Arts Ed London Sixth form

[dbn]

Our dd has been offered a place at Arts Ed, London, sixth form, 2013. Her heart is set but we need to find out more. Has any one experience of the sixth form? It sounds brilliant. We weren't able to visit on the open day. She would have to live out but she feels fairly confident. She's been accepted on the 4 A level course. Any opinions?
A huge financial decision too.

[dbn]

Does any one's DD DS go to Arts Ed sixth form? Any advice? Experiences?

[riverdancefan]

I'm sorry that no one seems to have a Dc there...
I only hear good things about Arts Ed, a few people in the "know" have said that it is "the" place to be at the moment.
I guess if you can afford it, and it's practical and it's what your DD wants then it must be all systems go! I know DS would love to go there.
If its going to cripple you financially and you have to fund the three years after for her, then maybe it's not such a good idea.
A levels can be done for free whilst attending a part time performing arts school.. I know we couldn't fund it?

If you can fund it I can't think of any negatives, as I have never heard of any from the people I know who have been there at 18 plus.

Good luck with your decision and let us know what you decide

[Caroline A-C]

Don't know about the sixth form, but my ds is in his second year on the Musical Theatre BA and absolutely loves it and it is a fantastic place to be. It is not a natural progression from the sixth form to the post 18 courses though and it is down to the audition. Think there were about four or five who got in this year to the BA course. Hope this helps a bit.

[dbn]

Thanks so much for your responses, they are very helpful. We need to make a decision by Monday. We will have to cut back but can manage. She is at a great comp school but it doesn't offer much perf. arts and there isn't a course locally. Her tuition is mostly after school and private. Yes, it would be great for her to be around like minded students, it's such a huge decision! Living away at 16 too, although this just excites her, it concerns me! Thanks for the information about the BA course too. She can keep that in mind.
Any other tips welcomed!

[rebeccaM]

Hello dbn,
We have been on quite a journey with this one too - my dd was also accepted for 6th form - in fact two friends she met at ymt last year are also going I think - so it was quite a decision for us to decline her place. Our decision finally was based on a number of things: travel (the journey would take 1hour and 1/2 door to door), it's a very long day so she would be getting up at 5.45 and getting home 8 ish. But it wasn't that quite so much, we personally felt that the money would be better spent to support drama school at 18 - assuming she got in!?? Having really dissected this, the 4 A levels she chose to do at Arts Ed, she could equally do for free at her current school. I think to make the most of ArtsEd as a vocational performing arts school, the subjects to choose would be Btec musical theatre, A level drama, A level dance - for us, as my dd wishes to do straight acting, we felt in the end, it was best to continue with all her dancing/ballet/acting/singing out of school and do her A levels first before applying to drama school at 18. I think if my dd had wanted to do musical theatre, then the Btec there would be absolutely great, and very practical. I could be completely wrong but it's the vocational courses that Arts Ed are known for - not sure about doing A levels there? That's where we got to - don't know if that helps at all? Whatever decision you make, it will be right. Arts Ed is a lovely school.

[dbn]

Thanks for your helpful response. We have accepted! On the condition she works hard for GCSEs. We thought long and hard and considered many points. Affordability, 2 other children, current school. In the end it came down to results, vocational, academic and placements for degrees. Arts Ed did so much better. We live in a rural area and she will benefit from a more cultural experience and more opportunities then she can access now. Her cousin is at a school with an amazing perf arts dept and youth theatre group, great if you can access it. Best of luck to your daughter, exciting times ahead. Now looking for accommodation...!

[Genevieve]

very sensible decision rebeccaM, sounds like it was right choice for your dd.
though Arts Ed students do have a very good employment rate on leaving - they always seem to get work, which is good news for those considering. But I do know students who have left ArtsEd to do bog standard A Levels at school Sixth Forms elsewhere, and then applied to Drama Schools at 18 for straight Acting...and they've been successful getting in - giving also a broader choice for the students in case they don't get into Drama School at 18, so more choice than if they'd stayed at Arts Ed.
Congratulatons to your dd dbn, she'll love it !

[dbn]

Thanks for all the information, it's good to hear experiences of others. I feel more relaxed a decision has been made.

[dbn]

Any one got a DC starting in September? Any one got tips for looking for accommodation? Any help welcomed.

[Netty]

Any one got a DC starting in September? Any one got tips for looking for accommodation? Any help welcomed.

Assuming you mean for a 16 - 18 year old Monday to Friday only (to keep cost down and come home at weekends) the only thing that sprang to mind is I remember about 5 years ago seeing a programme or news item about older single women renting out their rooms to business men who only wanted accommodation Monday to Friday. It was cheaper for the business men and brought in some money for the women. Not sure what that is called though - maybe search in the area for 'room to rent Monday to Friday' for instance. Whether the woman would have to be CRB checked is another thing to consider. I would imagine it would possibly be a safer environment than, say, a Bedsit in a house with lots of rooms where people are coming and going all the time. Or you could look up Room to Rent in Family Home. What about contacting any nearby Foreign Language courses to see what agencies they use to house their foreign students?

Failing that contact the college and ask if others want to share a house for rent or know of people who rent to their students?

Hope this helps. Good luck!

[dbn]

Thanks for this, have started looking now, at all options. Yes, we prefer a landlady situation or family home, thanks for your suggestions.

[Caroline A-C]

When ds started at Arts Ed, the school sent us an accommodation list which included people who had rooms in houses which they let out. Do they not do this any more?

[dbn]

We are hoping some advice will be given when we visit in July. I did phone and ask but nothing available when I phoned due to it being too early. They did say most of the rooms become available once students move on but I'm trying to make a start!

[funnygirl]

Does anybody know if there are many children on the waiting list at Arts Ed and if any of them have heard either way if they have a place yet? A friend's dd is waiting to hear!