Hi
DS is year 11 and really keen on doing an extended 2 year BTec in Drama, starting in September. He has also talked about going drama school when he is 18.
What I'd like to know is do you need to be good at singing and dancing to go to a drama school, or can you just do acting? He doesn't do either singing or dancing, so I wondered if this would prevent him from getting a place.
I've also been given conflicting advice about BTec versus A levels. He is really good at science subjects, so the careers teacher type advice is to do Maths, Physics , Chemistry A levels, followed by a maths or science degree and to do the Drama as a hobby.....but he loves drama, and everyone keeps reminding him how hard it is to make a career out of acting!
I think it must be wonderful to be passionate about something and have the chance to study it full time. He loves drama. I just don't know how to advise him.
Any help anyone?
drama college advice, please.
Moderator: busybusybusy
Re: drama college advice, please.
Ok - not sure everyone will agree with me, but my philosophy has always been.........
You only live once, so go with your heart. If things don't work out, it's never too late to change direction.
If your DS has a passion and feels at this stage in his life that he wants to pursue this passion, then, IMHO, he should give it a go and see what happens.
Good luck with whatever he decides.
You only live once, so go with your heart. If things don't work out, it's never too late to change direction.
If your DS has a passion and feels at this stage in his life that he wants to pursue this passion, then, IMHO, he should give it a go and see what happens.
Good luck with whatever he decides.
Don't count your chickens until the contract's in your hand!
Re: drama college advice, please.
What about doing the A levels and fitting in as much drama as possible e.g. local amateur stuff. Then both options will still be open to him at 18 as he would have the qualifications for uni but could also still apply for drama school as these places rely on auditions not previous qualifications. It could even work in his favour at interview as it shows he has tried a different route and I'm sure would make interesting conversation.
Re: drama college advice, please.
Thanks Puck and Fruitcake - your 2 very different views are exactly the 2 very different thoughts that are going round and round in my head!
I was really excited for him to do the drama BTec as he is home educated and this seemed a brilliant way to get back into mainstream education, especially as attendance is only 3 days a week. Although our local college was very uninspiring so he has applied to a couple more colleges with fantastic facilities that he could easily travel to by train.
He hasn't done the usual GCSEs as he isn't at school, but has done a couple at home, He got his results last week and now has an A in Maths and an A* in Physics....so that what has really made me think that A levels might be more sensible route.....
Will the lack of dance and singing/music causes any problems for following acting at a drama school later on?
Thanks
I was really excited for him to do the drama BTec as he is home educated and this seemed a brilliant way to get back into mainstream education, especially as attendance is only 3 days a week. Although our local college was very uninspiring so he has applied to a couple more colleges with fantastic facilities that he could easily travel to by train.
He hasn't done the usual GCSEs as he isn't at school, but has done a couple at home, He got his results last week and now has an A in Maths and an A* in Physics....so that what has really made me think that A levels might be more sensible route.....
Will the lack of dance and singing/music causes any problems for following acting at a drama school later on?
Thanks
-
Caroline A-C
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Re: drama college advice, please.
My ds started off by doing the International Baccalauriat but absolutely hated it and pleaded with us to let him change courses after the first year. We eventually relented and he joined the BTec in performing arts. It was the best thing we did as he is doing something he is passionate about and as such works really hard for. I think that they need to have their heart in whatever they do otherwise they won't thrive and it is a waste of time to some point. Hope this is of some help.
All new to me!
Re: drama college advice, please.
Re: Lack of music/singing/dance experience or ability:
Tricky one this. He is quite likely to have to sing for drama school auditions for straight acting courses - it's not true for all, but many of them include singing in the audition process. You do not have to be a strong singer to be considered for straight acting courses ( I should know
) but if you have no experience of singing at all then you may find this quite a hurdle, so it would be as well to get some practice in before auditions! They are more interested in how you "put the song across" than in any technical singing skills.
You do not have to be a dancer to be considered for straight acting courses ( definitely not, I got in and I have two left feet) however there will almost certainly be "movement" workshops at either first round auditions or recalls (or both) and schools are really interested in this part of the audition. They want to see how engaged and committed you are to movement - even when you feel daft. They will also be looking at this aspect when you do your speeches (nothing to do with how much you move, just whether the speech is "in" your body as well as in your head - it's possible to see someone completely engaged physically who doesn't move from the spot). He might need some practice here too, if it's not the sort of thing he normally engages in. For some lucky people this is completely natural and uninhibited - and these tend to be the most exciting and instinctive actors who will be easily spotted at drama school auditions.
Umm. pg ramble coming up
I would agree with pursuing subjects you enjoy. If your son does enjoy sciences I would think Puck's view really well worth considering. It could give him more options in the future and I agree that he would be an interesting candidate at auditions! You don't need to have A levels or BTec in Arts subjects for drama school entry - although it might give you more time to hone a few of the skills you'll need for audition.
If the science direction is being explored just because he is good at it, then I'm not so sure.
I agree with Caroline A-C and Fruitcake.
If he can't really imagine himself doing anything else other than drama, then he may find it hard to dedicate himself to the sciences at A level and University - and I gather from those who have gone on to study at higher levels that there is quite a leap in standards as you move through the education system in the sciences and that you have to be fairly determined/passionate to make progress. Those I know who are gifted in this area have found GCSEs quite easy and it hasn't really prepared them for how much harder it gets at Uni. I know someone who dropped out of Maths at Uni (and is now working in Theatre!) because he found it too hard - having found it really straight-forward at school with top marks in Maths, Further Maths and Physics. Theatre was what he was really interested in.
Another friend did Maths at Cambridge and said that he and fellow students had agreed that most people hit a wall somewhere in their understanding when it comes to Maths: for some people it is pre- GCSE and for some people it's A level or second year at Uni (or even later if you're lucky!). It's only if you are determined and passionate that you can force yourself to climb the wall and the wall might be very high...
The same may be true of other subjects too.
In conclusion - finally
If he can imagine himself earning some sort of living (however vague) using the sciences - with acting as a hobby and an important part of his life - give the sciences a go. If he wants to see whether he can make a living as an actor: give the sciences a go if he really enjoys them - otherwise go for the BTec.
End of ramble
zzzzzz
Oi! Wake up at the back!
Tricky one this. He is quite likely to have to sing for drama school auditions for straight acting courses - it's not true for all, but many of them include singing in the audition process. You do not have to be a strong singer to be considered for straight acting courses ( I should know
) but if you have no experience of singing at all then you may find this quite a hurdle, so it would be as well to get some practice in before auditions! They are more interested in how you "put the song across" than in any technical singing skills. You do not have to be a dancer to be considered for straight acting courses ( definitely not, I got in and I have two left feet) however there will almost certainly be "movement" workshops at either first round auditions or recalls (or both) and schools are really interested in this part of the audition. They want to see how engaged and committed you are to movement - even when you feel daft. They will also be looking at this aspect when you do your speeches (nothing to do with how much you move, just whether the speech is "in" your body as well as in your head - it's possible to see someone completely engaged physically who doesn't move from the spot). He might need some practice here too, if it's not the sort of thing he normally engages in. For some lucky people this is completely natural and uninhibited - and these tend to be the most exciting and instinctive actors who will be easily spotted at drama school auditions.
Umm. pg ramble coming up
I would agree with pursuing subjects you enjoy. If your son does enjoy sciences I would think Puck's view really well worth considering. It could give him more options in the future and I agree that he would be an interesting candidate at auditions! You don't need to have A levels or BTec in Arts subjects for drama school entry - although it might give you more time to hone a few of the skills you'll need for audition.
If the science direction is being explored just because he is good at it, then I'm not so sure.
I agree with Caroline A-C and Fruitcake.
If he can't really imagine himself doing anything else other than drama, then he may find it hard to dedicate himself to the sciences at A level and University - and I gather from those who have gone on to study at higher levels that there is quite a leap in standards as you move through the education system in the sciences and that you have to be fairly determined/passionate to make progress. Those I know who are gifted in this area have found GCSEs quite easy and it hasn't really prepared them for how much harder it gets at Uni. I know someone who dropped out of Maths at Uni (and is now working in Theatre!) because he found it too hard - having found it really straight-forward at school with top marks in Maths, Further Maths and Physics. Theatre was what he was really interested in.
Another friend did Maths at Cambridge and said that he and fellow students had agreed that most people hit a wall somewhere in their understanding when it comes to Maths: for some people it is pre- GCSE and for some people it's A level or second year at Uni (or even later if you're lucky!). It's only if you are determined and passionate that you can force yourself to climb the wall and the wall might be very high...
The same may be true of other subjects too.
In conclusion - finally
If he can imagine himself earning some sort of living (however vague) using the sciences - with acting as a hobby and an important part of his life - give the sciences a go. If he wants to see whether he can make a living as an actor: give the sciences a go if he really enjoys them - otherwise go for the BTec.
End of ramble
zzzzzz
Oi! Wake up at the back!
Re: drama college advice, please.
I was in the same position as you a few years back. My DD only wanted to act, and wanted to do a BTEC course. Coming from an academic background myself (and a Head of Sixth!) I was very sceptical, but she was so determined so she did it and loved it. It is a good course as its so practical and also as its performing all day every day I thought she would find out if she really did love it enough to go further (many on her course decided not to for that reason - they enjoyed it in small doses but not all the time).
She is now studying full time at drama school and loves it. We know all the pitfalls and problems about acting as a career, but she is still young so that if things don't work out for her she can do something else! The course she is on is a degree course, so she will have a degree when she finishes, and she has excellent GCSEs behind her as well. It may well be dream which she is pursuing, but how will you know if it can be reality if you don't give it a go?
As for your other question about singing and dancing, then strictly speaking you don't need to be good at these for straight acting courses, though they are included at auditions for the courses. The plus of a BTEC is that they will do enough for this before the auditions for post 18 courses begin, and they look for aptitude and the willingness to have a go rather than a polished performance. Music Theatre courses obviously need better skills in these areas.
Hope this has been of some help. PM me if you want.
She is now studying full time at drama school and loves it. We know all the pitfalls and problems about acting as a career, but she is still young so that if things don't work out for her she can do something else! The course she is on is a degree course, so she will have a degree when she finishes, and she has excellent GCSEs behind her as well. It may well be dream which she is pursuing, but how will you know if it can be reality if you don't give it a go?
As for your other question about singing and dancing, then strictly speaking you don't need to be good at these for straight acting courses, though they are included at auditions for the courses. The plus of a BTEC is that they will do enough for this before the auditions for post 18 courses begin, and they look for aptitude and the willingness to have a go rather than a polished performance. Music Theatre courses obviously need better skills in these areas.
Hope this has been of some help. PM me if you want.
The highway's jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive.
Re: drama college advice, please.
I'd look at it this way as a another qualified teacher who has also been an A Level Principal Examiner AND one of the BTEC writers for the past 10 years or so. I gave up teaching and went back to the business in 2004/5.
There are a few important things here. You had home tuition and got some really good results, and this indicates that probably the weakest part of your son's skill set is his social interaction with others. If he has already joined the local am dram society and been in plenty of shows then forget this bit, because they have a very similar tight knit 'family' just like college.
Despite my love for performing arts, there are simply too many excellent graduates and jobs are few. What jobs there are tend to be short lived and not ideal for houses/mortgages/familes etc.
3 days a week is pretty typical in many colleges, and unless he really sees himself as a simply excellent performer (and to be honest, outsiders, not family see this in him) then it will be very tough. If he likes performing, then he could do that as an amateur and use the skills he's already demonstrated to get a set of qualifications that have status in almost every employment area. Maths and science, if he has natural ability are 'worth' far more than a BTEC in Performing Arts. I don't mean worth as in UCAS points or anything like that, but just something so useful it opens many, many doors that Performing Arts won't. When I was teaching Performing Arts, maths and science were pretty weak areas of the typical group - so if this is what he's good at, it seems a bit of a waste to not use those skill areas. Every student who mentioned a passion for performance at their interview got a standard question from me. What shows have you been in then? You'd be amazed how many just listed a couple of school plays! I'd ask if they can sing, dance, play an instrument - many said no to all three. Yet they had a passion so deep they'd never actually tried it. Others perhaps had weaker exam results from school, but had been having dance lessons since they were 3, had all sorts of cups, trophies and awards and a portfolio of photos and programmes with their name in. Those are the ones we wanted. The loners, with excellent qualifications but no experience were universally unprepared.
If your son is capable of good science results - his earning potential OUTSIDE performing arts suggests he consider it as a hobby.
I don't want to pry, but if the reason for the home education was anything to do with trouble at school with other people, then from my experience Perf Arts can be somewhat scary! These kind of kids are single minded, difficult and self-centred almost by definition. They form cliques very quickly and it's very easy for people to become isolated if they're not social animals. The girls can be very difficult with people with less confidence - and home schooled people do often have interaction difficulties that they struggle with. Hopefully, your son will be fine and will be able to mix well - but remember perf arts is very competitive, and quieter people get sidelined very easily. To be honest, it needs to be like that because that's how the business is. The dancers I have working for me at the moment are 21-22 going on forty - by attitude. Quiet scary.
One point - he won't be looking at an Extended Diploma in Drama - it will be Dance or Performance - the colleges call it drama, but it will have far more than just drama in it. Almost certainly there will be some element of dance and probably singing too. There are all sorts of unit combinations, so it could be more acting than musical theatre, but whatever happens there will be nearly twenty different units over the two years and they must all be completed to at least Pass level. Find out what they are - you might find Physical Theatre or Singing in there too and quite likely a dance unit. Somebody who cannot sing or dance may find their options very limited. One thing that is changing this year is the scrutiny of the assessment accuracy - far more of your sons work will be looked at by people inside the college and outside. The teachers themselves award grades, and one of them has to take a special test (although we're not allowed to call it that) to be able to verify the work. The reality will be that it will be very difficult for any student who has a weak area to hide it. I've heard it said often that A Levels have more 'academic rigour' with their testing system of exams, but BTEC from this year is going to be very highly scrutinised. This means that the teachers will be much more likely to set wider ranges of work styles to ensure everyone has the best chance of success.
So my check sheet for your son would be this (or something similar)
How many shows have you been involved with in the last two years? Be impressed with 6 or more, be depressed by less than 2
How many times have you been to your local theatre in the past year? Be impressed with 6 or more, be depressed by less than 2
Name 6 examples of musical theatre
Name 6 examples of straight plays
Name 2 choreographers
Name 2 playrights
If he stumbles over these questions - then you need to reassess your use of 'passionate' and love of drama. If he answers positively straight away - then I'd certainly consider him a BTEC possibility. If he can't answer those questions, why not? I used to do this when interviewing - a very simple method. Their answers didn't really matter. One lad when asked about playrights answered 'Ben Elton' which wasn't quite what I expected, and I think my face showed it - but he then pointed out that WWRY is still playing to packed houses, in many countries - so by any definition, he's a very successful playright!
There are a few important things here. You had home tuition and got some really good results, and this indicates that probably the weakest part of your son's skill set is his social interaction with others. If he has already joined the local am dram society and been in plenty of shows then forget this bit, because they have a very similar tight knit 'family' just like college.
Despite my love for performing arts, there are simply too many excellent graduates and jobs are few. What jobs there are tend to be short lived and not ideal for houses/mortgages/familes etc.
3 days a week is pretty typical in many colleges, and unless he really sees himself as a simply excellent performer (and to be honest, outsiders, not family see this in him) then it will be very tough. If he likes performing, then he could do that as an amateur and use the skills he's already demonstrated to get a set of qualifications that have status in almost every employment area. Maths and science, if he has natural ability are 'worth' far more than a BTEC in Performing Arts. I don't mean worth as in UCAS points or anything like that, but just something so useful it opens many, many doors that Performing Arts won't. When I was teaching Performing Arts, maths and science were pretty weak areas of the typical group - so if this is what he's good at, it seems a bit of a waste to not use those skill areas. Every student who mentioned a passion for performance at their interview got a standard question from me. What shows have you been in then? You'd be amazed how many just listed a couple of school plays! I'd ask if they can sing, dance, play an instrument - many said no to all three. Yet they had a passion so deep they'd never actually tried it. Others perhaps had weaker exam results from school, but had been having dance lessons since they were 3, had all sorts of cups, trophies and awards and a portfolio of photos and programmes with their name in. Those are the ones we wanted. The loners, with excellent qualifications but no experience were universally unprepared.
If your son is capable of good science results - his earning potential OUTSIDE performing arts suggests he consider it as a hobby.
I don't want to pry, but if the reason for the home education was anything to do with trouble at school with other people, then from my experience Perf Arts can be somewhat scary! These kind of kids are single minded, difficult and self-centred almost by definition. They form cliques very quickly and it's very easy for people to become isolated if they're not social animals. The girls can be very difficult with people with less confidence - and home schooled people do often have interaction difficulties that they struggle with. Hopefully, your son will be fine and will be able to mix well - but remember perf arts is very competitive, and quieter people get sidelined very easily. To be honest, it needs to be like that because that's how the business is. The dancers I have working for me at the moment are 21-22 going on forty - by attitude. Quiet scary.
One point - he won't be looking at an Extended Diploma in Drama - it will be Dance or Performance - the colleges call it drama, but it will have far more than just drama in it. Almost certainly there will be some element of dance and probably singing too. There are all sorts of unit combinations, so it could be more acting than musical theatre, but whatever happens there will be nearly twenty different units over the two years and they must all be completed to at least Pass level. Find out what they are - you might find Physical Theatre or Singing in there too and quite likely a dance unit. Somebody who cannot sing or dance may find their options very limited. One thing that is changing this year is the scrutiny of the assessment accuracy - far more of your sons work will be looked at by people inside the college and outside. The teachers themselves award grades, and one of them has to take a special test (although we're not allowed to call it that) to be able to verify the work. The reality will be that it will be very difficult for any student who has a weak area to hide it. I've heard it said often that A Levels have more 'academic rigour' with their testing system of exams, but BTEC from this year is going to be very highly scrutinised. This means that the teachers will be much more likely to set wider ranges of work styles to ensure everyone has the best chance of success.
So my check sheet for your son would be this (or something similar)
How many shows have you been involved with in the last two years? Be impressed with 6 or more, be depressed by less than 2
How many times have you been to your local theatre in the past year? Be impressed with 6 or more, be depressed by less than 2
Name 6 examples of musical theatre
Name 6 examples of straight plays
Name 2 choreographers
Name 2 playrights
If he stumbles over these questions - then you need to reassess your use of 'passionate' and love of drama. If he answers positively straight away - then I'd certainly consider him a BTEC possibility. If he can't answer those questions, why not? I used to do this when interviewing - a very simple method. Their answers didn't really matter. One lad when asked about playrights answered 'Ben Elton' which wasn't quite what I expected, and I think my face showed it - but he then pointed out that WWRY is still playing to packed houses, in many countries - so by any definition, he's a very successful playright!
Re: drama college advice, please.
Thankyou everyone. I really appreciate you taking the time to not only answer but to give such give lengthy, reasoned ideas based on your considerable experience. You are an amazing resource.
We are going to print them off, go through all your points and come up with a plan!
Useful also for me to question if his good grades in the few exams he has done are down to his memory rather than ability. Memory is OK at GCSE but I think ability is needed to enjoy and suceed at A level etc. His passion is definitely 'performance' related, he goes to lots of drama things and always enjoys them, regardless of how challenging the activity. We need to balance the potential buying power of math/sciences A levels in the job market against the fulfillment power of doing something you love, but may not make any money from!
Paulears - I like your check sheet of questions, very useful, thanks. And you challenged some of my views to the point where I had to disagree with you....so that's good, as it made me think. Thankyou.
Sorry, though, that you have such a sad view of the 'average' Home Educated child - mine left school at 8 so we could have more fun doing our own thing. He goes to 3 very different drama groups, has performed at both main theatres in Bristol and has his next BOV show shortly, has done loads of local film work, has a live weekly radio show, is sociable and chatty to anyone and everyone, and would move into the BOV given half a chance! That's not me defending my child, I just would like anyone reading this post to appreciate that not all HE kids are as socially inept as you described.
We are going to print them off, go through all your points and come up with a plan!
Useful also for me to question if his good grades in the few exams he has done are down to his memory rather than ability. Memory is OK at GCSE but I think ability is needed to enjoy and suceed at A level etc. His passion is definitely 'performance' related, he goes to lots of drama things and always enjoys them, regardless of how challenging the activity. We need to balance the potential buying power of math/sciences A levels in the job market against the fulfillment power of doing something you love, but may not make any money from!
Paulears - I like your check sheet of questions, very useful, thanks. And you challenged some of my views to the point where I had to disagree with you....so that's good, as it made me think. Thankyou.
Sorry, though, that you have such a sad view of the 'average' Home Educated child - mine left school at 8 so we could have more fun doing our own thing. He goes to 3 very different drama groups, has performed at both main theatres in Bristol and has his next BOV show shortly, has done loads of local film work, has a live weekly radio show, is sociable and chatty to anyone and everyone, and would move into the BOV given half a chance! That's not me defending my child, I just would like anyone reading this post to appreciate that not all HE kids are as socially inept as you described.
Re: drama college advice, please.
I'm really pleased that's the case. In my 15 years teaching I came across the same thing time and time again - really good standards of education by the parents - but very out of step with the others they were suddenly working with at 16. I suspect your success with this comes from the drama group activities. Perf arts people (all of them) are odd - at least odd compared to 'normal' people, so their influence must have rubbed off. I can think of half a dozen of the people I had who were severely at a disadvantage compared to their less well qualified peers. Some were just so out of place they didn't complete the course, which was a shame - but they did ok when they transferred to a non-performance course.
It obviously doesn't apply in your case, but very often home tuition comes as a result of bullying or other serious going to school issues, or due to illness - ME is a good one, where the physical demands of school are just too much.
I suspect the social inept aspects are perhaps due to the type of parents I experienced. Introvert, distant, and to be honest extremely odd parents in many cases.
What would be good would be to see if they will let your son go in for a day to see if he like the place - just to sit in with some classes. He'll get a feel for the place - and best of all, he'll get the low down from the students NOT the teachers. I was extremely good at deflection when talking to parents - talk about the good, deflect conversation from going into awkward territory. The kids will spill the beans, revealing the good and bad bits.
Remember that even if it goes wrong and the course is wrong - then what has he lost? A year, that's all. He'll be a year older and wiser - not a bad thing.
If you really want to get a feel for BTEC, the entire spec is downloadable from Edexcel - there is tons of useful stuff and if you can get the unit names from the college, you can read what he'll be doing.
It obviously doesn't apply in your case, but very often home tuition comes as a result of bullying or other serious going to school issues, or due to illness - ME is a good one, where the physical demands of school are just too much.
I suspect the social inept aspects are perhaps due to the type of parents I experienced. Introvert, distant, and to be honest extremely odd parents in many cases.
What would be good would be to see if they will let your son go in for a day to see if he like the place - just to sit in with some classes. He'll get a feel for the place - and best of all, he'll get the low down from the students NOT the teachers. I was extremely good at deflection when talking to parents - talk about the good, deflect conversation from going into awkward territory. The kids will spill the beans, revealing the good and bad bits.
Remember that even if it goes wrong and the course is wrong - then what has he lost? A year, that's all. He'll be a year older and wiser - not a bad thing.
If you really want to get a feel for BTEC, the entire spec is downloadable from Edexcel - there is tons of useful stuff and if you can get the unit names from the college, you can read what he'll be doing.
Re: drama college advice, please.
Hi Paulears
I think its true to say that all the Home Ed kids we know are a bit different, and so not 'normal' by school norms......mainly because they have been encouraged to develop at their own speed, pursue their own interests and consequently any quirkyness has flourished rather than been controlled by others. Of course there are HE kids whose home is turned into a school and they do GCSEs at a very young age etc, but then we don't tend to meet them when we are chilling somewhere, probably because they are at home working :-) We have met some wonderful, amazing children and parents since we started HE 8 years ago, so I am surprised and saddened that you have such a negative perspective of parents who give up their time, occupations etc to give their children an alternative to school. Perhaps we have just been fortunate in our experiences.
There are of course times when DS doesn't fit in with the group. He can't stand going to a drama session and having other kids there mess about and waste his time. Glad to say we left those groups and now the ones he goes to are very focused and worthwhile and, as he would say, 'amazing'.
We did download the BTec info etc. DS has been to the local college and been auditioned and offered a place on the Acting course. Its nice and handy to get to. Unfortunately the tutor and the surroundings didn't inspire either of us, so we are having to look further afield. That may be why I went back to the idea of A levels, but I know the passion is with the acting. DS has applied to 2 other colleges, both of which sound much more the ticket, not sure if I can manage to find the £9 a day train fare though. I'm hoping there is a discount for students, but the 16-25 railcard doesn't make it any cheaper.
Thanks for your views. Very helpful.
I think its true to say that all the Home Ed kids we know are a bit different, and so not 'normal' by school norms......mainly because they have been encouraged to develop at their own speed, pursue their own interests and consequently any quirkyness has flourished rather than been controlled by others. Of course there are HE kids whose home is turned into a school and they do GCSEs at a very young age etc, but then we don't tend to meet them when we are chilling somewhere, probably because they are at home working :-) We have met some wonderful, amazing children and parents since we started HE 8 years ago, so I am surprised and saddened that you have such a negative perspective of parents who give up their time, occupations etc to give their children an alternative to school. Perhaps we have just been fortunate in our experiences.
There are of course times when DS doesn't fit in with the group. He can't stand going to a drama session and having other kids there mess about and waste his time. Glad to say we left those groups and now the ones he goes to are very focused and worthwhile and, as he would say, 'amazing'.
We did download the BTec info etc. DS has been to the local college and been auditioned and offered a place on the Acting course. Its nice and handy to get to. Unfortunately the tutor and the surroundings didn't inspire either of us, so we are having to look further afield. That may be why I went back to the idea of A levels, but I know the passion is with the acting. DS has applied to 2 other colleges, both of which sound much more the ticket, not sure if I can manage to find the £9 a day train fare though. I'm hoping there is a discount for students, but the 16-25 railcard doesn't make it any cheaper.
Thanks for your views. Very helpful.
-
Caroline A-C
- BAFTA Award
- Posts: 716
- Joined: Sun Oct 26, 2008 6:46 pm
Re: drama college advice, please.
Our local council subsidise travel which is a great help. I think most councils do likewise so worth checking out.
All new to me!
Re: drama college advice, please.
It might be worth looking at your local council to see if they do a student bus and rail card cheaper than 16 - 25 rail card
Re: drama college advice, please.
Colleges are in dire financial straits at the moment - and their real issue is their funding got cut for things they'd already committed to - so they have a problem. Many are looking really hard at the kids they take on - not from their ability level, but from the chances that they will stay to the end. For the kind of course you are looking at, they get a bit of money at enrollment, a big chunk if they are still there by a certain date towards the end of the course, and then a tiny bit if they complete successfully. What this means is that anyone who looks like they might just leave and give up, has wasted a place somebody else could have had - and they lose the funding, yet have an empty seat!
It would be well worth asking if there is any assistance available for transport costs? If they see somebody prepared to travel a long way each day - this is a good indication of commitment, and rather than lose you - they might be able to help. Colleges are outside the local authority budgets so your local council/local authority are unlikely to be interested. It never hurts to ask.
One really important thing is for them to make friends quickly so they'll be able to stay with other students when they can't get back home after late nights. They may well tell you it's a three say week - then suddenly want them in every day for rehearsals when things get hectic.
They need to be aware that not all the people will be that committed, and some will be so slack it's unbelievable - home educated kids find this VERY annoying, and the slacker find it amazing people can be so dedicated. The problem you had with the dance schools is very common and will happen in college too. Accepting this is very difficult for home educated people. The worst thing they will find is when one of these 'slack' people get the roles. It always causes friction - but in college, there is a tendency for the staff to treat the kids as they would in the business - so if they audition - it will be performance on that day that matters. Hard work behind the scenes means little. If kids like yours know this before they go, they can cope - but sometimes they seem to believe that the studious approach will win through, because hard work counts above all. When the staff do their entry auditions, they're subconsciously casting their shows - so everything helps form opinion. My experience is that there are lots who fit a mould in the middle ground - while there are always extremes that are amazingly handy. The big, brash, loud girl might well be Killer Queen next year, and the quiet shy, short girl would make a good Dorothy - you get the idea. They always are looking for people who will be obvious misfits. There aren't too many, but I remember a few over the years. Some you really want to take to one side and ask them what on earth made them think performing arts was for them, yet they were adamant it was their thing. We'd have big inter-department meetings where we'd all air our student losses and be berated for taking these 'risky' people. Remember MONEY is the critical issue - We had one girl run off to join a circus - which she was very good at, and did really well. However, internally this was viewed as a failure - for us, not her!
For £9 a day train fare - it could be cheaper for them to see if they could find somebody to share with?
It would be well worth asking if there is any assistance available for transport costs? If they see somebody prepared to travel a long way each day - this is a good indication of commitment, and rather than lose you - they might be able to help. Colleges are outside the local authority budgets so your local council/local authority are unlikely to be interested. It never hurts to ask.
One really important thing is for them to make friends quickly so they'll be able to stay with other students when they can't get back home after late nights. They may well tell you it's a three say week - then suddenly want them in every day for rehearsals when things get hectic.
They need to be aware that not all the people will be that committed, and some will be so slack it's unbelievable - home educated kids find this VERY annoying, and the slacker find it amazing people can be so dedicated. The problem you had with the dance schools is very common and will happen in college too. Accepting this is very difficult for home educated people. The worst thing they will find is when one of these 'slack' people get the roles. It always causes friction - but in college, there is a tendency for the staff to treat the kids as they would in the business - so if they audition - it will be performance on that day that matters. Hard work behind the scenes means little. If kids like yours know this before they go, they can cope - but sometimes they seem to believe that the studious approach will win through, because hard work counts above all. When the staff do their entry auditions, they're subconsciously casting their shows - so everything helps form opinion. My experience is that there are lots who fit a mould in the middle ground - while there are always extremes that are amazingly handy. The big, brash, loud girl might well be Killer Queen next year, and the quiet shy, short girl would make a good Dorothy - you get the idea. They always are looking for people who will be obvious misfits. There aren't too many, but I remember a few over the years. Some you really want to take to one side and ask them what on earth made them think performing arts was for them, yet they were adamant it was their thing. We'd have big inter-department meetings where we'd all air our student losses and be berated for taking these 'risky' people. Remember MONEY is the critical issue - We had one girl run off to join a circus - which she was very good at, and did really well. However, internally this was viewed as a failure - for us, not her!
For £9 a day train fare - it could be cheaper for them to see if they could find somebody to share with?
Re: drama college advice, please.
Regarding travel to sixth form colleges. The local education authority will usually subsidise this if you meet certain criteria regarding the course type, distance travelled etc. However one condition is that you must attend the nearest college offering the course you wish to do so I don't think you would be eligible if you were chosing a college further away for the same course offered locally. For train fares season tickets are the chespest for peak time travel and you can actually buy them for the required number of days provided it is over a calendar month e.g. for this half term dd had a ticket for one month and 16 days.