Dilema Re Offers, Any Advice?

[ajbew]

I just wanted to say that I think there are no right or wrong decisions. My DS has gone down the A level route while continuing to dance with his local dance school and to participate in the local youth musical theatre productions and it certainly hasn't held him back. He will turn 18 in August and is currently auditioning for degree/diploma courses for September and doing really well. He has several offers (Bird, Urdang, Laine, LSC) so not going to a performing arts secondary school or doing a BTEC in performing arts certainly doesn't seem to have hurt him and at least he will have A levels to fall back in if he needs them in the future, so it seems to have worked out for him. I think, as other posts say, that it is a good idea to keep your options open for as long as possible in case of injury. Good luck with whatever you decide, it is a tough decision. I know my DS would have loved to go away at 16 but finance was an issue and he has developed so much over the last two years, particularly in strength, that I think A levels were definitely the right decision for him, and I'm sure he has much better offers now than he would have had two years ago. Hope that helps.

[bluebelle]

Wow! Such an amazing response, what a lovely bunch you are

Your opinions/advice have been really helpful and are much appreciated. Carricrafts thank you for explaining how many UCAS points the BTECs are worth, I had tried to find this info relating to performing arts couses on the UCAS tariff table but was unable to find it. I wonder if you feel Is it necessary to be at a high level in all disciplines to attain a triple distinction?

Regarding some of the points made: the BTEC course we are looking at has 30 hours contact time/Classes are streamed according to ability/All staff have industry experience and some also teach at Mountview, Arts Ed etc.

2dancersmum As Commercial Music wasn't dd's first choice I do agree Tring would seem an expensive option for A' Levels especially as dd currently attends a school that has a very good sixth form.

Although there are many different routes to take and Tring seems wonderful I have taken onboard the fact that post 18 training will also be expensive and there would be little money left over. I think we will have a good chat about it all this evening and hopefully make a decision

Miss Moneypenny feel free to message me, it's so lovely to be able to speak to new people who are finding ways to help their children realise their ambitions!

[Katymac]

Is this the Tariff tables you need https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate ... ables/1176

It's all a bit confusing

[riverdancefan]

Riverdancefan
I have heard that the performing arts dept at Sussex downs College ,Lewes campus is supposed to be brilliant.
I know 2 students that have been there with great results another great place is Bexhill College.

It's just that you mentioned Tunbridge Wells,I know not near but might be of interest?
Lewes is half an hour away from me however it would take my daughter 1 1/2 hours to get there by public transport!
We will be going to the next open day.
We are thinking about IC,maybe the performing arts course on Saturday's.

Ah thank you !

We travel an hour and a half to Tunbridge Wells from North Kent so even further away .
Interesting and good to hear there are better Btecs out there .
The performing arts day is excellent there , I havnt heard of anyone who doesn't like it , DS doesn't do it as he does LAMDA elsewhere but he may as well - he's there all day anyhow
He has been very happy at ICTW, and this is his fifth year ...
Happy to share any info with you

X

[bluebelle]

That's exactly what I was looking for, thank you Katymac I was looking at the same site but somehow only found a page that listed different types of BTECs and seemed to imply that courses (such as I.T. etc) were grouped into different bands that qualified for varying UCAS points - if that makes any sense

[carriecrafts]

This is the A Level tariff:
https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate ... tables/946

This is the Level 3 BTEC tariff:
https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate ... ables/1176

The BTEC extended diploma gives a combination of 3 grades which each carry points:
Dist* = 140 = A*
Dist = 120 = A
Merit = 80 = C
Pass = 40 = E

In answer to your question, (Paulears can probably answer best and I think there have been changes to the structure this year) I think you need to be at a high level AND work consistently hard to get triple D*, only 2 students achieved it out of 26 in dd's year group but quite a few got Distinctions. However, Bird/Urdang only asked for 180/200 ucas points last year so MMP would be enough - it is all about the audition.

It sounds like you have a good provider for the BTEC... guess it depends on what the back-up plan would be.
x

[carriecrafts]

oops, sorry Katymac already posted it! I was typing slowly and keeping an eye on dinner so missed her post x

[bluebelle]

Thanks Carriecrafts I know what you mean, I would have liked to reply to each post individually but by the time I looked several people had posted! Yes I think our BTEC provider seems very good and the college has a good feel to it.

Ah well I think the back up plan is going to be the next thing to think about. We had originally thought about trying to arrange for dd to study an A' Level or two independently alongside the BTEC. (I think Brit School students study A'Levels alongside the BTEC if they choose to do so). However I am now wondering if that would be too much for her as she would already be at college for 30 hours per week. We haven't really thought about any other back up plans as yet x