Performing arts at sixth form

[ifoughtforliberty]

Can anyone shed any light on performing arts sixth form courses? We are based in Essex so could possibly consider London based.

We don't know anyone who has even gone down this route to ask. There is a course at a local sixth form college but I'm presuming that she would need to apply for more than one as I would guess there's lots of competition?

I am slightly nervous of going down this route due to limiting options afterwards.

How much experience has DD got in performing arts? have you looked at Bird College or Italia Conti? Both have post-16 options.

Interested that you are nervous due to limitations - yes, it's fiercely competitive and you have to know what you are getting yourself into. but IMO this is something you do because you just can't not do it!

My daughter is similarly inclined but a lot younger. We're taking the view that she can always come back to more traditional academics if/when the need arises. So many people do these days.

Good luck to your DD!!

There is Tiffany Theatre College in Leigh on Sea, the Emil Dale in Hitching, Italia Conti, Pauline Quirk and Sylvia Lane in London. Then Arts one in Milton Keene and ICT in Brighton and finally Read College in Reading. For September 20 entry they are all about halfway through their audition season so auditions will need to be booked quickly.
Some have funding others do not, those who do not gave funding do have access to the arts grants and often their own bursary schemes.

Most of the courses are BTECs or OCR qualifications which are equivalent to A-levels and are suitable for relevant university courses.

Move It is on at the excel next weekend the vast majority of these colleges are there so if you can get there you would be able to get prospectus etc.

It depends what you are looking for at this stage (and which branch of the performing arts).

Lots of local FE colleges do Btec Extended Diploma performing arts courses. The standard is variable and it is not usually that competitive to get onto a course. I'm not dissing them, they serve a purpose and indeed my son is going to be undertaking such a course in music with a view to applying to university (he is not academic enough for A levels).

Then there are pre-vocational courses - usually Btec Extended Diploma but sometimes the UAL/RSL diploma. These are sometimes provided by specialist providors eg dance/drama schools working on a franchise basis so state funded or private (fee paying). Some examples of this type of course I can think of in the South are Emil dale, Urdang, Tring Park, Wilkes Academy (I'm north so know more up there). The aim of these courses is to prepare students for audition to professional training age 18.

Then there is professional training courses. These are Level 6 courses but unusually you can apply aged 16 at a lot of institutions. The Level 6 Trinity Diploma in Dance, Musical Theatre or Acting (acting is usually age 18 plus only) are offered at one of a handful of colleges in the UK (list here www.trinitycollege.com/qualifications/PPAD/level-6-musical-theatre ) and is funded by means of the Dance & Drama Awards scheme. Entry is highly competitive to these courses and not everyone accepted onto the course will get funding.

I forgot to say my daughter is currently training on one of the Level 6 Trinity dada funded courses. She was 16 when she started her coursse, but several of her classmates were 18/19.

@ifoughtforliberty* Which branch of the performing arts is your dd interested in, and what sort of career would she be aiming for ultimately?

The advice given for drama / dance / musical theatre courses would all be different.

@willowpatterns musical theatre. Have looked at some of those listed above but most are wrong side of London to us

Is your dd a dancer/singer, an actor singer or a true triple threat?

What is her level of dance at the moment? Is she able to access enough high level performing arts training out of school? Has she asked advice from her current teachers?

Is she looking to audition for drama school at age 18 or is she feeling that she is ready now at 16? If the former then she may be better off doing A levels or a btec at a normal school/college and training with a reputable dance school/singing teacher. If the latter then you may be looking at her living away from home if you don't have a reputable btec within commuting distance or she feels she is ready for Level 6.

Is she willing to live away from home & can you afford to maintain her to do this? A friend's dd went to Performers College and a couple from dd's school also went there if that is anywhere near you.

I would also highly advise attending the CDMT careers conference usually held in November. Lots of accredited colleges will be in attendance and there are talks and workshops for both students and parents.

@ifoughtforliberty What sort of training has she had so far, and what level is she at?

Depending on that, to be honest, it could be better for her to stay on at school, do A-levels and contine at her current dance/MT local school, and then audition for one of the professional full-time accredited MT courses.

If she does performing arts at a local college instead of A-levels, then the training will not be at the required level to audition for jobs - they are more of a preparation stepping stone into professional training. She would still need to go on and get full-time training at somewhere like Laine's, Bird College, Performers College etc.

There is huge competition for training places, the industry is tough, and a lot of professionals are out of work, so it would be far better for her to have A-levels under her belt so she can pursue a Plan B if things don't work out.