National Cert. in Techincal Theatre

[antdoran]

I am thinking of leaving my current 6th form college. I am currently studying Maths, Physics, theatre Studies and photography (AS levels). I am loving and doing well in the later two but the former I am really struggling with. I found a course at Guildford college, link below. Just wonderd if anyone had any advice, has been on this course. Whats the teaching like etc...?

 

Just any background help

 

LINKY

 

Thanks this is much apreciated

 

 

Anthony

 

 

Edit- Link added, phool!

[Simon Lewis]

I'd be inclined to carry on with at least Theatre Studies and Photography at A2, and see if you could salvage the AS level in maths and physics. If you really cannot handle the subjects, there's probably little point in beating yourself up over it, but if you can get some AS credit that will help demonstrate ability in this area. If you want to specialise in theatre, then most Universities running BA programmes will probably accept theatre and art based qualifications at A level.

 

Just my 2p...

 

Simon

[antdoran]

The onlt thing is that I feel like ill be taking a huge risk by carrying on with only 2 a levels, my chances of getting on BA course with 2 is alot smaller surely. However if I take up this course there is more chance of me getting onto a BA course, as the website says it can easily get me on to I course?

 

 

Correct me if im wrong.

 

 

Thank You

 

Anthony.

[steve h]

With the points system that UCAS use there is no reason why, if you stay on next year you can take up another AS subject. 2 AS subjects equal 1 A2, if that makes sense!

 

Steve

[paulears]

Something is a bit adrift with the National Certificate. It appears to be 4 days a week over two years - a 12 unit qualification. 2 year full time BTECs are normally Diplomas - 18 unit qualifications - with a nominal '3 A level equivalent' tag. For many reasons, I'd expect Guildford would want you to do something else in addition? The guided learning hours requirement doesn't match a 4 day week, unless they are adding in extras, not part of the BTEC? You may find they could also offer you A levels of some kind too, but they would possibly have to be out of hours ones.

 

Your A level choice is also a bit unusual - Maths, Physics, theatre Studies and photography. Theatre studies has virtually no real world theatre in it, because it's primarily a study subject - so knowing about it is more important than doing it. Plenty of analysis and evaluation, with a little bit of performance. The scope for anything backstage is very limited, and concentrates on results, rather than industry standard techniques. Photography is more of a mix - but your physics and maths at A level are damn tough subjects, and my own experience is that very few people good at maths and physics have the right 'head' for the performing arts courses. There are a few exceptions, me for one. However, the usual mix of students on arts vocational courses doesn't often have maths and physic qualifications on their record of achievement - even at GCSE.

 

The unis have a great respect for some A levels. The playing field is not level at all. Despite all the comments about parity between subjects, somebody with A levels in Media Studies, Communication Studies, Theatre Studies and Music Technology, is a very different person to those with English, Maths, Physics and Biology. They are all A levels, but mean very different things to admissions tutors at uni. They know the kind of people, and the kinds of subject. Some unis, as Simon says would be more interested in the 'right' 2 A levels.

 

You need more info to make a sensible decision - there is no reason not to ask the unis you might be interested in for their opinion too?

[aaronw]

Don't even bother looking into the Guildford collage course as it is not even running next year! The way the course would of worked was you did year 1 then got a Certificate did year 2 then got a Diploma. Don’t trust any thing on the Guildford Collage web site.

 

Aaron W

[paulears]

Although what Aaron said seemed unlikely - he is 100% correct. What has happened is that GSA are going to see through the students on their second year - there won't be an intake onto year one. GSA provided their staff to deliver Guildford College's Technical Theatre programme.

 

Guildford College's website is still showing 2007 recruitment info, and despite spending 10 minutes trying to get through to them, I ended up doing the 'press 1 for....." circular route. It took ten seconds to talk to GSA who explained the facts, and they're concentrating on their Trinity programme for Technical Theatre - but this has an over 18 entry requirement.

 

So our original poster won't be able to go to Guildford College, however, Godalming, might be worth talking to?

[the kid]

Although you are in Newbury, I assume from the profile, Abingdon and Witney College, run the 1 year Btec 1st diploma course, in production, covering light, sound, construction etc.

 

Feel free to PM me for more info.

 

And we have good links to GSA for all of the degree courses they run.

[Simon Lewis]

Anthony,

 

The information above probably supersedes my earlier comments, but most Universities will look for your total A2 points, together with the subjects taken. Two A levels is usually the minimum entry criteria. Some institutions will not accept AS levels for inclusion in the total points, others may accept them from specific subjects up to a given limit. BTECs, although accepted and having equivalent UCAS points, can be harder to use as an indicator of a potential student's academic ability. That is one of the reasons why I would prefer to see A levels. If you were applying for my course, I would be asking for maths and physics, but many BA programmes would accept theatre studies.

 

Try looking at the entry requirements for thedifferent Universities, or call their admissions people.

 

Simon

[spex299]

hey there!

 

I'm currently studying for a BTEC nation diploma in technical theatre at Cirencester College (worth 3 alevels / max 160 ucas points (triple distinction))

 

just to clear one thing up,

 

Award: 5 hours a week over two years

Certificate: 10 hours a week over two years

Diploma: 15 hours a week over two years

 

The technical theare course at my college runs alongside that of the BTEC drama course, so we provide the tech for any production that they put on, and any touring shows that come to the theatre (we are lucky to have a professional theatre on campus)

 

Certainly at my course, most of the time, we have rigid taught lessons with tutors (with 2/3 hours a week practical work/ workshop projects), but around times of productions time tabled lessons are canceled.

 

This compensates for the huge amount of hours put into the production!

During a recent prodution some members of the course pulled several all-nighters, and up to 60 hours a week.

 

Do not assume this course is easy!

 

Be prepared to put in much of your own time (at unsociable hours - common in the theatre industry!)

And for each module/practical assesment, there is generally 2-4 page write up (some being longer - eg business and finace in theatre (core unit) being 8-10!)

 

Hope this is of some help!

Feel free to get back to me for help =]

[iamchristuffin]

I'm currently studying for a BTEC nation diploma in technical theatre at Cirencester College (worth 3 alevels / max 160 ucas points (triple distinction))

 

Just wanted to ensure this was right - I think it was just a finger-slip, but anyway.... A triple Distinction for the ND is 360 points, not 160.

 

Everything else you said I agree with - if you're not prepared to sacrifice some other things at some point, there may not be much point doing the course - long, unsociable hours with little thanks at the end. Still, it sounds a lot like the entire industry!

 

HTH,

Chris

[paulears]

I can confirm that Chris is quite correct - BUT, the actual calculation is a bit more complicated than it first appears. The unit system for BTEC follows that of the A level system, in that they are done in clusters of 6, so an Award is 6 units, a Certificate is 12 and the Diploma 18. This is similar to the 6 that make up A levels, 3 AS and 3 A2. The snag is that the delivery period is balanced against hours of guided learning, but the 360 points comes from an aggregate of 3 clustered results - so as Chris says a DDD profile generates 360 points. Getting to the DDD is the complicated bit as there are all sorts of ways the centre can calculate them. In theory, superb results in all units bar one, could generate the 3 Ds, as unit performance generates P, M or D, AND a points tally. It's the points that count - they generate a kind of regenerated P,M or D - so, 252 points could actually generate DDD, which would convert to UCAS 360. Confused? Most people are. In essence, there are grade boundaries generated as in A levels. The downside to this is that theoretically somebody could have some extremely critical areas covered poorly, something I think everyone thinks is unhelpful. However, the A level system also has this system - so is something we have to live with.

 

 

Sorry for the lengthy agreement with Chris, but it's important to realise that the UCAS points score is NOT the score generated directly by the units from the Passes, Merits and Distinctions. Phew!

[spex299]

I'm currently studying for a BTEC nation diploma in technical theatre at Cirencester College (worth 3 alevels / max 160 ucas points (triple distinction))

 

Just wanted to ensure this was right - I think it was just a finger-slip, but anyway.... A triple Distinction for the ND is 360 points, not 160.

 

Everything else you said I agree with - if you're not prepared to sacrifice some other things at some point, there may not be much point doing the course - long, unsociable hours with little thanks at the end. Still, it sounds a lot like the entire industry!

 

HTH,

Chris

 

many apologies - typo!