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Original poster

Ealing State Schools which offer A- level music

27 replies

Lovemycat1 · 29/12/2019 16:57

My lovely partner wishes to reduce his hours and therefore his income as he is approaching his late 50's. His daughter is currently at a private school in year 11. She wishes to do A- level music. My partner would like her to change to a state school for sixth form, however her mother says that there aren't any State Schools sixth forms nearby which offer A- level music. Is this true?
Many thanks.

OP posts:
sleepismysuperpower1 · 29/12/2019 17:17

brentside high's sixth form offer it, as do drayton manor's sixth form x

Original poster
Lovemycat1 · 29/12/2019 17:24

Thank you Sleepismy, I will let my partner know.

OP posts:
Boyskeepswinging · 29/12/2019 17:30

Another option is Trinity Laban who offer A level Music on a Saturday or via Distance Learning. Either way won't you need to decide pronto? Many college application deadlines have already passed and others are imminent.

Original poster
Lovemycat1 · 29/12/2019 17:46

Ah, thank you Boyskeep, yes, time is of the essence.

OP posts:
titchy · 29/12/2019 18:10

Does the dd want to leave her private school to do A levels elsewhere? Doesn't seem fair for her father to unilaterally decide just because he want to retire ten years early....

Original poster
Lovemycat1 · 29/12/2019 18:14

Hi Titchy, No, he is not retiring, just reducing his hours due to ill health. But obviously will lead to a reduction in salary and he just can't afford it any longer. Surely better that she has a Dad who is healthy?

OP posts:
CustardT · 29/12/2019 18:19

I think most state schools offer A level music. Go on the websites of the ones near you and look.

titchy · 29/12/2019 18:58

Well if it's a choice between dad dropping dead and having to move school then yes of course dad's health takes priority.

But it's unlikely to be that stark a choice. I'd have thought most decent parents would be prepared to let their health suffer for a short period of time in order to ensure the best possible long term outcome for their child.

You still haven't answered if the dd is happy to move schools....

Original poster
Lovemycat1 · 29/12/2019 19:09

Hi Titchy,
She hasn't expressed a choice either way, though many of her friends are leaving at the end of Year 11 for alternative destinations. Seems a natural break- education wise. On health v education, I think we'll have to agree to disagree. I think health is paramount, particularly when there are other good options education wise, and she would be able to do the mix of A- levels she wants to do.

OP posts:
titchy · 29/12/2019 19:59

Fair enough. Her mother stepping in and saying there are no state options may well be her expressing her unhappiness but not wanting to say that directly to her father. It's also possible being forced into the change will have a detrimental effect on their relationship.

But hey, up to him what he's prepared to risk 🤷‍♀️

helpmum2003 · 29/12/2019 20:02

Health over private education DD will cope...

Original poster
Lovemycat1 · 29/12/2019 20:09

I think Titchy it also comes down to the fact that Private doesn't necessarily mean better. The change could be positive, especially as he is rather 'underwhelmed' by her current private school.

OP posts:
titchy · 29/12/2019 20:30

Oh I agree - I'm a great proponent of state education. But I'm getting the feeling she doesn't actually want to move - it's irrelevant whether your dp is underwhelmed with her school or not. If she doesn't want to move she won't do well, and their relationship will be affected for the worse. If she's is able to stay where she wants, she will undoubtedly do better.

Drabarni · 29/12/2019 20:38

What about auditioning for specialist music school for the 6th form.
They hold auditions all year round iirc.
What sort of level is she? Would be good for her independence and good prep for uni.
You can be really poor too, so fees wouldn't be a problem.

Original poster
Lovemycat1 · 29/12/2019 20:42

Thanks Drabani, that's a great idea.

OP posts:
HalfaButton · 29/12/2019 21:11

Would it perhaps be worth her mother approaching the current school to see whether there might be bursary funds available that would enable her to remain at her school for her final two years? A change in financial circumstances due to health, obviously no one’s fault but certainly unfortunate for her if she’s having to move if she is settled.

Yes children do move for sixth form but, in most schools, the vast majority will be staying on. As a keen musician it’s not just the alevel course, she’s presumably also involved in and established in various extra curricular musical groups in her school.

Nothing to lose by asking, anyway.

Comefromaway · 29/12/2019 21:16

Lots of children move from private to state for 6th form. At the private school lots of friends go to at least a third, if not more leave.

I’d have thought most colleges offer A level music.

Comefromaway · 29/12/2019 21:22

And circumstances change. When my two were in private we made sure once exam courses were started we had reserves to see them to the end of exams and we moved Ds at the end of year 8 anyway as it didn’t work for him. But when dh was suddenly taken ill and off work for 6 months we knew it would be impossible to continue paying fees for dd. (Luckily she got a government funded specialist place but we had state college back up options too.

Peaseblossom22 · 29/12/2019 21:32

Music A level is a subject which is becoming rarer in the state sector as the cuts bite . You need to check the it’s A level music and not music tech or s BTEC which is being offered.

Also it is not just about the subject being taught but the quality of the teaching, the availability of ensemble work , etc . If she is aiming for an AStar then she needs a school who have experience st this level. I would enquire amongst local youth orchestras , choirs etc as these are the children who will have the local knowledge of the schools which have a good reputation for music .

Original poster
Lovemycat1 · 29/12/2019 21:41

Thank you all for your replies. Lots of food for thought and great suggestions.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 29/12/2019 22:01

According to the Ealing council website the following schools offer A level Music

Brentside 6th Form (gcse Grade 6 & ABRSM Grade 4)
Drayton Manor High School (GCSE Grade 6 or Grade 5 Theory)
Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls (GCSE Grade 6 & ABRSM Grade 5)
Featherstone High (gcse Grade 6 capable of reaching ABRSM Grade 6-8)
Twyford CE High School (gcse Grade 6 ABRSM Grade 5 & Theory Grade 5) offers Music or Music Tech & offers specialist music places

Elthorne Park offer a Btec Certificate (gcse Grade 6 & ABRSM Grade 5 plus grade 5 theory)

QGMum · 29/12/2019 23:46

At my dds indy school in Ealing a number of girls moved to Twyford for 6th form. It offers A level music and has music as a specialism. Definitely worth considering a move there irrespective of financial situation. It gets fantastic A level results.

MarchingFrogs · 30/12/2019 00:51

A quick look at the results pages on the various schools' websites should show the general level of grades that students achieve.

My dad died when I was two months into year 11. Like the OP's DD, I was at an independent school. Dad had probably been unwell for a while, but had kept quiet about it and kept going. In a job that he loved, not through financial concerns. Then he became acutely ill and died less than three weeks later. Had there been any sacrifice on my part that would have meant that we didn't lose him, would I have been willing to make it? You bet. (Ditto Mum - she outlived him by over thirty years and I'm pretty sure she never really got over his death).

If mum is so concerned, that she would put school fees before her ex's health, could she not up her hours / get a better paid job to make sure that her DD's private school fees can still be paid?

In a country with state education free at the point of consumption and in a city with access to a multitude of schools and a comprehensive public transport system, What kind of uncaring parent would put their own health before their child's school fees? is a really bizarre question imo.

Original poster
Lovemycat1 · 30/12/2019 10:46

Thank you QCmum and comefromaway for your valuable knowledge.
Marchingfrogs, so sorry you went through this Thanks.

OP posts:
mimbleandlittlemy · 30/12/2019 15:20

Twyford is very highly regarded for Music. Out of Ealing but also doing Music A level is the West London Free School.

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