How hard is it to get into ArtsEd day school? (Year 7)

[TimWasMeanToMe]

This is all a bit academic really as even if Dd were to get in, we might struggle to pay the fees anyway, but my daughter would absolutely love to go there, so for the time being I’m considering it.

Dd is in year 4. She loves acting and attends 2 different drama clubs a week (one does lamda, the other does a yearly production- so she gets something different from both)pay the fees anyway, but my daughter would absolutely love to go there, so for the time being I’m considering it.
Dd is in year 4. She loves acting and attends 2 different drama clubs a week (one does lamda, the other does a yearly production- so she gets something different from both). She’s only been doing the second one this term, and they’re both only an hour a week so it’s not like she’s getting a lot of tuition or anything.
I’ve been told she’s good, and she does seem to have a nice spark and energy when she performs. She’s also super confident… We are not a performer family though, so I’ve no idea where she lies in the scheme of things.
Anyway, I was just wondering how competitive and what sort of amazing you need to be to get into the drama route of ArtsEd in year 7. Has anyone had experience of auditioning or attending the school?
Thanks.

OP, the short answer to your question is that it's not as difficult to get in as you might expect, especially for the drama route, as long as you can pay full fees. The dance route is more competitive, particularly for girls, and more dependent on the amount of training already received.

However, I would recommend thinking carefully about what you would be looking to achieve by sending your DD there. I have a DC who has been acting since he was little, and who attended a full-time vocational school (not Arts Ed) for a year before returning to mainstream. I know several children who've been at Arts Ed and been very happy, and by all accounts it is a good school. I would consider the following about full-time vocational schools:

• The vocational tuition at a full-time performing arts school isn't necessarily a better standard (despite what the schools will tell you!). There are plenty of good options for drama training as an extracurricular activity that will be cheaper than school fees, and not being tied into a specific school gives you more flexibility to find training/teachers that will suit your DD.
• Most pupils at full-time vocational performing arts schools still want to (or feel they need to) do lots of training outside school so you don't necessarily save time or money.
• Year groups tend to be small, which limits the pool of potential friends and makes it more difficult to deal with friction.
• The range of academic subjects is limited because the school is small and the timetable needs to accommodate vocational subjects within school hours as well, and the range of extracurricular options also tends to be limited (e.g. no sport).
• You don't need to attend a full-time performing arts school as a child to have be a successful actor (child or adult). Too much acting training as a child isn't necessarily a good thing - over-training can lead to less natural performances. (Dance is a different story and vocational school can make it easier for a child to fit in enough hours of training alongside academics.)
• At a mainstream school, your DD may be one of only a handful of pupils who is really good at acting, so acting is her "thing" - at a performing arts school, when everyone is talented in the same area the environment can feel more competitive, and it takes a robust personality to navigate that sort of atmosphere.

If private school fees are likely to be a struggle, another route to consider is to aim for a drama scholarship at a mainstream independent secondary schools. In some schools, scholarships are honour and glory with no fee remission, but there are some where scholarships are more substantial or open up application to bursary funds.

If your DD is very keen, you could also consider trying to get her an agent to enable her to audition for professional work.

I assume you're in London if you're considering Arts Ed? Happy to give more info about performing arts schools, drama scholarships or agents via DM if that would be helpful.

Friends' dd got a place but stayed at a local private day school. Agree range and depth of exam subjects may be more limited. Not sure if it has changed but they discouraged professional work under 16 if that is important.

DD's friend went from a prep school, fine but not amazing academically and also fine but not incredible in drama (no particular achievements outside of school to speak of). They just loved the school and were enthusiastic about the programme. Full fee payers. So I can't imagine it is that hard.

Ok do you mean what was Arts Ed in Tring (now called Tring Park) or Arts Ed in Chiswick? Tring Park looks more for attitude and potential than a polished performance and it's not as hard to get into as you'd think (but they do have standards).

They are also very focused on "what if you don't get into acting/dance later? Have a backup plan" and have a range of non-performing arts subjects available e.g. they have all the hard science A-levels and A-level psychology, idk how popular they are.

What I like is how they cater to learning styles. For example, DD told me about a science lesson recently where the physics teacher let them learn a science topic through performance, the concept blew me away as I've never heard of anything like this (I'm probably not very worldly).

The P.E. department is where I feel they let themselves down a bit as it's basically all dance, but if that's what you're into it's probably fine, I'd just like it better if overall P.E. was also catered to better. They're also overwhelmingly a girls' school even though they're coed, if you see what I mean.

I'd say if your child is looking to go into performance, do the auditions at the schools you/they like, and if all else fails, it was good audition practice and you should get feedback.

Wouldn’t recommend based on a friend’s experience. Limited subjects at GCSE and they pick the same “stars” over and over so unless you’ve got the X factor you may well fall out of love with acting because you won’t be chosen. Not very equitable.

other routes preferable as listed above. Keeps more options open.

This ^^

Have a child in a similar position. We looked at all the performing art schools (and DD has friends at all of them), and choose to go with a mainstream school that was strong in her area of interest. You can then handpick the external training options - and you're not stuck with the school's choice if it's not a good fit.

If you are paying full fees I wouldn't say any of them are particularly competitive to get a place at - bar White Lodge (which is a whole different ballgame). I know children who got places at one particular school having been turned down by the affiliated agency only a week or so earlier.

All of DD's friends are taking as many or more external classes - despite being at a vocational school. Most classes are group, so you still need the 1-2-1 singing teacher, the extra dance classes etc.

The kids I know do all seem happy enough at the different schools, but I wouldn't say they are necessarily more successful in the industry than children who are gone down a different route. We would have only done it if DD had been focused on dance.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences. Lots of sensible advice.

@NameChange294959610001 Yes I was meaning the one in Chiswick. Trying would probably be too much of a commute.

@TheatreTaxi that all really makes sense. I hadn’t considered at all that children would still be supplementing training with outside classes. Yes we are in London. If you wouldn’t mind DMing me some recommendations that would be amazing. I’m not sure an agent would be interested in her yet (she’d love them to be!) but any advice would be great. It isn’t an area I know much about at all! (Other than enjoying the theatre myself).

it sounds like most of you are describing similar experiences. I really don’t want to narrow her options so that is probably my most important consideration. Or to put her in an overly competitive/catty environment.

When I was a teen a few of my friends were in the National Youth Theatre and they were all so confident and the skills they learned there seemed so transferable to everyday life. This is sort of what I want to give DD I suppose. If she ends up getting somewhere with drama then great, but if not I was hoping the training would benefit her in whatever she ends up doing if that makes sense. External experience seems like it might be just as beneficial with both eventualities.

Thanks again.

My DD is at ArtsEd on the drama track. I'm not sure how hard it is to get in at year 7, they do auditions and an interview. There has been a lot of movement in the year group with lots of children leaving and lots coming in.
We agonised about whether it was a good idea for her to go there, and still do about whether to stay if I'm honest.
The shows we see there are wonderful, but there are downsides. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to ask specific questions.