Athena Pathway Programme Breakdown 

PERFORMING ARTS 

Ages 16–19

The Athena Pathway Programme has been created for students aged 16–19 who are continuing their A Levels at school or college but wish to maintain a professional standard of performing arts training alongside their studies. It is designed to support aspiring performers and teachers who want to progress towards higher education in the arts while also gaining valuable, recognised qualifications that will strengthen both their academic and professional profiles.

This unique programme is particularly suited to those who wish to train professionally in IDTA technique, gain teaching qualifications with IDTA and LAMDA, and prepare thoroughly for auditions at performing arts colleges and universities.

Each student will follow a personalised timetable tailored to their chosen specialisms and career pathway. A bespoke training plan is created for every participant, including one-to-one mentoring sessions and dedicated guidance for university and college applications. Athena Theatre Works & Productions also takes responsibility for organising auditions and preparing students for the specific requirements of their chosen institutions, ensuring they are confident, supported, and set up for success.

The transition to higher education can be especially challenging for students in the Southwest, where public transportation is limited, train fares are high, and living costs make travel to and from colleges and universities difficult. With most colleges located 45 minutes or more away and universities even further, the Athena Pathway Programme provides a practical and affordable solution. 

We recommend that students use these two vital years to perfect their craft with consistent, professional-level training, while also gaining internationally recognised teaching credentials with IDTA and LAMDA. Many universities charge upwards of £3,500 per year for these qualifications in addition to tuition fees. At ATWP, they are built into the programme as part of a holistic training experience.

Alongside their performance and teaching studies, students are also encouraged to explore additional academic skills such as business, marketing, media, or beauty, making them more employable and versatile as artists.  This ensures that participants are one step ahead when applying to higher education or entering the professional industry. With both performance experience and teaching credentials, they will carry qualifications and transferable skills that will remain invaluable throughout their careers.

The Pathway has been carefully created by Athena Burns, Principal of ATWP, who has drawn on her own personal experiences and the challenges she faced during her training. It provides everything she needed but did not have access to, ensuring that today’s dancers are supported with the opportunities, guidance, and professional preparation she once lacked.

The programme is delivered across three days of the week. Friday evenings are dedicated to graded classes in specialist subjects, Classical Ballet and Modern Contemporary. Saturdays are reserved for “Senior Saturdays”, which focus on technical training across all disciplines, and Sundays return to specialist graded work. Additional weekday sessions, both daytime and evening, are also included to provide flexibility and breadth of study.

The cost of the programme is £90 per month. This inclusive fee covers all core and graded classes, Senior Saturday training, additional weekday sessions, and one-to-one mentoring with audition preparation support.

Entry to the programme is by audition only or through invitation from the Principal. Students must be committed, disciplined, and passionate about developing both as performers and as future teachers. 

All current eligible ATWP students are automatically offered a place; dancers from other studios are welcome but MUST audition with our panel. 

Places are limited, and successful applicants will join a structured, professional, and highly supportive pathway designed to give them the very best start in their careers.

ATWP is a registered education provider with UKRLP (UK Register of Learning Providers) – registration number 10022953. This means our Performing Arts Pathway Programme is officially recognised as full-time education, and students aged 16–19 remain eligible for Government Child Benefit claims while enrolled.

Students on this course will not only gain pre-university, credit-bearing qualifications but also benefit from the flexibility to work part-time, earn, and save ahead of their higher education journey and gain additional A Levels in another subject to strengthen their future opportunities.

As part of the programme, dancers will complete Intermediate and Advanced graded examinations in Ballet and Modern, alongside their teaching and performance diplomas. These qualifications, combined with internationally recognised teaching awards from IDTA and LAMDA, ensure our students enter university or professional dance colleges one step ahead with both academic credits and industry-standard credentials.

“The Athena Pathway – Training for Today, Credentials for Tomorrow,  One Step Ahead"

Course Policy 

Students who choose to study Performing Arts, Drama, Dance or Music as a formal qualification with another studio, college or training provider are not eligible to enrol on the Athena Pathway Programme. This course is designed as a specialist parallel pathway to complement A Levels and other non-arts subjects, and it cannot be combined with similar performing arts training elsewhere.

We strongly recommend that students committing to another performing arts course or studio continue to work fully with their chosen provider, as we are unable to accommodate the conflicting training schedules, rehearsal demands, and assessment requirements that arise when programmes are mixed.

The Athena Pathway is a dedicated, stand-alone training programme that requires focus, discipline, and consistency, ensuring every student receives the very best preparation and professional-level support for their individual goals.