BTECs Your views

[Blessthekids]

My dd1 has more or less decided she wants to take a BTEC extended diploma in music rather than do 3 A-levels. This will mean leaving her school, a very good one and going to a college. I support her decision but am still nervous so I would like to hear from those who have kids doing or completed BTECs. Did your children find them enjoyable and challenging, did it get them onto a good University course or into a their chosen career? What are your honest views positive or negative? Thanks

Dd is a dancer so its a bit different but the btec performing arts drama strand at her school regularly gets kids into places like RADA. 90% of the 2018 leavers got a place somewhere.

It is possible to do it and do A levels, but it takes a school that is understanding of the level of extra curricular commitment involved (the level of homework expected at many schools would make this difficult) and often parental means to pay for such activities and the availability in the areas the young person is living in.

Dd is fortunate that she has a government scholarship called a DaDa to undertake profesional training alongside doing 2 A levels. As a dancer it would not have been possible to stay home for A levels as most of the local dance schools don't offer the number of technique classes required at the appropriate level.

My son has spent two years at a sports college, he didn't do well in his GCSE's but has completed a BTEC and an extended one. He is starting Uni in September and will be doing an IT related degree. I was so worried that doing anything sports related would hinder his options in the future but that has not been the case. I'm so proud

I used to teach BTEC Performing Arts in a school 6th form. 5/7 in my final class in that school are now training, or about to start training at decent drama schools (not bad for a fairly shit comp in rural Gloucestershire) I now teach the same course in collaboration with a professional theatre. The current Year 13s are my first group and the standard of their performance work is far superior simply because of the amount they do. Of the 10 Year 13s, 8 have offers for further vocational training at reputable places. The other 2 are doing in different directions (one into teaching, the other has an offer to study law)

It is all about the audition, but BTEC Performing Arts gives students greater opportunities to perform (rather than just write essays about how they might perform) and the curriculum and set up (certainly where I am) gives greater flexibility to prepare them - for example, we had 3 separate audition prep days with different directors, leading to a mock audition with someone who is on the panel for Birmingham Conservatoire. I couldn't have organised that at school as my own timetable wouldn't have allowed it even if the students' could.

Of course, one reason that students from private schools sometimes have greater success at drama school is the fact that it costs £££ to apply - not sure how many people are aware of that. Applying for 5 drama schools with £50 per school audition fee, and then travel (and sometimes overnight stays if they have to be there at 9am) adds up. "Normal kids" often can't afford it.

My DS did BTEC in Science, he didn't do so well in his GCSE's as we thought because he is a lazy tike! So he had to do the BTEC, but he did really well in that and got offered an unconditional place at Uni doing Genetics and Molecular Biology. He has just finished his second year.

I work in graduate recruitment in a large multinational IT Consultancy and we accept students with BTEC on to our level 4 apprenticeship schemes.
With grads we aren't fused what they got before their degree.

With regards to the BTEC level 3 extended diploma in performing arts, DD applied for standard English Literature degrees through UCAS alongside performing arts vocational degrees.

She got triple distinction star for the BTEC and an A for A level English Literature. She got an unconditional offer for English Literature from Bristol University.

So doing an A level alongside the BTEC does keep the option of doing an academic degree at a top university open. It is hard work, though.

The Sutton Trust wrote about how DC can be disadvantaged and privately educated DC do better. I wasn’t poorly informed. I guess the Sutton Trust is wrong then!

Bubbles, what were the Sutton Trust commenting on, I'm not entirely clear?

If it was on access to performance careers, I would say that lack of money to pay for top level vocational training is the biggest bar for DC from well off families.

Most foundation and diploma courses attract no funding except the DADA which is very hard to get so most have to find thousands to self fund. Some of the top degree level courses are run by private colleges and you can only get student loan of £6k pa for fees for a course costing £14k pa. You have to find the shortfall yourself or chase scarce discretionary bursaries. This clearly bars a lot of talented DC from getting the training which opens the doors.

Re performing arts, the DaDa helps those on very low incomes, but for a family on an average income it leaves a huge gap that has to be self funded, plus the full cost of accommodation which further disadvantages those who do not live in London as this is where most of the top training is based.

Sorry to be late back to this. In 2017 The Sutton Trust published research showing how privately educated DC were dominating theatre and film careers. They have also campaigned to keep drama on the curriculum in comprehensive schools. This is partly to aid confidence and speaking skills but also to allow budding actors to develop.

The cost of training and living expenses post 18 is a problem for poorer families. The profession of acting is skewed towards the better off. So what qualifications DC get at school can be irrelevant if they are unable to get jobs later on.

Blessthekids
My son has an extended BTEC ( in engineering.)
He left his hugely over subscribed school / 6th form to study his BTEC at a new UTC.
He also left his friendship group - the only student at his college from his previous school.
Originally , he took A'level maths alongside his BTEC.
As his parents, we did question if a BTEC -although extended would serve his future well compared to A'levels.
After his 1st term (to our worry) he decided to pull out from the maths A'level. He felt both together was too challenging and he wanted top grades by concentrating on his BTEC. Not mediocre grades for both qualifications.
He worked consistently hard for his time at college.
He was rewarded as his final grade was DDD ( with D being distinction ). This was the highest possible. It is equivalent to 3 x A A'levels.
He himself would say that a BTEC serves you best if you get the high final grading.
UCAS points wise , his grades gave him the same amount as the A'level (A*) equivalents.
More than enough for entry to the Uni courses he had interest in.
He has instead gone on to do a higher level ( degree) apprenticeship. His UCAS points were used to qualify him onto his degree course with his Uni. Two Apprentices who were offered alongside him a place in his company following the interview process, sadly did not get their predicted grades (& UCAS points) to get on the Uni course. They could not start the apprenticeship as a result.
Two years in , he's doing really well & is very happy.

So, from a parents view. We started off as supportive of his BTEC , but dubious at the same time.
Now, we think it was the best thing he did & feel it gave him the 'power of choice' that A'levels perhaps ( in his case) would have not.

From above Distinction Distinction Distinction *
It did not seem to like the combination of capitals & stars.

Glad your DS had a good experience of the BTEC in engineering, @onaroll

Looks like it suited him as he wanted a more practical course and will have absolutely been a great preparation for his higher level apprenticeship. These are a great option for those who already know what career they want, with a degree as part of it.

Word of warning to those thinking of using BTEC as entry to more mainstream academic university courses. Some of those higher up in the league tables are not keen. At the Warwick University open day the Theatre Studies were a bit sniffy about DD's Extended level 3 BTEC in performing arts and were not sure if they would accept it, even with the A level English Literature alongside. That said, she got a place at Bristol Uni for English Literature (though turned it down) so the attitude can differ from place to place.

Most engineering apprenticeships are not offering MEng degrees only BEng degrees. There is a difference! Ultimately getting Chartered will take longer. Or the firm won’t require that of its employees at all. No MEng of high quality will want a student without Maths A level. Prospective students keep more doors open with A levels or a mix of BTec and A level maths. MEng offers better career prospects in the long run which is why it often requires an A level in maths.

I know for my Ds on his apprenticeship.
It is a 5 yr apprenticeship.
His degree will take the first 4 yrs, the final year ( 5th ) will be to study and attain becoming chartered.

Before he got his apprenticeship the Uni that was his first choice was Loughborough.
Of the degrees he wanted to do his Extended BTEC was adequate without maths A’level. They did require for the BTEC to be in a relevant subject. As his was STEM - it would have been adequate.

@onaroll
Really encouraging to read your post. My youngest son is just about to start his extended Btec in Engineering - a very different journey to previous experience (he is the youngest of 3 boys) and if I'm being honest, very different to my expectations. All my boys attended the local Grammar, and have so far gone down the fairly traditional route. Youngest, however, has not been terribly motivated by school (aka lazy!) and consequently had a set of very mediocre GCSE results this summer. He is very honest about this, and also is honest about what he would be like if he did A Levels - because he does not want to go to university, he doesn't see them as a means to the next step, and would continue to do no work for the next 2 years - a waste of his time and the school's time. So, this is the avenue he has gone down - I've taken some persuading, but to see him finally motivated and excited about starting the course has made me realize this is the best path for him. I've looked at the course content, and it certainly seems thorough. So, he's left his local Grammar school to go to college where he'll have to travel by train - but he's sorted it all, visited the college, and met some of his lecturers, and I'm learning this is his journey, not mine. I'm still a little worried that he's 'closing doors' going down this route, but have to appreciate A levels and the uni route are not for everyone.

@novemberbliss My son has just completed his first year doing BTEC Engineering and has emerged with a D*. He's enjoyed the course and is looking forward to getting started again. He's not aiming for Uni but if he changes his mind his BTEC grades will get him in. It's not an easy option, he will have to work consistently hard throughout but don't worry, he's not closing doors and these qualifications will enable him to follow the traditional route again if he chooses it.