Post GCSE choices for the non academic child

[jo1166]

My son's school ( he is going into Yr 11 in September) has told us that he will not be accepted into their sixth form for A Levels. He may scrape through with half a dozen GCSEs at Grade 4 or 5 , if he's lucky he might get a 6 or 7 in Drama or Geography and he is dyscalculic so won't get Maths, he works hard but is not an academic; the school require students to have at least a 7 to be able to study for A Level. The problem is he has always seen himself going on into 6th form with his peers and it's a shock. He is a gifted actor, a member of the NYT, and he is good at sport. To be honest the academic slog of A Levels probably doesn''t suit him but what other choices are there out there?

[elkiedee]

I've seen a couple of BTec course descriptions and think they sound like they could be fantastic for kids with abilities in theatre, music etc, and they offer more insight into a wider variety of jobs than the RG Uni degree course. And his NYT involvement must be very educational (as well as being very impressive to people like me) in itself.

A few years ago a FB friend posted her worries about her son's choices. He was very clever etc and at an academic school but school's idea of his future, a music degree based on classical music at Oxbridge or maybe a RG university, just didn't appeal to him. His mum is an Oxford graduate herself - I'm not but met her at a crime fiction conference at her old college. Anyway, I suggested looking at new uni (former poly) syllabuses and he went to study music production in Huddersfield.

[errorofjudgement]

A BTEC is a level 3 qualification, ie, equivalent to A-levels, not a degree. Though I absolutely agree that many Drama Degrees are less practical for an aspiring actor. But are useful if for example you were looking to teach drama.
For professional training for actors I suggest you look at those courses accredited by the federation of drama schools- to access these a well taught BTEC will be probably be better than A levels unless you have a lot of extra-curricular drama.

www.federationofdramaschools.co.uk/member-schools/4593600509