BRIT School y12 / 13

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DD is looking at GCSE options - We convinced her to stay at her school until end of year 11 so she doesn't narrow her options and said we will look at BRIT School for 6th form. If she's still keen to go, I'd like to be prepared either way so I can encourage / redirect her. She is set on a career in the theatre and I would support her going to BRIT if that's what she wants, but do any parents of current / recent students have opinions on if it is worth stopping the more academic A-level route? She also wants to go to university so do most of them readily accept the level 3 diploma? Is the course rigorous enough that she'd be ok going from that to independent study at university?

She has talked about theatre studies, but I want her to have the option of something else (she has also expressed an interest in becoming a teacher, this may change) at uni.

L3 Extended BTECs are in many ways a better fit with university study than A levels. They are a different way of studying rather than less rigorous or lesser as a qualification.

My DD did a L2 BTEC in place of a GCSE and I personally think the course and way of studying was far superior. She's now doing a L3 Extended and putting in a lot more hours than I did for my very academic A levels.

I had friends with kids at the BRIT very recently (music rather than theatre) and one of them had 5 RG offers.

Not all universities and courses accept BTEC but lots do, especially for arts subjects, so I wouldn't worry on that count.

Children tend to work harder and get better results when they study what they enjoy.

Great, thanks for your help. It's good to know that she would still have options. I think that because when I was 16 my parents would have seen anything other than A-levels then university as a waste and I struggle with the idea of a different path (but I want DD to be happy and am actively trying to be more open minded!)

She has slightly older friends at a drama group who go to BRIT and I think they might have something to do with her opinion on it 😁

I totally get that.

DH and I both come from very academic backgrounds - although I ultimately ended up going to art college for degree having not studied art at school because my parents wanted 'proper' subjects!

I would investigate all options and then see what is on the table. BRIT is extremely competitive for 6th form especially if you don't live in catchment. Unfortunately they only have one open day a year... in early September.