experience of level3 extended diploma in art and design.

[kilmuir]

just trying to get some feedback. dd has been offered a place at local college doing level3 extended diploma in art and design. but also fancies BTEC level 3 national diploma in art and design. thanks

My ds2 has completed the first year of the Btec extended diploma in Art and Design (the 90 credits one) and is now in the second year (180 credits). He has loved it and has just got his conditional offer at the Uni of his choice to do a degree in Illustration and Animation next year.

At school he had a number of teachers recommending A levels in their subject, as he was doing well academically too and I wobbled a bit at the idea of him choosing a vocational course aged 16. But his Art teacher really rated this course and although he did have a minor "will I still love Art as much if I'm doing it all day every day?" thought when he was about to start the course, it was clearly the best one for him. He's enjoyed himself, continued to develop and it has been absolutely the right choice.

that is great to hear,
school are pushing her to stay at 6th form, but i feel that may not be best for her. She is quite shy and rather daunted by going somewhere new

I think if he doesn't do the extended diploma he won't have enough UCAS points. If he pick the other diploma he will need to do an 'A' level or two with it. Hopefully someone will be along to explain that bit properly

As far as the school is concerned they want bums on seats. But then again so do all the colleges

I teach BTEC L3 course - but not art! The ext. dip is the equivalent to 3 a-levels and the nat. dip is 2. Most universities are looking for the points for at least 3 a-levels in my subject area. But this could be different in other subjects.

I'd go with the ext. dip and not mix and match subjects. Some of my students started doing that and it didn't work out and so they end up with me - doing the ext. dip

But yes, sadly, it is all about bums on seats.

My Dd did a 2 year extended diploma in a specific art subject and has just finished her first year of a degree at uni. Best course she could have ever chosen - she loved it.