How long is it? How many contact hours? Does it have a good success rate?
Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
Moderator: busybusybusy
Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
We can't afford it; but I'd like to know what we are turning down
How long is it? How many contact hours? Does it have a good success rate?
How long is it? How many contact hours? Does it have a good success rate?
Re: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
If you look on the website it tells you term dates for both course and the pre voc one finishes in May compared to July for the diploma. Sorry can't help you with the other questions you asked apart from saying that I have heard nothing but good things for any of the pre voc/foundation courses that the colleges offer.
Re: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
I know, they sound so good!!
It's not often that my problems in life can be solved by throwing money at them......but this time? It so could be
I wonder what the academic level of them are, I mean the diploma is a level 6, would this be a 2 or a 3 maybe?
It's not often that my problems in life can be solved by throwing money at them......but this time? It so could be
I wonder what the academic level of them are, I mean the diploma is a level 6, would this be a 2 or a 3 maybe?
Re: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
I'm not sure about the level i dont think it says on the website.
It's not cheap when you take into account the fees and the accommodation. Fingers crossed that your dd will get offered a diploma with a dada soon
It's not cheap when you take into account the fees and the accommodation. Fingers crossed that your dd will get offered a diploma with a dada soon
Re: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
I can't see that it does say on the webiste - but then I'd missed the term dates 
She might or she might do the local Btec or she might do something else! It's the uncertainty that is killing me
Mind you I worked out what she will cost me at home next year & that is a fairly substantial sum - but nothing like the course fees & accommodation!!
She might or she might do the local Btec or she might do something else! It's the uncertainty that is killing me
Mind you I worked out what she will cost me at home next year & that is a fairly substantial sum - but nothing like the course fees & accommodation!!
Re: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
I suppose we are all in the same situation, my dd has been offered a few places but won't know for certain where she is going till at least after April or May for one of the colleges.
How certain would you dd be getting a place on the diploma course at performers after she had done the pre voc and would it be with a dada?
Fingers crossed that she will get some more positive news from the auditions that she has done recently.
How certain would you dd be getting a place on the diploma course at performers after she had done the pre voc and would it be with a dada?
Fingers crossed that she will get some more positive news from the auditions that she has done recently.
Re: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
Did she get her favourite?
I know waiting until Easter is awful for everyone; you can't plan accommodation or anything
& you wouldn't be certain at all about getting a place post pre-voc!
I know waiting until Easter is awful for everyone; you can't plan accommodation or anything
& you wouldn't be certain at all about getting a place post pre-voc!
Re: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
Yes she has, but where she thought she wanted to go she is not
sure now as she liked a college that she hadn't previously seen till audition day.
She still has one audition to go in the new year.
I have spoken to one of the colleges about accommodation and been told not to
worry as they don't start sorting that out till all the places for dada's have been offered
and accepted.
Would you dd be happy doing the btec at the local college then auditioning again in two years
when there might be a good chance she could get a dada and also what is the standard like
of the course would she be getting enough out of it to help her progress over the two years?
sure now as she liked a college that she hadn't previously seen till audition day.
She still has one audition to go in the new year.
I have spoken to one of the colleges about accommodation and been told not to
worry as they don't start sorting that out till all the places for dada's have been offered
and accepted.
Would you dd be happy doing the btec at the local college then auditioning again in two years
when there might be a good chance she could get a dada and also what is the standard like
of the course would she be getting enough out of it to help her progress over the two years?
Re: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
Katy - I started a thread about Foundation/Pre Voc courses back in Feb - not specific to Performers though. I think the general view was that they are great to do if you can afford them - they do not come cheap! - but there are no guarantees of success at the end and no qualification. Some people will go on to successfully get into a college with a DADA but others may not As you know for us , if dd does not get a place at one of her chosen colleges on 3 year diploma, we will do BTEC at current dance school and reapply at 17 and 18 . At least with BTEC you can gain UCAS points, which can also be gained with vocational exams, therefore enbling you to apply down the degree route at 18 if you have still not managed to get a DADA. It is just a very personal decision and everyone will have their own view on it - hang in there for that well earned rest!! xxx
As you know for us , if dd does not get a place at one of her chosen colleges on 3 year diploma, we will do BTEC at current dance school and reapply at 17 and 18 . At least with BTEC you can gain UCAS points, which can also be gained with vocational exams, therefore enbling you to apply down the degree route at 18 if you have still not managed to get a DADA. It is just a very personal decision and everyone will have their own view on it - hang in there for that well earned rest!! xxxRe: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
Thanks Sue -I'll have a look
Re: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
Katymac If the fees would be a burden then I would put it out of your mind and move on. If you are thinking about possibly paying the fees then I would only do that if Performers was her absolute favourite and somewhere she would love to train post the pre voc. We would not be able to afford fees for 16+ so it wouldn't be an option. However I do think that lots of these colleges are quite happy to offer the foundation places when the applicant has potential so you might get other offers for foundation level anyway. TBH it is not much skin off their noses to offer these fee paying foundation courses courses (Sorry don't mean offend anyone here, I realise it's great to get an offer)
Btecs can be really good and give time to mature without the pressure of knowing your parents have paid expensive fees for you to be there. My eldest is doing a L3 Btec in art but her college is for art and performing arts only and one of her friends from PA course has just had a call back for Star Wars. Lots of the students there get into great dance drama and MT colleges after the BTEC. Maybe you could investigate car sharing to get there? Put a notice up at the college. My DDs college is a 35 min drive but can take 2 hours on public transport. It is SO exasperating isn't it? I am doing lots of driving but she is incredibly happy there and getting distinctions so I am pleased with it.
Good luck with all the auditions but just remember you do have a good back up offer at the local college and that means she can audition again for the college and course she most wants if it doesn't come up this time. We know from this forum that it can take a bit of time to come right. Hope you can relax this Xmas x
Btecs can be really good and give time to mature without the pressure of knowing your parents have paid expensive fees for you to be there. My eldest is doing a L3 Btec in art but her college is for art and performing arts only and one of her friends from PA course has just had a call back for Star Wars. Lots of the students there get into great dance drama and MT colleges after the BTEC. Maybe you could investigate car sharing to get there? Put a notice up at the college. My DDs college is a 35 min drive but can take 2 hours on public transport. It is SO exasperating isn't it? I am doing lots of driving but she is incredibly happy there and getting distinctions so I am pleased with it.
Good luck with all the auditions but just remember you do have a good back up offer at the local college and that means she can audition again for the college and course she most wants if it doesn't come up this time. We know from this forum that it can take a bit of time to come right. Hope you can relax this Xmas x
Re: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
I know, I mean I really do know
Just the alternatives are not fantastic & driving all that way to study at a lower level seems pointless
"TBH it is not much skin off their noses to offer these fee paying foundation courses courses" I do agree with this but they only have 25 places on the course so even allowing for a big dropout it's a good sign
"but her college is for art and performing arts only" this would make me much happier, but ours isn't and the feedback I have is poor
Just the alternatives are not fantastic & driving all that way to study at a lower level seems pointless
"TBH it is not much skin off their noses to offer these fee paying foundation courses courses" I do agree with this but they only have 25 places on the course so even allowing for a big dropout it's a good sign
"but her college is for art and performing arts only" this would make me much happier, but ours isn't and the feedback I have is poor
Re: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
It's a tough decision for your family to make, but I think I agree with robin64 if it's going to be a financial burden for your family then try to forget about it, she still has other ones to hear back from so it might not be a problem at the end of the day.
I thought the colleges offered more than 25 places, we were told by one of the colleges that dd has been to that they had 50 places on the foundation course.
I thought the colleges offered more than 25 places, we were told by one of the colleges that dd has been to that they had 50 places on the foundation course.
Re: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
I know it's silly but I wish we had better choices really
Re: Does anyone know about the pre-vocational at Performers?
Hi Kaymac,
My DD is doing the Peformers pre-voc this year. She LOVES it! I can't praise it enough, it is everything we hoped it would be, but like you, I can't afford it but have found a means and a way, were fortunate to have received a portion of fees from a local charitable trust - well worth looking into for your DD. I'm not sure how I'm doing it otherwise, but I am....just.
Your DD sounds in a good position, at least you know about pre-voc courses. Our backround is that she completed a Btec in musical theatre, we were fortunate to have an okay college (not great) near enough to go that actually had a musical theatre Btec course. She did well, double distinction and merit but was frustrated because most of the kids on the course just wanted 'an easy ride' and were not at all interested in MT. During the 2 years at college, we continued with weekly singing and dance lessons. Following the 2 year Btec she was offered a 3 year diploma place at Urdang, and pre-voc at both Performers and Bodyworks. As the Urdang offer came with very little fee reduction, I couldn't picture committing to them, and at the time didn't know enough about the pre-voc courses to give it serious thought. The following year we did the audition rounds again, still no Dada offer, so we gave a pre-voc course serious consideration and decided on Performers.
I hope I don't sound like an advert for Performers pre-voc course. Our experience has been really positive though.
To answer your questions, I believe it would be at a level 5 (definately not lower) There are actually 40 on the course this year, although we thought it would be 25. This isn't a problem as the college split the students into 2 groups according to ability. She is definately pushed and challenged each and every day. A typical day is 8 hours and is very physical. She was exhausted for the first few weeks. The focus is definately dance, but seems well balanced with singing and drama as well.
They have a very dedicated pre-voc course leader, and teachers of excellent experience and skill (of whom DD is in awe of)!
Overall great standard, and the reason we decided to go down this route was in the hopes of boosting DD chances of getting a Dada this year for Sept 2014 entry, but as others have said there is no guarantee, we know this but hope our risk will pay off.
Of the Performers students on last years pre-voc all received 3 year offers at performing arts colleges, several remained at Performers, I can't say how many received Dadas but I am of the understanding it was a good number (either Dada or funding)
We went to the end of year show for last years pre-voc course and it was this that helped me decide that Performers was worth the financial hardship to me for this year, if it would help my DD. But, it isn't for everyone and it all depends on where your DD is.
Hope this helps, any other questions please ask and I'll answer if I can.
My DD is doing the Peformers pre-voc this year. She LOVES it! I can't praise it enough, it is everything we hoped it would be, but like you, I can't afford it but have found a means and a way, were fortunate to have received a portion of fees from a local charitable trust - well worth looking into for your DD. I'm not sure how I'm doing it otherwise, but I am....just.
Your DD sounds in a good position, at least you know about pre-voc courses. Our backround is that she completed a Btec in musical theatre, we were fortunate to have an okay college (not great) near enough to go that actually had a musical theatre Btec course. She did well, double distinction and merit but was frustrated because most of the kids on the course just wanted 'an easy ride' and were not at all interested in MT. During the 2 years at college, we continued with weekly singing and dance lessons. Following the 2 year Btec she was offered a 3 year diploma place at Urdang, and pre-voc at both Performers and Bodyworks. As the Urdang offer came with very little fee reduction, I couldn't picture committing to them, and at the time didn't know enough about the pre-voc courses to give it serious thought. The following year we did the audition rounds again, still no Dada offer, so we gave a pre-voc course serious consideration and decided on Performers.
I hope I don't sound like an advert for Performers pre-voc course. Our experience has been really positive though.
To answer your questions, I believe it would be at a level 5 (definately not lower) There are actually 40 on the course this year, although we thought it would be 25. This isn't a problem as the college split the students into 2 groups according to ability. She is definately pushed and challenged each and every day. A typical day is 8 hours and is very physical. She was exhausted for the first few weeks. The focus is definately dance, but seems well balanced with singing and drama as well.
They have a very dedicated pre-voc course leader, and teachers of excellent experience and skill (of whom DD is in awe of)!
Overall great standard, and the reason we decided to go down this route was in the hopes of boosting DD chances of getting a Dada this year for Sept 2014 entry, but as others have said there is no guarantee, we know this but hope our risk will pay off.
Of the Performers students on last years pre-voc all received 3 year offers at performing arts colleges, several remained at Performers, I can't say how many received Dadas but I am of the understanding it was a good number (either Dada or funding)
We went to the end of year show for last years pre-voc course and it was this that helped me decide that Performers was worth the financial hardship to me for this year, if it would help my DD. But, it isn't for everyone and it all depends on where your DD is.
Hope this helps, any other questions please ask and I'll answer if I can.