Brit School year 12 entry opinions

[Bobleboo]

We are considering the Brit school for my daughter. She is currently in year 9 so we could apply either for year 10 or 12.

I would like to hear from people whose children attend or have attended? What have their experience been? What have they done after they finished year 13.

hello - it's been a while since you posted hope it's not too late for me to respond.

DS started BRIT in year 10 and stayed for 6th form and is currently Y13 so is in his 4th year at the school and he will apply for Bridge which is a kind of Y14.

TBH he hasn't had the easiest ride - it's a competitive school... and he hasn't always enjoyed his time there - but he is very glad he is there even though he struggles with some of the people.

It's what he wants to do as a career and knows that he has more opportunities from being there than if he hadn't gone there.

Personally as a parent, I'd recommend starting in Y10 - they still do proper GCSEs and get an idea if they can handle it or not. A lot of DS's peers from Years 10 & 11 either didn't come back, or chose a different course for 6th form (moving from acting to production arts or musical theatre to music, or theatre to art courses) - but they still got good GCSEs and a chance to figure out if it was the right path for them

Thank you. This is good timing actually as we are getting serious about applying for year 10 and have been looking at it again. DD really wants to change school.

Is the area safe? She will need to get the train. A bit worried reg late finish on the 3 days when is dark in winter

I’d like to understand more about what you mean when you mention struggling with some of the people. Are you referring to their behavior or perhaps the level of competition?

I’m really interested in the Brit school for textiles and would appreciate any insights you can share. The opportunities there seem fantastic, but I know our DD would need to travel for it. Thank you for your help!

half the school gets the train from Selhurst the other walk to East Croydon - (a few get busses or walk) - there are always people to travel with and there are journey gangs who all travel together, even if they aren't on the same course - DS used to moan that he didn't get to travel with his friends as he gets a bus. It's a fairly bog standard residential area. I'm not aware of there being any issues with Brit kids being picked on or anything

There are a lot of strong personalities and a lot of wealthy kids who have never been told NO in their lives - if your face doesn't fit you aren't necessarily included by them.

Big parties at Hugo/Oscar/Tabitha/Pheobe's fancy house in Dulwich/Hampstead/Kensington that half the class are invited to but not the other half - power/popularity games... DS was in, then out, was upset at being dumped then realised that he had other friends who were better and that he didn't need them - but it stung and upset him for a while - he watched it happen to other kids too as the core group do their 'Mean Girls' you cant sit with us thing.

Performance/talent wise they are all pretty supportive - even when they don't like each other - they'll be encouraging and work well in groups together - they will have to work on projects and they have to work well together and generally do.

This is all less of an issue on the arty courses than the performing arts ones - different personality types/

During our visit, it was interesting to observe the dynamics among the performing arts students.
I felt that the textiles department presented itself in a more professional manner. However, I wonder if the performing arts students were trying to impress their peers as there were a couple of times where our performing art guides led us in the wrong direction ,chuckling to each other while we walked..

I appreciated the offerings at the school, but I do have some concerns about the social atmosphere.
My dd thrives in an inclusive and relaxed environment, and I hope to find a place where she can make friends from diverse backgrounds without feeling pressure to fit into any particular group which is what made me think the Brit school would fit that. I’ll definitely go back again for another viewing before we consider applying to get another feel for the school.
thanks for your valuable feedback.

The school is not so bad that DS wanted to leave and he intends to stay longer if he can. It's still high school and full of annoying teenagers but it's a high school where talent and working hard gets you kudos rather than get you labelled as a 'neek' and with some great opportunities.

It is more inclusive than a lot of schools - much higher level of ND kids than most schools.

Thank you. That is good to know.

DD is very keen on gout there so we are going to give it a try. I hope it works for her.

A bit worried about the popularity games, big parties, etc. Are there lots of drugs and alcohol?

I'd be lying if I said that there was nothing at all and half the 6th formers have fake ID - but I don't think it is a massive problem either and DS hasn't experienced peer pressure to do things he didn't want to do (he is painfully honest with me about stuff - to the point it can be embarrassing... phoned me from a party because he'd drunk too much and tried a bit of a joint but he'd thrown up - he thought I should know but he was OK and was being looked after!)

Most of this all started in 6th form and the Y10 & Y11 parties were more age appropriate

Thank you

I have one more question. Does the Brit school do overseas trips?

So my daughter is there now and also doing the Bridge course (year 14). She went from Year 12 and has loved it. We haven’t seen the snobby side mentioned above but people have different experiences (she’s been invited and gone to parties less affluent areas). She’s loved being able to do everyday her passion and the school has made a difference.

The bridge course is really good and does help prepare them for a life in acting.

Thank you. We are going to submit the application for year 10.

What is the workshops and interview like? How should DD prepare?

How many places are there for each strand?DD wants to do Theatre.

Yes.

Not much but Y13 theatre trip to Berlin and Bridge go to New York. There was a ski trip too

For theatre there were 50 places in Y10, 75 in Y12

Had to do workshops with other applicants and a monologue. It had to be from a modern published play and be a character around the same age.

So more Matilda than lady Macbeth.

May be different criteria this time.

Thanks

Definitely as someone already mentioned do an age appropriate monologue. Also very honestly I’ve always drummed into my daughter is always thanks everyone. So anything she’s done she’s thanked all crew individually. She did the same at her Brit audition following the workshop and was the only one who did. They want talent obviously but also people who appreciate the opportunity. Finally go in all black and clothes you can move in. Some kids go in suits or wild colours, but day to day the theatre kids always dress in all black and it shows that you get that.

Yes on the trips Berlin then New York if they do Bridge. They do a few other ones too in year 13. When they’re doing they’re their common ground plays in year 13 they also do a bonding/focussing style trip.

unless you are in the Common Ground play that didn't go on any trips - DS's group did a day trip in London while all the others did weekends away!

That is super helpful thank you.

Apart from the monologue how else do you prepare for the workshop?

Also, any advice to what shows/theatre performances should we go and see?

We got 3 months to prepare

see as much and as varied as you can and talk about what you enjoyed about them.

You cant really prepare for the workshops - they're just a drama class where they watch you work with others and how you interpret the instructions and the ideas you have etc.

@Bobleboo there are books of monologues for teenage girls and teenage boys these are a good place to start.
I left my DD in mainstream school till after GCSEs and then moved her to performing arts for sixth form. It didn't disadvantage her in any way in fact I think when it came to applying for next level it was an advantage.

Thank you. Haven’t thought of books, that’s a great idea.

Regarding the application for theatre; do I understand correctly not everyone is invited to the workshop? When do we find out if DD is invited or not? Is it the same for interview and monologue?