or recorded edited audio music recordings, for their end of year projects. Full air ventilation was essential and continuous hygiene and sanitisation was maintained. Twice weekly LFDT was recommended for learners and staff, and risk assessments, catered for these new variances in hazards, now as the norm. Excellent procedures were in place, with any communication sent to all learners centrally, with the teams own specific communication via TEAMS or other platforms and timely alterations accepted where necessary. 

Delivery was taught via face to face session or set work on TEAMS, using SHOWBIE as an assessment platform. Teachers were mindful of smaller groupings, phasing back in contact work if required, and associated teaching resources, to enable learners to engage with the syllabus in a distance learning capacity, for those who had to isolate and couldn’t participate in physical sessions. Learners were called up on TEAMS, if remote, whilst participating in live face to face sessions, being a ‘learner’s face’ on screen and contributing to the rehearsal process. Digital usage was the norm for our areas, so it was mainly the well-being of the students that were regularly check through physical strength exercises and ensuring communication was re-established. All learners engaged and completed all coursework. All learners continued and were successful at completing their Final projects, enabling a continuation of their skill set. New units and additional research into career pathways and choices associated with the Extended Diploma qualification, were also started and taught, after an early GTAG submission, in preparation for their return in September 2021. 

Trying times, but a valuable skill in resilience learnt, whilst having a profound and non-verbal respect and appreciation to studying again, focusing on quality. Just one benefit out of this pandemic, but a welcomed warmth needed for all.