New Era Academy Examinations
A specialist examining body for the performing arts, New Era Academy boasts a vast and varied syllabus of graded examinations. Covering every discipline from acting to musical theatre, mime to public speaking, the organisation’s ethos and drive promises to deliver students an exciting educational experience, and an unrivalled grasp of their chosen discipline.
Established in 1941, NEA is a well-known name in the world of theatre, but it’s thanks to its Chief Executive, actor, Derren Nesbitt, and Examinations Director, Miranda Jacobs, that the organisation has taken on a new lease of life, transforming it into one of only five exam awarding bodies in the UK. Derren, who has 40 films to his name, is revelling in his new role and is excited to have the opportunity to pass his skills and expertise onto a new generation, alongside Examination Director, Miranda. Derren says:
“We’ve been on a very exciting journey over the last few years, which began by introducing James Bond legend, Sir Roger Moore, and tough guy actor, Ray Winstone, as patrons of the Academy.” There are a large number of organisations across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland who are using NEA as their examining board and I believe this is because our ethos differs a great deal to that of other exam boards. Exams are a time of great tension and can be very daunting, but we want every student to enjoy the experience of the exam and to want to do it again.
It’s all about developing their self-confidence and helping them to recognise that they can, and ultimately have, achieved a very personal thing.”
The way the syllabus for each discipline is put together is also unique at NEA. With a wealth of experienced, knowledgeable experts on hand, each discipline is devised by a subject specialist, who creates an informative and inspiring teaching pack. An expert in the theatre and performance, Derren himself has created the Shakespeare syllabus, which is proving to be very popular with schools across the country.
The inspiring disciplines on
Spoken English. Having spent his entire life in the business, Derren’s passion for acting and performing shines through, and his contribution to New Era Academy, which is recognised by Ofqual – the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation – has made a huge difference for those students who want to go on to bigger and brighter things. Qualifications gained at Level 3 are also now included in the UCAS tariff system, so whether a student dreams of a life in the limelight or aspires to be a lawyer, a certificate from NEA can equip them with the confidence and skills they need to succeed.
We are now delighted to be represented in Sri Lanka by Kishani Tennakoon kishanitennakoon@gmail.com
Patrons: Sir Roger Moore K.B.E., Ray Winston, Ray Cooney O.B.E., Bill Kenwright C.B.E., Jenny Seagrove