BTEC at D&B Academy of Performing Arts

[SimplySandy]

Hello. My DD has just got into D&B Academy of Performing Arts in Downham, London, to do the BTEC in Performing Arts and I was wondering if anyone here had experience of it? They’ve only been running it since last September so it’s hard to know what it’s like. TIA!

I've not heard of it. Did she get into any other more well established colleges/courses? Just because it's so new it could be hard to judge it's quality.

The BTEC and OCR are well recognised 6 the form routes in the performing arts.
They do need to stay on top of the assignments which are both written and practical. They also need to remember that every assignment counts. To do well they need to be able to work independently.
i don’t know anything about the specific college.

Their three-year diploma is well established and accredited by the CDMT but the BTEC is new.

Ok cool. I'm sure the college is good it's just it'll be harder to get feedback from the Btec cohort if there's only been one. I hope the student services would let her connect with recent graduates? Wishing her the best x

They have always taken 16 year olds (I remember talking to them at a CDMT event when my daughter was applying) but I suspect that by offering the Btec funding will be easier.

I was put off them due to that awful TV show that was on around that time but in person I was impressed by their students.

I never saw it - probably just as well! 😬

Thank you. ❤️

Are you local to the area? I think if I remember right the nearest station was Grove Park if I'm thinking of the Downham in North Bromley?
There used to be really nice fish and chip shop on the high street in the 90s I think?

Yeah, we’re not too far at all so it’s super handy, travel wise.

Awesome. Not sure if chip shop still there! Haha. But I think it would be great to try and speak to people who've done it or are doing the course.

Also what kind of links the course have to industry, work experience, links to agents, theatres, TV/film producers, casting directors etc.

Is she wanting to go to drama school, do MT degree/diploma after? Or is this course a similar level to Diploma?

Thanks. My DD met some current students at her audition and got good vibes from them about the course. She liked the teachers too. The school has an in-house talent agency that students can audition for. Mainly it appeals because the course offers more hours than a standard BTEC and she can also do ballet and tap exams at the same time. She wants to either go straight into industry after the BTEC or to drama school to do MT.

Sounds good. I hope you so encourage her to get part time work if she can. Actors always need a side job! Things like events hospitality, market or social research, marketing, sales, hospitality or anything in theatres or arts venues.

She'll be great at anything to do with talking to people and interacting with the public.

Wishing her the best of luck in her studies and career x

Thank you. X😊

Did you accept the BTEC offer? Any additional insights since your post? My DD has an offer from there and we are considering sending her there.. Thanks!

We didn’t find out any more information but we did accept the offer, on the basis that my DD enjoyed her audition day, she liked the teachers and she has a friend who is going. They also have additional one to one singing lessons and extra dance lessons with the opportunity to do ballet and tap exams which my DD is keen to do. No idea if we’ve made the right decisIon but she’s super keen. What did you think of it?

@SimplySandy Good Morning,
My son did start last September at the BTEC course and we are very happy with his progress.
The kids need to be on top of their works because they are busy.
No compaints so far, well organised. They offered extra top up classes in Dance,singing, acting...
This year they are 22 students (19 girls and 3 boys)

Thanks for responding, @Pegjes44 , that’s really good to hear. And how is he finding LNS? It feels weird to have accepted a place without having visited the school where they’ll have some of their classes. I suppose we could just visit though.

This is super helpful - thank you so much for sharing. We were all set on D and B and then saw information on the London Nautical School at this link here: https://www.theschoolsguide.com/schools/secondary/london-nautical-school-100642/index.html - I am still not sure what we will do...

@SimplySandy @ForArtfulTraybake Hi, LNS is a good school but just a reminder it's a boy school. It's situated in a nice area. The teachers are lovely, we had a parent's evening last month and all the teachers were very helpful. After the D&B kids are part and not part of the 6th form because they've got different teachers. They don't do classes with the LNS boys.

@ForArtfulTraybake The D&B kids are doing their performing arts classes there but they are not doing any classes with the LNS boys. Also they are there only 2 days a week and the other 2 days they are at a studio in Bromley. Your DD will enjoy D&B.

I saw this too @ForArtfulTraybake but I wasn’t too worried about it though as I know D&B students are doing their own thing and not really a part of the school as it were and so I didn’t think a bad rating would necessarily be a reflection of the performing arts classes. I was more concerned about the fact that it was a boys’ school and wondered if it would feel like a safe environment for the D&B students. I guess we’ll visit it and see.

It’s good to know it’s in a nice area and the teachers are lovely. It would have to be pretty bad to put my daughter off, tbh, as she has her heart set on going. She’s even cancelling her interview at Brit School now that she has a place at D&B.

@SimplySandy @ForArtfulTraybake Yes it's a boys school but it's very safe. The girls never complained and the head teacher at LNS is very strict.
The LNS 6th form area is even separated from the rest of the school.
I went to visit the school and all the boys were well behaved.

@SimplySandy My son was at the Brit school until year 11. Good school but so many trouble kids and the area is not that safe. This school is not for everyone...

Realy appreciate all these insights and feeling much more reassured - thank you!