Highgate wood / fortismere / Aps

Hello, just seen this. Will reply later!

@Leopardmatches Media tends to have more course work than Film. I think Media is 50% as opposed to 20%. Maybe @Piggywaspushed might be able to give more insight into the differences.

Leopard, why are you not sold on La Swap? My eldest is considering it for Year 12. Also has an offer from Fortismere.

Thanks Soma, yes, that’s what she’s thinking, if she doesn’t get CSG and therefore doesn’t get Art History- to try for film studies or media studies at HGW or Fortismere along with fine art and another art/craft/design.

I hadn’t thought of JCoSS but I’ve had a look and we wouldn’t meet the y12 admissions criteria.

A level film or media are great options for combining essay and creative elements. Although media includes a lot media regulation. Depending on the school's specialism, DC get a chance to make short films, music videos and magazine.
I've heard really good things about the Design & Technology department at JCoSS, is that a viable option?

Currently Y10 at one of the LaSwap schools funnily enough. They may end up in the same place lol.

That does sound amazing! I’m definitely going to add it to the shortlist of places to visit at the start of next year (Y11). What year is your DD in?

@Leopardmatches I guess it's pretty new so they need bums on seats and entry requirements are low because of that. Vocational always attracts that crowd though, there's a misconception that it'll be easy. DDs friend said those kids don't stay on and Y13 is small. It is very niche and they don't seem to advertise very well. I really had to dig for that craft strand, I thought it was just a film school and DD would hate that. They don't have to pay for anything, as companies donate lots of things for the craft dept. She's been able to do some amazing things in special effects makeup and seen lots of theatre shows for free! Got a free iPad they use in class and at home and even got to go backstage to see hair and makeup and quick changes in costumes. I think its like anywhere, it'll be up to the DC to make the most of it and DD really wants to go there.

Yes! Thanks @Foxesandsquirrels

I was so excited when I saw that, thinking it would be right up DD street. But then a friends child went there and said it was full of children who saw arts as a cop out and were only there as they had to be somewhere. Lovely to hear a positive experience. Thank you.

@Leopardmatches not sure if they're interested in film but this is a new school. One of DDs friends goes there and is enjoying it. The craft strand might interest your DC. Equivalent to 3 A Levels.
https://lsa.ac.uk/craft

I am pretty sure Woodhouse still do A level
music. It’s the visual and creative art and designs we are after.

Not sure what your point is than. HWS doesn't have more than the usual arts subjects on offer.
LaSwap is brilliant but as with all large sixth forms, easy to get lost in.

Yes, I know CSG is the only local school to do Art History. Although one of the colleges does something similar.

CSG would be, and is, the top and obvious choice.
But we need other options.

I am aware of the workload of arts subjects. I’m also aware of the admissions criteria of the institutions mentioned.

@Leopardmatches just had a look on the Camden girls website

https://www.camdengirls.camden.sch.uk/page/?title=Admissions&pid=175

Download the y12 grid. Based on that your DC could do music, photography, history of art and fine art if they wanted 4 a levels. Fine art, photography and history of art if 3. Obv up to the school if they'd allow it but it's perfectly possible within their timetabling.

But that's because those subjects have a HUGE coursework load. I don't know any sixth forms that would allow you to take 3 arts subjects. Most would allow 2 if you're particularly self disciplined alongside an essay subject.
Art History is not available at HWS, it's not available at most state schools.
Have a look at Camden Girls for Art. I'm p sure they do art history but can't remember. Their art dept is v good though. Look at Compton too, they have very good uni guidance.

@Leopardmatches have Woodhouse dropped A level music? They used to allow external students take music there. What subjects is your DC interested in taking? One of mine did two creative subjects, but wishes they'd added a language or classics.

I think both Fortismere and La Swap allow fine art and photography. Everywhere seems to allow Fine Art and music. To be fair, some independents don't allow both Fine Art and textiles.

Thanks @Soma . That’s good to know. Yes, I know about Woodhouse but I think although they do Fine Art A level I think that’s it for creative subjects.

I am not sold on La Swap.

And yes @Foxesandsquirrels while most school sixth forms offer Fine Art many either don’t teach, or won’t enable it to be taken alongside things like photography, art history, textile or product. Some teach textiles and product as an art subject so it can’t be taken with art. Some don’t teach it at all. Hardly anywhere teaches art history.

Depressingly, this is something you'd see outside most secondary schools.

@Foxesandsquirrels that makes sense.

@Leopardmatches a friend's DC moved from another state school for A levels and is having a really pleasant experience. I think there was some issue with admin in the first week, but apart from that they really rate it.
Another friend's DC did creative subjects at La Swap, but were disappointed in the lack of support for university application.
Have you looked at Woodhouse College in Finchley? They only do A levels and take 700 per year. It is not the most nurturing, but they have a good mentoring system where they pair up students with outside professionals. A friend of mine asked me to speak to one of her mentees who was interested in my area of interest.

@Reginaldperrin I've seen a group of boys surrounding a girl at a bus stop making clearly unwanted sexual advances and using horrible, misogynistic language. The other incident was in the park where a group of older kids surrounded some younger ones and were shouting and jeering at them. An adult intervened and it broke up.

@Leopardmatches what schools don't have creative options? Almost all sixth forms do.

@Soma only reason schools don't have police stationed outside anymore is due to cuts. Used to be the norm in all the N London schools, even the traditionally 'leafy' ones like fortismere

Secondary school kids can be a nightmare, but it can happen at any school. A friend in South London's son's school use to finish at 2.15pm every day to avoid contact with "rival" schools at home time.
Not sure if things have changed, but APS used to have police stationed at the bus stops out the school in the morning and afternoon.

@soma do you know anything about the sixth form at HGW? It seems to be one of the few 6 forms that still teaches art/creative/design subject at A levels. It would mean a move for the child from another out of area state school.

We are aware of CSG and La Swap ( and the big sixth form colleges in Angel and by Corams Fields).