History of Art A level

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Just had this recommended as an A level subject to consider for DD. I've read the course syllabus, and am not sure how to do with actual 'art' it is. DD is into Drama, Photography, and Psychology (in that preference order).
She is bright, and headteacher suggested a more academic option rather than photography.
Has anyone had a dc take History of Art? How did they find it? Boring? Essay based? Creative?
Thank you.

I'm a bit worried about the BTEC drama course that it may close options for her later on. Psych and even photo A Levels may be a better option??

Would she need a nursing training to be a health worker? (Sorry if that is a really stupid question - way out of our experience!)
Oc Therapy is something to look into - thanks.
Personally, I could see her doing drama, with photography as a side career.

Yes, this will be for applications going in later this year. She is y10 now.

Here OP:
https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/dramatherapist/entry-requirements-and-training-dramatherapist

Degree in drama plus lots of voluntary experience in a care setting, then a Masters eg:

https://www.cssd.ac.uk/ma-drama-movement-therapy

An extended level 3 Btec is 3 A level equivalent. Alternatively she could do Health and Social Care which opens up some hcp jobs. Some NHS roles are now offering apprenticeship entry from this year and would not necessarily need directly relevant qualifications, as long as she has at least 5 gcse in core subjects. www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/study-and-training/secondary-school-or-fe-college
Could she do some voluntary work with a local drama group for those with additional needs or younger children to get some experience?

I assumed your daughter would have done Eng Lit GCSE to be honest, so English Lit A level might not be an option given that she hasn't

She could investigate though, if she enjoys English. And it would be worth investigating English Lang/Lit, though fewer schools offer it.

That would give her exactly the combination of A levels that what one of my daughters did (drama, Eng Lang/Lit and psychology). She found that they complemented each other very well.

Thanks Fifthtimelucky. I'll have a look and see if anyone offers the joint English course.
We have been so lucky with her current school, that they have been able to accommodate a slightly unusual set of GCSE's, to keep her happy, and motivated.

After researching all afternoon, it may come down to
1 - Theatre BTEC course, or if she doesn't get onto that,
2 - Nearby comp, to do Drama and Psych, with a tutor to do photog at home.

Some schools may not be happy with taking just 2. Photography can be very time consuming.

Oh God. This is a nightmare!
Maybe looking into funding to keep her where she is might be easier...

Why photography? I cannot see where that fits into any plan.

My DD2 did photography and it’s time consuming but not if you love it. Does she use a decent camera already and manipulate photos? They do have a fairly rigid curriculum and you do have to write about your photos. Again, great teaching is vital and I would think that’s not easy to find outside school. My DD did photography trips and they had a big photographic show at school. It inspired the girls to do well.

Who is funding DD now? Why cannot she stay where she is? Are there bursaries?

I think doing what she wants to keep her happy makes some sense but it could lead to lacking in essential qualifications. Most DC don’t dictate what they will do, but your DD appears to so I guess you have to roll with that.

Anyway, it all might be in vain, as she will probably school refuse again. Feeling pretty upset by the whole situation, but trying to remember we are still healthy. Things could be worse.

My0My
-Photography - because she enjoys it, and is pretty good at it.

• She has to move as we won't be able to afford the fee's anymore, and the school cannot increase her bursary.
• trying to get an autistic child to do something she does not want to do is not really very realistic.

An extended level 3 Btec is 3 A level equivalent.

Just a note about BTECs... That’s the official line, but only a small number of universities would take it as equivalent, a level 3 BTEC is often counted by universities as a single A level, some don’t even accept them at all.

BTECs are more practical than A levels, in many cases, they do not prepare the students well enough for university, where the methods of evaluation are more aligned with those used by A levels. If your child is quick in catching up this may not affect her, though.

I would say however, that if she struggles with academic work but really likes photography, she can take courses that do not require her to do A levels or attend university. If she is good at photography she will succeed even without a university degree.

Whilst I'd agree with that as a general rule, but imagine it's less of a risk if the OP's daughter is looking to study a practical subject like drama at university.

I've just looked up the entry requirements for drama at Birmingham University (chosen only because I know someone who went there to study drama). For A levels they want AAB, but they also say:
*
BTEC qualifications:*
• BTEC Extended Diploma: DDD.
• BTEC Diploma: DD, plus A at A-level.
• BTEC Subsidiary Diploma: D, plus AB at A-level.

Please note: we will only accept BTEC qualifications in Performing Arts, Performing Arts (Acting), Performing Arts (Dance) and Performing Arts (Musical Theatre).

I’ve had a look at lots of universities and courses and I’ve found very few that don’t accept BTEC at all. Usually they specify particular subjects that are accepted - for example, for a degree in Sport and Exercise Science they might only accept the BTEC in Sport Science or in Applied Science but not in Sport. These are the extended diplomas.

What I’m not sure about is whether the single or double BTECs are accepted alongside A Levels.

I think that depends on whether they go by grades or UCAS tariff points. Less traditional unis and vocational courses tend to be more flexible.

Actually I’ve just had a look at some courses at Aston University as an example - they set out entry requirements for A Levels, extended BTEC and the individual/double BTECs alongside one or two A Levels. This was for courses like History and Business.

ok. So I think H of Art is out.
I've had a good chat with DD and we've made a provisional plan for now.
She can go for the theatre BTEC course, which only has 30 places. If she doesn't get in, then she will really try hard to actually go to the comp for A level Drama and Psych. (assuming we can argue a case to only study 2 subjects). We will research doing photography outside of school.

She does need to be aware of the highly competitive nature of getting work in the professional theatre. I’m sure you realise this. There are huge numbers of actors training in the uk but getting work is another matter. Of my DDs friends who have trained at the top flight Drama schools, few have had any work at all.

It’s ok to do what interests you but both photography and acting are difficult regarding actual careers. The best drama schools recruit on audition. A levels or ucas tariffs required at a university don’t make much difference to success in the theatre. The BTec would be useful. Does she dance of sing? Use any spare time to do these.

Thanks My0My. Yes, we know how the industry works, which is why we would prefer her to have as many options open as possible.

She does sing and dance too, but not well enough to call herself a triple threat.