NotaPushyMum.Com

Being able to do accents is a really good trait many cannot do - so gives them an edge if they can do it, and of course strong accents still limit people's opportunities despite hearing far more on TV and radio nowadays, but this is mainly in news and soaps. You won't hear many brummie or Scouse acc...

We started the course in 1996, from nothing - 4 of us in Performing Arts, a new department. My colleague who was Mrs Drama - she left first, then me, then Mrs Dance went too, and just one of my ex-colleagues, who came in in year two is still there - now the ONLY full time members of staff. We used t...

I think that the are probably lots of people signed with agents who actually do a very poor job for the people they represent. The trouble is, they actually know it too, and they're the ones who wait for you to get something nice and worthwhile, then steam in and demand their percentage. It's been a...

What do the contract terms say? Some agents that only have kids on their books have a cut-off, but many just accept they lose them as they get older, but if they are successful and generating money - why would they cease to represent them? Everyone benefits. The contract usually just contains the no...

That I sympathise with - and it happens with me a lot when I visit a school and everyone has swallowed the acronym dictionary. Lesson plan - log into TIS, go to the ATI page, enter your TI number and then download to the Z drive. Not having even been given a password - because as a supply teacher I ...

The colleges would love to inform parents on progress - but the system doesn't allow it - IF the student elects to prevent it. If they tell the college it's ok to contact parents, most will, but if they refuse, they cannot. All the BTEC centres I've had experience of make the assignment thing number...

Initially, I was impressed with UAL, I'm not quite so impressed now - in fairness, it was a new qualification and the success was a little of a surprise. College programmes of all kinds have a very tricky problem. They are expected by some parents to take ANY student on day one and add two years wor...

I think maybe your expectations were just a little high - keep in mind that there is NO pre-requirement of any form of out of school arts training - so the courses are designed around the typical school leaver who has done GCSE drama, and that's about it. BTEC takes a person with no experience in re...

A quick side question - I didn't know that educational courses attracted VAT - I'd always assumed they were exempt? If VAT is charged then business sponsorship would enable these to be recovered if supporting a student. Contact hours have always been fudged. If the tutor or lecturer is ill or not av...

Islandofsodor has a solid opinion on this. It does seem that one type of education is now being questioned because of contact hours rather than overall quality. If you wish to offer training you can simply offer it and charge whatever it costs. You can set your own hours, and if you believe it impor...

It hadn't occurred to me the Director would have this notion of a kind of wide shot showing the horrible bit but then moving into the kids reactions. It had just not even crossed his mind this kind of thing is out. When I get all the child protection stuff for my shows I do read it, and they really ...

I'm trying to help a colleague abroad who is a budding director (but very green) and he's been asking about the best way to direct children in a scene in the movie he's producing. It's quite a nasty scene, the parents have been murdered and the kids find them. I've been trying to explain that our ru...

Totally agree. Checked with my old colleague at the college I used to teach at - they have 16 hours for a Level 3 BTEC, but 3 of those are 'directed study' - which should be done in college, in the library, without a teacher, but the kids simply go home - so their class time is quite limited. I didn...

The more I delve in to this, the more I'm sure you are right. A few months ago I wasn't sure, but I think you were spot on with your aims. Only today I was talking with another of my ex lecturer colleagues - he's on the music side - about your place and the new rules and he was thinking the same - s...

Has anyone seen a map of where the centres that meet the new criteria are? Certainly promotes the arts as being centred in some areas. On balance, I think I'm also in the camp that sees the tightening up of entry to the profession a good thing - but what about all the people who are not quite up to ...