Is skipping to LAMDA Grade 8 in Year 10 worthwhile?

[longshot]

My daughter (just started year 10) completed Grade 5 Lamda last year and her teacher has suggested she now skips grade 6 & 7 and goes straight to 8. She thinks she can handle it and is talented / learns pieces with ease etc. The teacher is her school teacher and Drama teacher so she knows her well and her ability etc.

I just want to ask anyone who has a child who has done Grade 8 if it has been helpful when it comes to A levels/college applications and University applications? She will take Grade 8 in the Summer or Autumn of her GCSE year (I think) or if she feels not ready / it's too much she can wait until Autumn of Year 12. Any thoughts? I know she's talented and puts the work in and I do think she would potentially like to go to drama school but is very bright all round and has other avenues she would also consider.

The only reason I am hesitant is skipping 2 grades - is that wise? And also is it financially worth doing? We are already paying for private school so it's an additional expense and I want to be sure it is good value.

Academic courses won't care.
Is she looking to do drama or something that only needs points and will accept it?

What do you mean ‘won’t care’ - as in they won’t care that she skipped two grades out?

I realise grade 8 distinction equates to 30 UCAS points so is worth having…in addition to 3 a levels. Whereas I assume you don’t ’miss out’ by not having grade 6&7 as well (in terms of points) but just wondering if anyone has any experience of doing this is all?

By won't care, what i mean is academic course offers (eg history, science etc) tend to be "we want these grades in your A levels" (eg AAB or whatever). The fact that you nominally have 30 points from lamda won't figure, nor will points from grade 8 piano etc.

It may be more relevant for less academic courses who offer on points, or obviously drama courses.

My DD has done every grade, distinction in every one, blah blah. I specifically held back the grade 8 until lower six, so that she could put it on her UCAS form personal statement as something she’s done in sixth form. This is on the basis that colleges and unis will be interested in what she’s done in the recent past, not going back years to year 10. I hear what you’re saying about the points, but in practice it is extremely rare for any academic course to accept UCAS points from a LAMDA qualification. I wanted it more to show that she’s rounded and does lots in her spare time. She’s also a member of the National Youth Theatre, which might be worth your DD looking into if she’s not already.

Agree, mostly it won’t matter for unis, esp higher tier ones which don’t offer on points.

Exceptions would be if she is applying somewhere like NTU which asks for XX UCAS points, or if she is applying for drama or related courses when it would be relevant on the PS.

Unis are not bothered about drama exams, sports played, DofE, musical grades, unless relevant to the course.

For sure it’s worth pursuing outside interests in general tho, if the YP enjoys them; and going to uni with things you enjoy doing (be that sport, drama, volunteering, reading, music) is vital IMO to give you a great way into a good social life.

We found university were only interested in his A level grades for ucas points. Not that fussed any other things for points but did show his interests etc.

Universities don't care about extra-curricular interests. It's pointless putting them on your UCAS form unless directly related to the course you want to study, and as others have said the more academic universities will expect specific grades rather than a total number of points.

@longshot The only UCAS points most universities care about come from A levels! LAMDA makes no difference whatsoever and my DDs had LAMDA, music and dance UCAS points!

However - do it! My DDs didn’t do every grade either. It really does give them confidence in speaking and it’s well worth it. Go for it. DD1 is now a barrister and LAMDA coaching gave her a good grounding in how to speak clearly and have a presence.

Most unis are not interested in ucas points, majority of offers are based on grades from level 3 academic qualifications. Your dc should do whatever appeals at the appropriate level for their own development and enjoyment.

The only time it is useful is if you are applying for a course that takes points rather than grades and fail your A levels or come through a weird route or as a mature student. Then it might be helpful.

But otherwise it's not really relevant.

Music conservatoires don't care you have a sheaf of Grade 8s... they assume you're not applying unless you are comfortably at that level and above.

Drama colleges don't care if you spent your childhood in the West End, have every LAMDA grade under the sun and a Hollywood movie in hand.

Both care about what you do in the audition on the day.

Lots of students at conservatoires have never sat a single music exam, lots of students at drama college have no qualifications on paper.

So do the exams if she feels like doing them, but they're not relevant to future entrance to anything.

I do think there’s merit in working through a syllabus and getting more confidence in public speaking. I would imagine the dc here isn’t looking for caring if she’s talking about UCAS points. LAMDA is more about speaking in public and it’s good for that. If dc wants acting, LAMDA isn’t enough.