Editorial: Spring Term 2 2020-21

The middle of January brought with it a bombshell – or news of a bombshell in-waiting. Thanks to some vocal members of the drama teaching Twitter community, and an online news story by D&T Assistant Editor Harriet Clifford, many teachers were made suddenly aware of proposals to scrap the various vocational performing arts courses available, as part of a planned government overhaul of Further Education qualifications at Level 3. Under the proposals, outlined in a news story on page 6 of this issue, 24 T Levels will replace the many vocational courses currently offered, but there will be no T Level in Drama or Performing Arts because that subject is considered ‘covered’ by an existing A Level.

Needless to say, this proposal fundamentally and catastrophically fails to recognise the distinction between the benefits offered by an ‘academic’ Drama A Level and those offered by a practical, vocational qualification with modules in the business of producing performance art. Teachers and professional theatremakers and performers alike have taken to social media to decry the idea of removing this opportunity for young people – many of them highlighting the threat it poses to the accessibility of performing arts careers to a diverse range of young people. Comments have included ‘This is a TRAVESTY. BTEC was my way into the industry’, ‘the idea that they want to scrap BTEC courses does make me feel appalled – it will disadvantage those who want to enter the arts but aren't rich or academically gifted’, and ‘This would be another barrier to entry for young working class performers’.

Fortunately, at this stage, there is no ‘done deal’, and the consultation is an opportunity for all stakeholders in the value of BTEC, Cambridge Technical, UAL and RSL qualifications to put forward their views for consideration. In preparation for doing so, turn to page 18 to read a special three-page feature by Performing Arts teacher Wyn Richards on why FE vocational qualifications of this kind are a source of life-changing inspiration and a career leg-up for many students.

Elsewhere in this issue, as the pandemic continues to keep teachers and students apart, we report on a host of projects making it possible for students and teachers to see live and recorded performance, and to take part in workshops and training online from the safety of their homes. D&T's own online CPD is open for booking now at https://tinyurl.com/DTConf

The creativity and determination of teachers continues to touch and inspire. I was particularly taken with a report I read in late November: Music teachers at St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh drilled holes in the walls between two adjoining practice rooms and set up PCs, webcams and microphones so that woodwind lessons could continue live, with the teacher and piano in one room, and student in another. Boom, latency issues solved!