Best state Sixth Form (London) for Drama

[viajera99]

We'll be moving back from abroad so I'm totally out of the loop with London secondaries & sixth forms. DD is passionate about drama but unlikely that private like ArtsEd will be within our budget. She's in year 10 now so imperative we identify schools to apply to soon. Would be so appreciative of any recs/direction!
(And if you could use the full name of the school please, saw some acronyms in other posts but have no idea which schools they are - thank you!)

You could have a look at Brit School in Selhurst.

The Brit school is probably the 'best' place to study drama in terms of the facilities and contacts. It is fiercely, fiercely competitive though. You also need to be aware that they've changed their GCSE and A level offerings recently and I know some parents aren't pleased.

If your DD is Yr10 now though, does that mean you're actually looking for a Yr11 place for her? Or do you have Yr11 sorted?

Both mine did / do a lot of drama at their Independent schools but they also did it out of school. There are lots of small theatres, drama classes, groups etc all over London. They did classes at a local
theatre and there were kids from lots of different schools both private and state. Do you want a school that does Drama A level or just lots of extracurricular Drama? Either way, it’s possible to do lots of extra curricular out of school so I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

I really wouldn't target a specific drama-focused Sixth form at such a young age - they can change their mind so quickly and then they've been 'pigeon-holed' into a drama pathway (possibly to the detriment of other subjects).
Much better to just find a school with a good reputation for Drama A level and augment it out of school with things like National Youth Theatre/ Local Theatre groups and lessons.
If she's still keen post-A Level then do a Foundation Course at drama school (for which she may be able to get funding).

Do you want a theatre school, or somewhere that does a levels with good drama a levels and a good theatre or drama club in the school?

Where in London will you live?

She'll do year 11 abroad where we live but I'm aware that we'll need to start applying to sixth forms in 6 months or thereabouts so doing my research.

I do know about Brit school, probably should have mentioned that, but looking at all options because as you mentioned, the competition. Thank you!

We're looking for drama A level. She's already planning on an acting career so drama a level leading to drama degree at uni/drama school.

She's wanted to be an actor since she was 7 years old - I don't think she'll change 😊
Definitely she'll want to get involved in extracurricular drama too but she wants to do drama a level for sure

She wants to go to university so I think she needs to do a levels as opposed to theatre school?
I'm just learning though, I grew up in the US and the kids were in primary when we left London so I haven't learned all the secondary/sixth form/uni steps yet 🙏

Coombe Girls new malden

I would second the National Youth Theatre. I've known teenagers get amazing opportunities through it - like performing at the Edinburgh Fringe. Again, it's fiercely competitive but that's the world of acting, isn't it?

If your DD is doing her GCSEs aboard, I'm not sure how it's going to work for sixth form applications. The deadline is usually March so presumably she won't be resident in the UK by then? (I do know that it you're armed forces or work for the government then different admission rules can apply.)

Most schools do Drama A level but it’s the extra curricular drama which will be more enjoyable and useful. In fact Drama A level put DC off acting as a career! But it’s a good A level anyway and keeps options open.

Thomas Tallis?

If she wants to be an actor she should be looking at conservatoires/drama schools not universities. It’s worlds apart in terms of the training

If she's abroad for Y11 that might be tricky as she'd need to be in the UK for auditions in the Autumn/Spring term.

BRIT is probably the main one that is free, but a lot of the kids I know who are aiming at Drama Colleges post-18 do a L3 Extended BTEC from 16-18 - more if they are aiming at MT perhaps.

Have a read of the Drama applications thread on Mumsnet. Straight acting is unbelievably competitive and it's not unusual to need multiple years of applications to get a place and a lot of colleges don't tend to take 18 year olds (RADA for example).

The top schools only take around 24 students a year for acting and have easily 2k+ applications for those.

If finances are an issue, be aware that not all colleges are covered by student finance and need big top ups.

Otherwise, if she's more A level focused, universities like Exeter have a very good reputation for drama but it's very different from a drama college if that makes sense. The most important thing is that there is a decent agent showcase - a lot will have pages of alumni and you can click on their Spotlight links and see who they have secured for rep. It's slightly terrifying when some colleges, less than half their graduates have an agent, let alone a high ranked one.

Whatever she chooses, she will also need a very solid Plan B both for post-18 and for post degree as it's the most hideous industry in terms of any kind of work guarantee.

(Parent of child who has been in the industry for 12 years, and who is going down an adjacent route for all those Plan B reasons (already has credits and top tier agent and will maintain training on the side))

Will also add that for school sixth forms, it's pretty competitive in London for a lot of the good ones. Check the websites for their application closing dates, 'interview dates', number of external places and oversubscription criteria. DD's school closed applications in December, have a minimum 6 x 7-9 incl English & Maths, and only 40 places available. I believe they had over 1.5k applications and some nearby state schools had so many they closed applications early.

BRITs ONLY open day is also in mid- September and applications close early November so check all the colleges/schools for those.

Have a look at Blackheath Girls school. It's a private school but they do offer drama scholarships in sixth form. I know their drama facilities are amazing - they have their own theatre.
They also have a specific pathway for overseas applications.

I would also second looking at Thomas Tallis (it's actually very near Blackheath Girls school). It's sixth form has a very strong arts-based focused but is also known for it's academic results. Also Eltham Hill girls school. These are both state.

We have family experience in this field. Personally I'd recommend a Theatre/Performance/ Drama degree first at the best uni she can get into (Leeds/ Exeter/ Warwick/Bristol have good courses) where she maxes out on all the Drama extra-curric, takes shows to Edin Fringe etc, then follow up with a post grad in Acting at drama school afterwards.

The problem with drama school from age 18 is:

• it's nigh on impossible to get into any except the lower-ranked schools at 18
• you then spend years hanging around auditioning for several years, essentially in limbo
• uni gives a young person a much broader, wide-ranging experience. Acting is all about imitating life, and if you haven't seen much 'real life' at 18 it's harder to be authentic
• Most actors don't manage to make a living, and it's much better to have a strong first degree from a respected university to fall back on if you later need to change career, rather than an degree in acting accredited by a less-ranked institution.

I think St Marylebone's has a performing arts offer at sixth formm which is meant to be good but quite competitive to get into unless you live in catchment or are Christian.

Otherwise agree with going down the academic route and trying to get drama experience at uni.

They have performing arts/scholarship places which are not linked to catchment or church attendance:

https://stmarylebone.school/admissions/year-12-admissions/

Very competitive.

Yes that's what I meant - competitive if you're just trying for the performing arts place with none of the other criteria.

Dd is considering it but not sure about going to an all girls school from a mixed school, although I know they're mixed in 6th form.

Just realizing after months that I had missed some of these messages/not replied so wanted to say thank you to all who gave advice! We're well into the application process now so I have learned alot!

Hello
Missed this message months ago, I'm not that familiar with mumsnet. Would you be able to direct me to the Drama applications thread?
ps she's very aware of the Plan B lol. I think my daughter is the most level headed & practical teen I've ever met! Far more than I was at her age lol