Not a proper career .....

[Teddingtonmum1]

ds is very creative good at art , and is middle of the road academically mainly b's with the odd a and c . i think he will struggle at Alevels . So been looking at alternatives . His interested in doing animation & game design at a 6th form college ( currently at an indy ) . So he was all excited getting info on the various courses and dad has dropped a bombshell that he thinks its not a 'proper ' career . I was never allowed to do what i wanted , i never went to uni and regreted it years later but had too many comitments by then to be able togo and ended up in a job that although i make good money i hate. I dont want the same for my son , i want him to go for what he wants not just settle we aren't in the 1970's !! am shocked at his dads attitude do you think im being naive???

The computer games industry makes more money than the movie industry. It's a totally respectable and professional career.

You are doing the right thing by researching qualifications to make it happen. There is work for skilled animators both in the UK and overseas.

Research the qualifications carefully. When I worked in the industry, people generally had degrees in physics and maths rather than animation specifically.

The NFTS offers post grad courses in both animation and games. Highly sought after graduates who go on to great jobs.

Is he taking iGCSEs? I thought that GCSEs were 9-1 grades now rather than letters.
Having said that grade Bs are above average academically nationally and it may be possible to take A levels with these grades especially if he obtains an A grade!
Does the 6th form college allow a mix of BTEC and A levels? Could he perhaps try A level Graphic Design and then a double BTEC to keep several options open for later on?
Does the college run "taster" sessions so he can find out what the course is actually like?

Animation and game design. I would do research on the job market to find out qualifying entry as often they involve some kind of coding or a tech background as well.

www.abertay.ac.uk/course-search/undergraduate/game-design-and-production/
Very highly regarded degree in computer games design / production, very good employment prospects

Look at their entry requirements for possible entry routes e.g. HNC / HND as well as A-levels

It's a growing sector, but I think it's worth doing serious research about the post 16 and HE options.

Lots of places are offering foundation degrees in animation, which is fine but does it offer the innovation and technical understanding of someone doing a computing degree?

If it's something he wants to pursue then absolutely go for it but a traditional path on a good course might serve him better than a direct animation college course

I worked in the videogame industry until very recently. I know of a good number of young people that graduated from games design courses and went straight into jobs with gaming studios and have very promising careers. They have titles like junior level designer.

I would advise to suppliment design study with coding skills. Everyone needs developers.

I think it wouid be a good career choice, but a bad A level substitute.

Wouid his interests/abilities match up for CompSci, DT or Art (assuming not both because of demands of portfolio/project) for A Level, plus ideally maths but realise that probably won't be a good fit for him. The. comp sci degree, with good coding and game development modules. Then a wide choice of potential role/employer/careeer.

Tell your OH to pipe down.

He has a son who has career aspirations and is prepared to work for the relevant qualifications - what more does he want?

If the lad were addicted to drugs/drink or lazy and abusive then let him start to grumble.

OP, let him do what he wants, our Ds1 with b and c's has just finished A levels, predicted C for all, we may get a B or D's. Every teacher says new A levels such a massive step up. History teachers (3 of them) all say they are teaching stuff they did in their degrees.
Looking back we should have allowed him to do a BTEC.
He wants to do something in the Police/Public protection industry, so doing a criminology degree, so many people say that it's not a proper degree, Bollocks to them.
You do best in careers you love. I milked cows for 21 years, then moved to the railway, because I hated milking cows in the end, still get up at 0500, and finish at 0030, but never on same day, love every day.
Let him do what excites him. Does his dad think the people behind candy crush, work for Disney/Pixar etc are in non careers.
Finally our next door neighbour's DD is married to a lad from our very bog standard Yorkshire comp, he did similar course then studied at an ex poly, he has 2 Oscars, including his teams work on Gravity, actually 3, because they got 2 for Gravity. Tell his dad that.