BRIT School KS4 Option Change

[Nunsmet22]

Hi everyone,

My DS is starting at BRIT in Year 10 in September, Theatre Strand. He's been super excited to go and was eagerly waiting for his option choices to come through.

He chose Film, Photography and History but we got an e-mail last week that he's been given Graphic Design, Sociology and History instead.

Here's the thing: My DS is a super keen film-maker and has been a star student at Film Studies at his old school, winning all sorts of awards and accolades.

When he applied for BRIT, it took him a long time to decide whether to apply for Theatre or Film and Media Production. He went for Theatre in the end, thinking he could do Film as an option choice and then think again after Year 11 what he wanted to do at sixth form. He really is as passionate aboute film-making as he is about acting.

I wrote to BRIT in early June to say he's happy to swap all of his options, the only one he really cares about is Film. If they can only give him one out of three, please can it be this one.
I got a generic e-mail back saying 'we're trying to give students what they want however we cannot guarantee it'.

Now that he's not been given Film as an option subject, he's stunned. He cannot imagine not studying film further, and everybody who knows him says it would be crazy for him not to do Film as it's by far his best subject apart from drama and obviously what he loves. He always saw both acting and film-making as an integral part of his BRIT journey.

For context, at his old school he's been given all his option choices, including Film, Photography and Drama. He was happy enough there but very excited to move on to BRIT. We as parents have written to BRIT last week listing all his awards and achievements, he has also sent an e-mail himself explaining why film is so important to him. So far we haven't heard back but it's early days.

Does anybody know (possibly from experience) how likely it is that BRIT will be flexible and accommodating in regards to this issue? I suppose Film is a very popular choice and vastly oversubscribed. My DS is so hoping they'll make it work for him but I'm telling him they might not and what then???

I'm tearing my hair out over this - grateful for any advice, thanks!

in the general scheme of career paths, GCSE film is not the thing that’s going to make or break his career…

I would also imagine that having won awards / accolades in year 9 will also make no odds. It’s the BRIT school, your pool is self selecting of very talented children.

i imagine it going to BRIT will open up more doors than his old school. So I would tell him to suck up any option they give him and make the best of it 🤷🏻‍♀️

I agree with PP, film GCSE isn’t critical, he can study it later and also continue with it in his spare time. He will be able to pick up again at A-level/Btec I’m sure.

He will benefit hugely from attending Brit school. If he doesn’t get Film GCSE it’s not the end of the world ( it might feel like it though to him). Yes it’s important to stand up for yourself and ask, but I honestly think you campaigning on his behalf on this will not help him in the long run. Kids have to learn to accept disappointments in these lives and this is a golden opportunity.

Thanks, all very helpful feedback. He has written to the school himself to make his case so it's not just me campaigning for him. I did write to ask the question you refer to @DoThePropeller : can he not do a Film GCSE but still do a Film A level (or an AS level) at BRIT. Not sure what the rules are.

It's pointless going to BRIT to study the wrong subjects

He might as well stick to his current / old school

My DS was in a similar position by the way,

He chose GCSE music and was disappointed when not given it. Not an award winner like your DS though and he had never taken a Grade exam and played by ear. I advised him to speak to the head of Music and plead his case in person. In his first week, he did this and was offered to join a trial lesson and allowed to join the class. Even without that outcome, I believe the experience would have been better for him to fight and lose on his own.

well done to your son for getting in.

So many schools don’t offer film at all that I’d be surprised if it was a requirement for a-level but worth checking.

The overall theatrical education and status of the school - with its relationships with commercial productions etc is the reason to go to the BRIT and not stay where he is. A film gcse in isolation isn’t going to do much for his career.

Understood @DoThePropeller and it wouldn't be about a GCSE in isolation but about the stepping stone to an AS level in Film at BRIT or even a strand change to Film and Media Production in Yr12. Can only imagine it would be useful to have done the Film GCSE and be known to the department.
My DS wants to go to drama college or to film school after BRIT and while the GCSE might not be absolutely necessary, an A or AS level in Film Studies would definitely help with the latter.
His current school doesn't have the same prestige as BRIT but is a specialist college for visual and performing arts with a very good track record of getting kids into drama school (and a wonderful film department). That's what's making things tricky for me - but l hear what you're all saying about why he should go for BRIT no matter which option choices.
Thanks again, you're all giving me great food for thought.

A different subject; but I did A-even geography without having done GCSE geography and it wasn’t an issue. I’m a secondary teacher and we accept people onto our A-level course with no GCSE

Thanks @PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister that's interesting and good to know.
I didn't go to school in this country and despite trying hard, still haven't quite grasped the finer details of the system here...:-)

Ds went to ordinary comp and did A level Film without studying it before (they didn't offer gcse in it). He now studies it in Uni as it was always his passion.

Dd goes to Brit (since year 10, now going into year 13). In our experience, they are super accommodating where at all possible to encourage creativity in or out of the student's specialist strand. I imagine they will do all they can to make film possible for your child. However, even if not, the opportunities that will arise for them across all their areas of interest are pretty incredible. My dd is already mourning the end of our school days at Brit. I wish your child every success.

Thanks so much @standoutfromthe, that's just what l needed to hear today.
My DS won't stop being into film and filmmaking either way - and if not doing a GCSE doesn't mean he can't do an A level, that's a load off my back.
Hope your DD has the most amazing Yr 13 at BRIT!

How did this pan out? Am curious about flexibility at Brit School. DD has a similar profile to your DS and I am wondering about similar issues - we live quite far so it's a case of whether she should try for this. Is a film nut. Is the education on production side very good, I wonder too?

Hi @tizalinatuna I'm sure the education on the production side is amazing! I went to see the Film and Media Production Department at the Open Day and was blown away, it felt like proper film school.
Also, my sense is that BRIT will try to be accommodating if at all possible. They were about to give my DS Film as one of his option choices - however, in a bit of a surprise twist and for too many reasons to list here, he decided to stay at his old school.
I'm sure for many people BRIT's just the place to be but then again it's not for everyone. My DS is super happy and thriving at his old school (which is also a visual and performing arts specialist school) and not looking back.
Definitely easier to make the change in Yr10 if you're not happy with your current school or feel your DD's talents can't blossom there.