Advice on Performing arts 16+

[PalePinkPeony]

Looking for Advice from any with knowledge of performing arts colleges!

My DD is in year 11 and will be going to a performing arts college in sept.
Looking and have been auditioning for diploma and level 3 extended btech courses. Been accepted at a few places.
She is keen on a particular London based college and got a place with a bursery for the diploma course. However this is a private 3 year full time diploma - equivalent to level 6 according to college (others offer actual level 6 but would mean leaving home which she’s not ready for)
Does anyone have any knowledge of what that actually means? What qualification is it and what are the pros and cons? It’s a very established and successful college with good facilities and teachers but just not sure of the qualification compared to other places and how that could be used in the future.

Isn't level 6 degree level? Hence 3 years? Are you paying for this? At 16 it seems a stretch.

The level 6 diploma is not quite degree level. You can top it up to degree (another year online usually alongside working)
Many many 16 year olds go to do a level 6 diploma. It’s what they offer at many of the main performing arts colleges!

Well A levels at 18 are level 3. So level 6 at 19 with no A levels, if this was academic course, would not be possible. Obviously performances different but you seem to know that.

Anyone who knows about performing arts qualifications can help please? 🙏
Or anyone whose children have been down the same path?

The level 6 diploma is the performance part, but not the academic part of performing arts degrees. My DD is doing the MT degree at Conti and the diploma students in her year do everything apart from the written assignments that the BA students do. In DDs year there are about 6 dips and 94 BAs so the year is really skewed to the BA.
DD says the toughest thing for the dip students who were 16 is in being in a year group where nearly everyone is over 18 - unable to go clubbing, others have more life experience/ more mature. Plus the cost of the dip over 3 years BA is £9535 per year and gets student loan, Dip is £15999 per year and there is no student loan.

Should add performing jobs nobody is bothered whether you have the BA or Dip it's all about where you trained, but if for some reason you can't or don't to perform any more that is when the BA makes a big difference.
DD has a girl in her year whose Grandma and Mum own one of the big agencies and they strongly suggested that DD's friend did the degree to leave doors open. You can do a 1 year top up to the DIp to get a degree this is another £9535, but does get student loan and is distance learning.
A lot to consider.

I would honestly just find a local, free equivalent for Btech level 3, keep her skills up and let her audition for degrees at 18+. My impression is the kids who do diplomas and graduate at 19 don't tend to end up doing better - if they are boys who can dance, perhaps, but otherwise they are 19 and have a diploma but don't tend to get the best agents and or jobs when competing with degree grads from top schools who are 21 or 22. DS is in post 18 training, and his peers who did a level 6 diploma are either working on cruise ships or in holiday camps or not performing at all. If cruise ships are the aspiration, then fine, but if she dreams of working in professional productions just keep the skills up and audition for Urdang/GSA/Arts Ed/Mountview etc at 18.

Thank you that is really useful thank you! I think this is the best thing to do and interesting what you say about diploma students.
From my understanding GSA/mount view etc are more acting focused? Dance is DD strength first - urdang would be good. Where else would you suggest?

I mean there will always be exceptions - diploma students who do get good jobs at 19 - I'm only commenting on what I see as a general pattern.
For MT for a strong dancer I'd look at Urdang (although they seem to be trying to attract singers currently!), Arts Ed and Laine if you can afford fees/might get a scholarship, Bird and Emil Dale perhaps?

@PalePinkPeony DD did an MT sixth form - she was always told she was true triple threat, even talent in all areas and she Conti which is the most even triple threat course. Her friends who were dance first got Bird or Arts Ed. Urdang was interesting as from her group the people who got in were singers first.
But also playing into all of this is that Conti is known for its fresh faced grads and DD definitely fits this. Mountview seems to select for a more mature look. But each college wants a variety of casting types so if they have already offered to someone of an identical casting type you could be amazing and not get a place.
But a good MT sixth form will help with the application process providing lots of advice.

Hi. Some schools offer a foundation degree in musical theatre too, don't they. A two year course which is open to 16 + . This gives you a level 5 and then a 3rd year can be spent topping it up to a BA. So for a 16 yr old, that would mean graduating at 19 with a degree rather than a diploma. Anyone have any thoughts or experience of this?

Also, does anyone have any opinion on Arts Ed sixth form for MT?

My opinion is it costs an arm and a leg, and I'm sure it's lovely but it's probably not necessary! You still have to compete alongside everyone else for auditions for post 18.

No I don’t think that’s right.
Btech at 16+ is 2 years and level 3
Then a 3 year degree course. You wouldn’t be able to top up to a full degree in 1 year?

Thank you!
yes arts ed looks so good but way out of budget. As is laines (huge shame) - we don’t qualify for DaDa but could never afford £22k per year - 66k for training.

You are confusing foundation which is 1 year level 4 qualification from which most people go to degree or diploma. Most people on foundation are 18+ and do it after 6 th form,
With diploma 3 year level 6 qualification that often runs in parallel with degree, but no written work which you can the do s 1 year top up to degree.
People do go on diploma age 16, but it is hard for a variety of reasons.

I am talking about FDA courses, not 1 year foundation courses. FdA courses are 2 years and can be done at 16. Many schools like Conti amongst others offer this with a possibility to stay on for a 3rd year top up BA year, so a total of 3 years.

@Bubj an FDA is a foundation degree different to a diploma and attracts which there is funding for this will be brand new at Conti in September 2025 so no one is yet on the course.