Music college- has anyone's child got in with grade C or under passes in maths and English.

[disorganisedmummy]

Hi,sorry for the long title. We are a long way from this yet as ds is only 10 but is a talented violinist and wants to go to music college and has done for a number of years. He has Aspergers. As long as he's well supported he should be ok with music GCSE but not sure about maths and English. He may scrape a C or equivalent. I know it seems mad to think about this when its 5 years away but we're looking into Saturday Conservatoires and hoping they will give him a foot in the door for under grad courses.
My question is has anyone's child been accepted for one of the London music colleges if they haven't done so well in GCSEs?

Thanks

[Autumnsky]

I think you should find out the musical college and phone them to ask for information, and also asking around among musical teachers. I think there should be a secondary school which provide good education but also place music as top priority. I do remember seeing some post about children go to that kind of secondary.

[LongestSummer]

As far as I remember, conservatoires award places by audition and are less/not interested in exam results (even music ones). You might need something to matriculate, 2 A level passes, maybe? But don't take my word for it. Also check course content, because there may be some academic elements to courses and he'd need to cope - the conservatoireds may well vary in that. My knowledge is a decade or so old. Plenty of more recent experience should come along on here. If he goes to a junior conservatoire they'll offer good advice.

[Icouldbeknitting]

It's currently selection by audition and a requirement for two A levels at grade E or equivalent. To study A levels now you need maths and English GCSE at what was previously a C so if you think he might be able to scrape a C then there would be no problem. If your DS is only 10 then I think you're worrying too early. It may be that the secondary school is on the ball with appropriate support and that he nails enough GCSEs for him to do whatever it is he wants to do. It may be that the whole education system will change in the next six years (probably twice) and the current post 16 transition flies out of the window.

If you work backwards from the undergraduate entry requirements (on the conservatoire's website) to your local sixth form entry requirements then you can see what he needs to achieve at 16 to end up where he wants to be. Just be aware that not all sixth forms offer music A level, my son has had to move school to be able to do it.