A level/btec subject choice - is this too narrow

[AlexanderHamilton]

Dd is applying to study musical theatre at various colleges/schools.

One school offers a btec diploma in musical theatre plus 2 A levels. Dd wants to study English Literature as her first choice & she's put Theatre Studies as her second choice. She can't do music as it's in the same option block as English.

I think that's a bit narrow. The other subjects available to her at this particular school are Dance, History, French, History of Art or Film Studies.

What other subjects are in the theatre studies block? Could she do English from block 1, film studies from block 3 and chose something more suitable from block 2?

Block 1 is the Musical Theatre Btec
Block 2 is English, Maths, Music, Art, Photography
Block 3 is Drama, Dance, History, French, History of Art, Film Studies

What's the plan for after 6th form? If it is university then contact an admissions tutor or 2 and see what they have to say.

What does the school say about overlap between the BTEC and Theatre Studies?

A degree or Level 6 diploma in Professional Musical Theatre (basically train as a musical theatre dancer/singer)

The school specialises in performing arts. We've not visited yet, audition is February but she has to choose A level options now.

Personally I wouldn’t take MT and theatre studies, particularly if your daughter is doing lots of performing activities outside school. 18+ entry to colleges will be based purely on talent, not a piece of paper. Arguably the more exposure the better but it needs to be practical. The BTEC will be a lot more practical work - a lot of people do not realise how much theoretical work goes into A-level theatre studies.

I am also conscious of what’s the backup plan? I work in the industry and even the most talented performers have periods without work. What does your daughter plan to do in these periods of downtime? It’s a really tough industry and even if you are the most talented performer in the world, if you don’t look the part then you’re not going to get it - brutal. Most adults I know in this position teach on a freelance basis.

If your daughter is doing 8+ hours extra curricular top level training then I would say that the English and Theatre Studies are a great fit together and she could even not do the BTEC. I do know that if MT is in your blood though, it’s almost impossible to deny it and she will probably thrive on the BTEC course.

So in a roundabout way I have probably arrived at the same position as you - in that the balance really doesn’t feel right but that at 16 she really have an input and it’s essentially her choice. She won’t be at a disadvantage taking that combination but does it really help?

Just be the voice of reason and provide heaps of belief and encouragement but also preparation for not being in work all the time.

Why not just do a Level 3 Extended Diploma (3 A level equivalent)?

(This is outside my field of knowledge really)

English & History would be 'better' academically, but probably not for chosen path.

Just read about the school specialising in performing arts. Is there a level of vocational training alongside the traditional qualifications? If so, it kind of changes things.

I know of 4 people from my year who went on to do a BTEC in musical theatre and carried on to study it at uni - none of them have gone on to do anything in musical theatre.

I would recommend picking two academic subjects for the 2 A level choices as a back up.

She's been at vocational school since the age of 11. She isn't able to access the amount & level of training at a local dance school.

She however enjoys academics & wants to do a couple of A levels alongside her dance/MT training. She's hoping that if she gets funding at her first choice school she can do English & Philosophy & Ethics A levels but she has to audition at a variety of places.

Yes Zodle, she's auditioning for Hammond & Arts Ed (she didn't like Tring)

Unfortunately music clashes with English at both schools (she's really good at music, especially composition) but Arts Ed don't let you do music A level if you don't play piano anyway.

Being at Hammond and Arts Ed will in themselves be enough to prepare her for the future.

Take two academic subjects alongside the BTEC to provide a fallback for the future IMO.

Can she do French? What did she get at GCSE? I think a language instead of more theatre would broaden her choices.

French is one of her lowest predicted gcse grades. The prospectus says a Grade 7 is needed for A Level & she's only likely to get a 6.

Her predicted gcse grades are
Maths 7/8
English 8
English Lit 7
Physics 7/8
Chemistry 6/7
Biology 6
RS 7:8
Music 8

I think you need to work backwards! If she doesn’t do musical theatre, what else does she want to do and what does she need to achieve it academically? Realistically 2 A levels and the BTEC won’t get her into a high tariff university to study English so what has she got to lose regarding just doing English and Theatre Studies? A low tariff university would be ok, probably.

So either ditch the BTEc and do a third A level such as RS and see what degree she could do, or put all eggs into the Musical Theatre basket with the 2 A levels your DD has suggested. What do other students do?

As an example, locally - to do English at Bristol Uni they ask for DDD at BTEC plus A in English Literature or combined English Literature/Language.

UWE (Bristol) ask for a lot less:

Tariff points: 112
GCSE: For all applicants, Grade C/4 or above in English Language, or equivalent. Please note the University does not accept Level 2 Key Skills, Functional Skills or Certificates in Adult Numeracy and Literacy as suitable alternatives to GCSEs.
A-level subjects: No specific subjects required. Points from A-Level General Studies and AS-Level subjects (not taken onto full A-Level) can be included towards overall tariff. You must have a minimum of two A-Levels.
Relevant subjects: English Literature, English Language and Literature, History Psychology, Philosophy
EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.

I wonder if Musical Theatre BTec is the best prep for an English degree though? I would suggest most students offer 3 A levels with more than one facilitating subject. It’s highly competitive at universities like Bristol. However, the University of Bristol also offer English and Theatre. Same qualifications required but a better bet one would have thought.

Dd has no interest whatsoever in doing anEnglish degree but she enjoys English as an academic subject.

I would echo and agree with what other posters have said. My DD is at the school your DD didn’t like and is studying 3 A levels (Eng Lit, History & Drama) rather than the BTEC & 2 A levels. With an additional 20 plus hours per week of vocational study she’s covering all the practical work she needs (hopefully).

Is she on the L6 diploma?

It's different at Arts Ed. If you don't do the btec you get minimal vocational. (6-9 hours per week) Far less than she's getting at the moment according to their curriculum policy.

At Hammond you get similar to what you describe but it's 2 A levels & 25-27 hours vocational in the first two years.

In the light of this & having found the 6th form curriculum policy with a breakdown of contact hours she has decided not to apply.

DD is on the drama stream but it’s exactly the same for MT.
Are you saying she not going to apply for Arts Ed now?

Yes. She's not. It was a long shot anyway as they only have 4 scholarships.

She's got an offer from Hammond (funding final in March) & an audition in Leeds next week (no A levels on offer there though)

It’s so difficult. The Arts Ed set up sounds odd, is it worth checking directly if the information is correct?
Though that may partly explain why several of the students at TP who were offered places at Arts Ed (& at least 1 who was offered a scholarship) turned it down.

It’s a shame your DD didn’t like TP, it looks as though she could choose from broader academic blocks there. And there’s a lot more financial help!
www.tringpark.com/curriculum/academic-curriculum/gcse-and-a-level-options

But as she’s at vocational school now, she will have a clear view of what she’s looking for. Have you visited Arts Ed at all?

Sorry - that last comment could sound a bit passive aggressive! I just meant genuinely has she visited the school? It’s in a lovely part of London, and has a great vibe. DD went there each month on a dance scholarship. But we knew that for her, moving from our little village to London wasn’t the right move at 16. Though if she’s very lucky, London will be where she heads off to at 18/19.