DaDa Funding for 2013-14

[Caroline A-C]

This seems to be developing into a class war which has absolutely nothing to do with the topic. At the end of the day we are all trying to allow our children to follow their dreams. People should keep their chip firmly on their shoulder and out of this forum as it is upsetting a LOT of people unnecessarily.

[Welsh Mum]

This seems to be developing into a class war which has absolutely nothing to do with the topic. At the end of the day we are all trying to allow our children to follow their dreams. People should keep their chip firmly on their shoulder and out of this forum as it is upsetting a LOT of people unnecessarily.

Couldn't agree more

I am in favour of helping those on lower income have more access to training. However, I am also against lumping all those over a certain income togather (without taking account of anything else) and treaing them the same. As pg said there should be a sliding scale - in what universe is a family on £50,000 the same as one on £500,000?

You cane hold BOTH those points of view - shame some people cant see that and are ficussed only on one of them.

I am lucky as my DD got a place on a student loan funded course - that DID play a part in her decision to go there. Its a daft system where some courses are eligible for loans and others aren't

[Tess]

Oh my goodness, just caught up with this thread! As far as I can see no one on hear thinks that there shouldn't be funding for those who genuinely need it to help them achieve their dreams. We are all in agreement on that, the difficulty comes in deciding where the cut off point comes, and the recent changes in the scale mean that those of us now commonly called 'Middle class' are pretty close to the lower end and are not eligible for any support for anything.

Of course it should be open for anyone from whatever their background to access training, after all there will always be roles across the board as they reflect real life, the difficulty is how to make that a reality. I'm just glad I don't have to make the decisions, and I'll continue to campaign for support for as wide a number of people as possible that need it.

[francescasmum]

What I don't understand is why there is such a massive difference in the cost of a drama/dance (all forms) course compared with an ordinary university course such as maths or history, surely if they are all the same level of study they should be the same price per year (or am I missing something ).

[Caroline A-C]

Absolutely agree with you, francescasmum, and don't understand why the same student loan somebody at university is entitled to cannot be given. At the end of the day, it is the person borrowing the loan that will have to pay. Although it is a struggle putting my eldest through drama school, he will end up with less loan to pay back than my second ds who is entitled to the full student loan. Not quite sure which is best really!

[Tess]

No I don't understand that either Francescasmum, also funding should be equally available for courses at the same level i.e. foundation art courses and foundation theatre. Maybe its something to do with all the shows, tech, facilities etc I've never seen mathematicians perform like that!

[songbird]

Shame to see what was a genuine debate get stirred up like this - it reads a bit like someone is enjoying making a stir which is such a shame as if we cant support each other hear then those outside of performing certainly wont have any sympathy .

I for one think its great that lower income families will get support in terms of fees and maintenance costs but what I dont understand is who did the maths - if you earn £35K you contribute £1,300 if you earn double that (and not taking into account you get no maintenance and already pay more tax from you second 35K) then surely the maths should be that iyou pay double i,e 2,600 ... but in fact you get nothing

what does not add up is that instead of going up in increments for instance 500 for every 5000 extra earnt it just seems to be random increases until at 70K it jumps of a cliff I think as someone said its like it was written on the back of a fag packet in time to get out for a deadline..

Also the announcement of such a change with 6months to go gives no time for people to prepare - stupid that they cant allow the candidates access to the loan system I have one daughter who did a normal degree and one daughter who took a vocational course and currently they are both working and paying tax and insurance its very shortsighted of the government when the arts brings a lot of money into the UK economy and our uk performers are working all over the world waving the uk flag -

[QueenBeexoxo]

I never said I don't see opposite peoples views, I was just stating mine and I didn't WANT to cause a dispute.

I wouldn't have said anything in the first place.

At first when reading the forum, I read it wrong. I thought it was saying that ONLY the middle class would be considered, not working class.
So, Its my mistake. Ill admit that.

I never meant to offend anyone, and I am being the bigger person here by saying that.

Its my fault for reading it wrong, but that's what less sleep + more caffeine does to you :/

[pixiebelle]

Not looked at this forum for ages & blimey!! glad I'm not in the stress of auditions again this year.
Don't think the old or new DaDA system fair. The whole audition process costs a fortune & such robbery that colleges then ask for £100-£150 deposits while they decide if you have a DaDD. Although DD offered places at everywhere she auditioned..Laine, Italia Conti, Millenium, Performers we wouldn't have received help towards accommodation with old DaDA system as our joint income just taken over £33,000 by our overtime. Imagine accommodation costs in London, uniform, travel, living costs & surviving with our own mortgage. DD accepted a place at The Arden school of Theatre in Manchester & is thankfully very happy & focused on her studies, a MT degree course so student loan funded & living costs central Manchester affordable, course is very practical especially singing/acting & days long . We had comments of "waste of time training if not in London" but have to live within our means .. time will tell if DD finds work but that's the same for everyone. Good Luck to all of you auditioning & hope wine is helping you through auditions & stress of the whole DaDA situation.

[Robsmumma]

So basically, if your household income exceeds £70, 000 you will not get a DADA? That slams the door on a lot of talented youngsters hopes and dreams.

[mumamia]

I am sorry but if you had £70,000 coming in to the houshold why would you need a DADA that is more than
I could ever dream of in fact it is over double what comes into our house hold.
Both worked all our life and never claimed a penny from anyone and not had a holiday in 12 years.
But are happy with what we have got. You live to your means.
Basicaly if any child has talent then they deserve to get a DADA it just means that if much higher earners
have a talented child then they possibly could afford to pay more than somebody who is on a much lower income.
This does not need to turn into a nasty debat please let this forum still be a site for everyone to give advise and enjoy
a chat.
kind Regards
Mumamia

[songbird]

[People seem to be sticking at the over 70k issue basically over 50K joint you need to be able to find at least 3k a year more at some schools plus living cost at least 6k a year - and its based on the money you earn before tax if someone had 70k net coming into the house with the higher rate of tax etc I think their annual salary would have to be in excess of £120K (i am no accountant) the fact is is the more you earn the higher tax you pay and whatever you earn most peole live to their means ie spend more on car and housing etc The thing is with 6 months notice most people even if they would consider a downsize to pay the fees probably would not sell in time etc. for someone in our situation if I had not taken on a full time job last year to help pay living costs if he got a dada then we would have only had to find 2k a year - so working full time has in fact cost me at least 4k a year and when i add that 6k to the 6k maintenance cost it actually is not much more than I bring home after tax etc for the year and thats without petrol costs etc to get to the actual place of work -
so would have paid me to stay at home .... for many of us in this situation its the shock of the announcement with such a short preparation time - if I had known this was coming round the corner I would have cut down the money already spent on training and put it away ready for a few years. But actually no that would not of worked as then he would not have been good enough to get selected for a DADA anyway... we will all adjust make decisions about how we will raise the money or not as the case may be wait for uni funded places / sell houses / cars or one of the kids ... such is life really .....good luck to all with your decisions - most of us dont even know yet if our kids even qualify for DADA yet but for mst of us the uspet is about having to say well done but actually you cant actually go

[Wolfie39]

Well here is my two pennies worth.

Why do dada's exist? Take drama schools within the SLC umberella and allow offered individuals the same access to funding as other level 6 qualifications have. To answer one post about why drama training is more expensive than say a maths degree thats simple......the number of contact hrs given. A maths student may be in front of a tutor 12hrs a week with the rest of their time spent in self study. At drama school contact hrs are in the high 30's and more.

If this would result in say higher learning costs add them to the loan structure. In this way all classes of talented students can after due auditions go to drama school. The current format of the dada scheme has certainly weighted things to the lower income bracket for sure but my guess is even the old scheme would have had parents rushing to support their kids to the tune of many thousands.

My own daughter is in the audition process for 2013 start. She has already been offered a place at italia conti but without recieving a dada she cant take up her place cause i can't afford the fees and maintenance to keep her there.......how does this help talented/gifted potential artists. She herself would prefer a student fees loan of 12k per year than not be able to attend drama school!

[Robsmumma]

My daughter is auditioning for Conti in March. Are they one of the colleges that make you pay to hold the place whilst they decide who to hand out the awards to? Or do they let you know straightaway? I didnt realise this happened until we got the letter back from Millenium, I was shocked!

[Caroline A-C]

I know for Arts Ed that you paid a deposit of about £400 to secure the place and then applied for the DADA. That was two years ago though so things could be different.