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Original poster

I'm planning for next year; my & the school are going to fall out & I'd like to minimise it

34 replies

KatyMac · 09/05/2013 08:14

DD is hoping to go to performing arts/dance college in Sept 14; she will start auditioning in Sept/Oct 13

This will be her final GCSE year, so time off will be difficult.
She wants to do as many auditions as possible
I'd rather she does as few as possible while giving her the best possible chance
I'm sure school would rather she wasn't off at all Wink

Next year she is doing:
2nd yr of Maths
2nd yr of Eng Lit
2nd yr of Eng Lang
2nd yr of Science

Entire Drama BTEC
Entire Business BTEC

She 'should' already have GCSE Spanish, Geography & Music and she has BTEC Dance

Is it worth suggesting she drops the Business so she can use that time to make up any lessons she has missed?

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 09/05/2013 19:10

She hasn't started either yet; it's less about the work for those subjects and more about the time to catch up on work for the others

Maybe, considering the impact on the others Drama might be the one to drop.

I don't know when the colleges announce their audtion dates; but I do know they often have more than one - but whether DD gets to choose which she attends I'm not sure.

She is planning on starting with less likely colleges to give her experience and the colleges she really wants a bit later (but it all depends on when they announce their audition days)

OP posts:
EvilTwins · 09/05/2013 18:38

BTECs are likely to have units which can be completed outside the class. Is her BTEC "Drama" a BTEC Performing Arts? Is it new spec or old? If she's not started yet then it will have to be the new spec. There will be things she can work on by herself- portfolio updates etc BUT please be aware that she will have to do group work for the controlled assessments and her absence will impact on others so as much notice as you can give the teacher would be appreciated, I'm sure.

cricketballs · 09/05/2013 18:14

rather than dropping Business altogether why not ask if she can drop from Diploma to Extended Certificate (2 GCSEs instead of 4) therefore she will still gain a qualification and will enable her to have 'time off' as it requisites less units to be completed.

Dropping a subject after work has already been completed seems such a waste especially as her place is not guaranteed and therefore she may need to look at other paths

Original poster
KatyMac · 09/05/2013 08:51

No the auditions will run through until after Easter - especially if she gets places and needs to do funding auditions too

I imagine about 10 or 12 auditions plus funding ones (if she gets that far)

You do an audition to get a place then a second one to secure funding

We could cut it down to her fewer auditions but that reduces her chances

I wish they had a manual

OP posts:
LIZS · 09/05/2013 08:32

What sort of time off do you anticipate , do you know the dates of the ones she is hoping to audition for ? If she is travelling around then she can catch up on train .

noblegiraffe · 09/05/2013 08:32

How many auditions and days off could be reasonably expected? Will they all be happening at the same time or spread throughout the year?

They might be reluctant for her to ditch a whole BTEC (how manyessoms a week?) if the auditions are done by Christmas.

Iggi101 · 09/05/2013 08:25

You can't make up lessons missed in time spent alone though, can you?
Does the school have a careers teacher, or similar, who you could arrange an appointment with at the start of the year? Then you could at least explain what's going on, and surely they will have had someone follow the same path in the past? It is important for school to realise this time off is part of a career plan, not just a hobby. (I don't really understand the connection between lots of auditions and performing arts college entrance though)

Original poster
KatyMac · 09/05/2013 08:19

Double I think (hope)

She has about 3.5 hrs a week already to use for 'coursework'

You know me Lizs I worry Hmm

OP posts:
LIZS · 09/05/2013 08:16

I wouldn't pre-empt it tbh so keep Business for now . Is it double or triple science ?

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