Has anyone's dd/ds gone on to do a performing arts/acting diploma at college?

[AstridPeth]

Dd2 is in year 10 and really wants to go on to do an acting related diploma after school. She currently takes drama as an option is predicted very good grades and has performed for large ish audiences (albeit as a singer ) many times do is happy being in the spotlight.
I am not a pushy mum. I want what's best for my children but I want them to be happy. I believe the choice of what they do after school should be their choice and I will support and encourage along the way.

My problem is this. We have no money, literally none. So dd would not be attending a drama school away from home (say London) but would be instead going to one of the local colleges (she has a few to choose from).
Has any ones dd or ds done an acting related course at a local college? Was it worth it? Where did it take them?
I guess one of my big concerns is that acting is one of those careers where is you don't make it then you are just broke all the time. Dd is predicted excellent grades for G.C.S.E and with them could literally do anything she wants to do. But this is what she is desperate to do.
Any thoughts please.

My dd will be starting a Dance/MT diploma in September aged 16 but the general consensus is that for acting its better to wait until you are 18 anyway.

So she could either do A levels or a Btec at a local college alongside getting as much experience as she can before applying to drama school at 18. Many of these are degrees funded by the normal student loans system although you do have to be aware that the private colleges may charge top up fees.

The important thing with Drama school I that you not only get high quality training but the contact hours meet Spotlight requirements & that they have an agent showcase. Getting an agent is a priority on graduation as most casting go through agents.

We looked into the performing arts BTECs last year with DD. Done well, they seem very good and offer great practical training for moving on to conservatories/performing arts courses.
Unfortunately, the local ones we could access don’t have a great reputation, very few students were getting places at the prestigious colleges after the BTEC and we felt the standard of drama and dance wasn’t much different to what DD already had.

So do research carefully what’s available locally, and in particular press for details of leaver destinations.
Also most will have a show that’s open to the public which is a really good way to see the standard of work being produced.

Thank you for your replies. I am just not sure it's right for her. We have literally no money and are in Cornwall. So miles away from anywhere really. She is a great singer as I have mentioned (grade 7) but has no dancing experience. I don't want to squash her dream but I'm just not sure it's achievable for her :-(

Generally BTECs run by the FE Colleges, eg,Cornwall college, are free.
Does you local town have a youth drama club? That will provide experience for your DD.
Also you say your daughter has performed many times so I guess you have access to some performing arts opportunities.

You may feel it’s better to take A levels while developing PA skills in the evenings and at weekends through local drama groups.

OK Google a DaDA and see if you are eligible for funding - the government funded Dance and Drama Awards are means tested and are for level 6 trinity diplomas

If that isn't viable the 6th form, either A levels or a BTec are the next step with a PA degree at 18 - lots of traditional PA colleges now offer them

PM me if you want more info

The quality of the Btec s are very very variable. Most are not good audition preparation but some can be excellent. We are fortunate to have both types where I live.

Both my Ds and Dd are actors to be. We live in a small town in Cheshire, they were both members of a local youth amateur musical theatre group. It was brilliant fun and good performance experience (2 shows a year), but was by no means professional. They both got good GCSEs plus a Btech in Drama and changed to a 6th form college which had better performing facilities. They did a Btech in performing arts and A levels too.
There is a 2 year age gap, Ds applied to drama schools in his final year of college and got no offers. He took a gap year, worked and re applied the following year and is currently in his 2nd year of a BA Acting degree at a conservatoire. Dd did the same and is currently working on her gap year. She has just finished auditions and has received 3 offers of Foundation courses. Two are student loan funded. She will have to audition again next year for a place on a 3 year BA.
It is very tough for all concerned. As a parent you want to ring up schools and tell them to offer a place. As the auditionee it is hard to keep focused and confident that you will get there.
Both my children refused to apply for university drama degrees. They feel that vocational training - 30 hours plus a week minimum - is vital if you want to make a career. So they only applied to places that have student loans attached. We are in a middle income bracket so even if they were offered Dadas we couldnt afford to pay for rent and living expenses. The student loan my son receives means that we pay for his rent as it isnt enough to cover that let alone food etc.
If your Dd wants to go down the straight acting route ( there is still some dance training and singing lessons on the course) then most Drama schools only take 18+ , some musical theatre and dance degrees take from 16 I think.
The best advice at the moment is for her to research all the schools and work out what she wants. It is achievable but is not for the faint hearted!

My DS is just finishing a 2 year extended diploma in performing arts at our local college. He absolutely loves it, has had the opportunity to get involved in some fantastic shows and has made great friends. He's going to uni (subject to getting the grades he needs!) in September to do a degree in Musical Theatre.

It certainly not an easy option. There's a lot of coursework, plus lots of evening and weekends rehearsing. But I'd definitely recommend it if this is what she wants to do.

DD did full time drama school from age 11to 16 then one year of a diploma course before jacking it in and going out to work. Between her acting, singing, modelling, hospitality, drama teaching assistant, dancewear sales assistant jobs and baby sitting jobs at 18 she is looking like next year she will out earn her father. But we do live in London.

Her friends are looking at either mt or straight drama degrees but some are on a 3 year diploma course that can be converted into a degree very easily.

I would look at scholarship s or Dada s she might also be able to get housing benefit

Dd is in her first year of the BTec performing arts course at a local college but she does all her dance training at the dance school she's been at for years.
It's a great course and they have done lots already but she's knackered as it's hard work.
She's planning to work as a holiday rep/entertainer after she completes the course.

I have a year 9 DD who would like to pursue a career in MT so we are beginning to look at these courses.
What I have noticed is that the good ones happily publish where their graduates end up and the lower quality courses are not quite as forthcoming.
Some of the drama schools who run post-16 courses also run summer schools for 12-18 year olds and will give you the parent an honest opinion of where your child maybe lacking.

Have you looked at the Brit School or Lipa. From I know these are free . They take from year 12 and are free

As has been mentioned your DD could then get housing and other benefits.

Yes to the poster who said to judge on where colleges say where their alumni end up.

I would definitively recommend BRIT School. DD is just finishing post 16 in musical theatre- the BTEC level 3 extended diploma. Very high standard, many of her classmates are getting places at very prestigious vocational colleges.

There is quite a well developed support system for students from outside the area with help to find lodgings with local families and financial help for low income families.

Have a look at the website and give it a go.

By the way, BRIT have Year 10 and year 12 entries.

Brit school only has limited places for out of area applicants, although I believe this may be changing. Could she do some residential holiday courses, many offer bursaries for those on limited means? National Youth Musical Theatre for example.

Brit have very limited out of catchment places.

Also for LIPA 6th form you would need to be comfortable with a 16 year old finding student accommodation potentially sharing with university students. Several students from dd’s current school are applying there.

BRIT have 10% of places for out of catchment, DD knows several people who the school have organised lodgings with local families for. Bit of a long shot but worth a try.

I think most students have to make a choice between acting and musical theatre. If she’s not done dance then musical theatre might be problematic. All the drama students I know went post A level at 18. All went to London Drama schools. You don’t need BTec to get in but you need a drama department at school that knows the time of day regarding audition pieces. By the way, none have ever worked! Be very careful. Dreams are one thing: a job is another!

My oldest dd went to a specialist school for sixth form and then at 18 got place at guildhall and did three Yr acting course. Now makes good living as actress, not had big break yet.... But here's hoping.
She never wanted to do anything else.. But it was/is such hard work.
She went to Tring Park school.. Many of her peers had huge scholarships, so it might be worth looking. But as, all these things, very competitive.
Even at a specialist school, she was one on only two out of 24 who got a place at next stage drama training /school.
She did btec performance arts diploma, and two a levels and her vocational training at school to ensure she had a back up plan... Well there wasn't one but at least she had ucas points if she changed her mind later.

My advice is local good college would be fine but definitely talk to your dd about plan b and a levels as well. Thousands apply to drama schools every year and there are usually about 30places each school.
It's very very tough

How is she academically?

I did a drama and theatre arts degree at Birmingham Uni - I chose the course because it was highly respected and had a very large practical component, plus the academics were very strong too. In my years there I did many acting and performance modules, alongside Shakespeare, voice, directing, dance modules, lighting and other stage crafts, and there were many other options too. There was a large emphasis productions, with a big main production in your final year, directed by professionals and which wer me professional quality, and smaller ones throughout the course.

It’s not the same as going to drama school, but you get huge amounts of experience, and an academic degree from a RG uni. I did need ABB at a level though, the course was seriously over subscribed (same with other similar courses at Exeter,Warwick, Bristol etc).

Quite a few of my fellow students went on to do a postgrad year at drama school and several have good careers in the industry. If she’s capable academically I’d really consider these courses. The PA courses at my local college had a good rep but I went to a few productions and they were pretty dire.