Are all Further education courses eligible for student loans?

[KatyMac]

would this course be eligible for taking out a student loan

No sorry. Only degree level courses offered by recognised universities (or a few non-university institutions) are eligible for student loans.

Further Education courses designed fro 16-18 yo (i.e. Level 3, A Level equivalent) should be free so the BTEC would be paid for by your LEA.

I thought not

I'd better start saving

What about a dance degree? Aren't pure performing arts courses a bit like putting all your eggs in one basket?

She has all her eggs in one basket already

She will be off studying in London at 16, I'm just trying to find something that meets my need of some formal qualifications (like DDi & DDE)

The PCE also attracted me with the ability to do formal ISTD associate qualifications

No DD2 looked into that course but decided not to apply for it in the end, I think you can apply for a drama scholarship but not everyone gets it. DD2 did a drama degree in the end.

At 16?! Blimey - will she be leaving home? I assumed you were looking at 18+ options. Where will she live?

I know you don't want opinions but I think she's only year 9 now? So she doesn't have all her eggs in one basket yet. She and you may want to, but she has other options. It just seems very young, however keen and talented she might be, you don't know what's round the corner and options shoudl be kept opne, not closed off at this age.

IMO anyway.

With dance they have such a short career that 3 years at uni will really limit what she can do; drama is quite different in that way I think actors go on for years

If DD had been committed even 3 or 4 months sooner she may well have auditioned for and won a place to study vocationally from 14 (boarding)

I have found about 8 or 9 other courses so I'm working my way through them

Do you know that a child can leave school and attend an FE college at 14? If there is a dance course at your local FE college she could do that.

Really?

Hmm I think I want her to get at least 5 GCSEs preferably 8 (but not the 14 the school wants her to do)

Really.

The schools won't tell you about it and it is rare. They tend to send a class of horrors low ability to college onr afternoon a week. And you know what? They thrive.

It would have possibilities.....Hmm let me think

Do think because if she does it then she will be with 16+ students, which is fine study/dance wise but socially when they are having 18th birthdays will you be happy for her to go along?

Talk to your local collage, if they do GCSEs then she could do both. Or if she can take English, maths, science and two others in Yr10 she will have all she needs and only be one year yonger than the rest.

I don't think school will go for that tbh

She is doing Spanish, Geography, Eng Lang & an option (Music) next year - but that leaves Maths & a Science missing from my essentials

Damn