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Original poster

A level/btec subject choice - is this too narrow

37 replies

AlexanderHamilton · 06/01/2018 18:08

Dd is applying to study musical theatre at various colleges/schools.

One school offers a btec diploma in musical theatre plus 2 A levels. Dd wants to study English Literature as her first choice & she's put Theatre Studies as her second choice. She can't do music as it's in the same option block as English.

I think that's a bit narrow. The other subjects available to her at this particular school are Dance, History, French, History of Art or Film Studies.

OP posts:
Zodlebud · 06/01/2018 19:39

Being at Hammond and Arts Ed will in themselves be enough to prepare her for the future.

Take two academic subjects alongside the BTEC to provide a fallback for the future IMO.

Original poster
AlexanderHamilton · 06/01/2018 19:22

Unfortunately music clashes with English at both schools (she's really good at music, especially composition) but Arts Ed don't let you do music A level if you don't play piano anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
AlexanderHamilton · 06/01/2018 19:19

Yes Zodle, she's auditioning for Hammond & Arts Ed (she didn't like Tring)

OP posts:
Original poster
AlexanderHamilton · 06/01/2018 19:18

She's been at vocational school since the age of 11. She isn't able to access the amount & level of training at a local dance school.

She however enjoys academics & wants to do a couple of A levels alongside her dance/MT training. She's hoping that if she gets funding at her first choice school she can do English & Philosophy & Ethics A levels but she has to audition at a variety of places.

OP posts:
crazycatgal · 06/01/2018 19:16

I know of 4 people from my year who went on to do a BTEC in musical theatre and carried on to study it at uni - none of them have gone on to do anything in musical theatre.

I would recommend picking two academic subjects for the 2 A level choices as a back up.

Zodlebud · 06/01/2018 19:13

Just read about the school specialising in performing arts. Is there a level of vocational training alongside the traditional qualifications? If so, it kind of changes things.

TeenTimesTwo · 06/01/2018 19:12

Why not just do a Level 3 Extended Diploma (3 A level equivalent)?

(This is outside my field of knowledge really)

English & History would be 'better' academically, but probably not for chosen path.

Zodlebud · 06/01/2018 19:10

Personally I wouldn’t take MT and theatre studies, particularly if your daughter is doing lots of performing activities outside school. 18+ entry to colleges will be based purely on talent, not a piece of paper. Arguably the more exposure the better but it needs to be practical. The BTEC will be a lot more practical work - a lot of people do not realise how much theoretical work goes into A-level theatre studies.

I am also conscious of what’s the backup plan? I work in the industry and even the most talented performers have periods without work. What does your daughter plan to do in these periods of downtime? It’s a really tough industry and even if you are the most talented performer in the world, if you don’t look the part then you’re not going to get it - brutal. Most adults I know in this position teach on a freelance basis.

If your daughter is doing 8+ hours extra curricular top level training then I would say that the English and Theatre Studies are a great fit together and she could even not do the BTEC. I do know that if MT is in your blood though, it’s almost impossible to deny it and she will probably thrive on the BTEC course.

So in a roundabout way I have probably arrived at the same position as you - in that the balance really doesn’t feel right but that at 16 she really have an input and it’s essentially her choice. She won’t be at a disadvantage taking that combination but does it really help?

Just be the voice of reason and provide heaps of belief and encouragement but also preparation for not being in work all the time.

Original poster
AlexanderHamilton · 06/01/2018 19:07

A degree or Level 6 diploma in Professional Musical Theatre (basically train as a musical theatre dancer/singer)

The school specialises in performing arts. We've not visited yet, audition is February but she has to choose A level options now.

OP posts:
TeenTimesTwo · 06/01/2018 19:03

What's the plan for after 6th form? If it is university then contact an admissions tutor or 2 and see what they have to say.

What does the school say about overlap between the BTEC and Theatre Studies?

Original poster
AlexanderHamilton · 06/01/2018 19:00

Block 1 is the Musical Theatre Btec
Block 2 is English, Maths, Music, Art, Photography
Block 3 is Drama, Dance, History, French, History of Art, Film Studies

OP posts:
Allthebestnamesareused · 06/01/2018 18:50

What other subjects are in the theatre studies block? Could she do English from block 1, film studies from block 3 and chose something more suitable from block 2?