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School of Rock Tickets are Now on Sale!
Fri 29 Mar 2019School of Rock Tickets are Now on Sale!
The Performing Arts Department are proud to announce that tickets for the School Production of School of Rock are now on sale!
Performance Dates
Performances will take place on the dates below, from 7pm:
- Tuesday 2nd April 2019
- Wednesday 3rd April 2019
- Thursday 4th April 2019
- Friday 5th April 2019
Tickets
Tickets are now available to purchase from Student Services, as priced below:
Adults £8 Concessions (student, child, or OAP) £6 There are also several small guitars hidden around the school for students to find and exchange for a free VIP ticket! Students should take any guitars they find to Miss Crisp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mYPKY6Go74&feature=emb_logo
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JOB PROFILE: Sports Coach
Tue 26 Mar 2019Qualifications and courses
All sports coaches must hold a qualification that has been accredited by the National Governing Body (NGB) of their chosen discipline. You can start working towards recognised qualifications at the age of 16, but must be 18 or over to work as an independent coach.
Accredited courses are available directly from the NGB, or you can undertake a college or university course. NGB qualifications are equivalent to studying for NVQs from Level 1 to 4, and no academic qualifications are required, although sometimes a First Aid certificate is essential and you will need a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to work with children. NGB qualifications are usually studied on a part-time basis.
Relevant courses at college include BTEC HNC/HNDs in sports coaching or leisure studies and Foundation degrees in sports coaching are available. Typical entry requirements for these courses include 1 A level/H grade and 4 GCSEs/National 5s (C or above, or 4 or above in England). Degrees in sports science, sports coaching, health science, and sports management may improve employment prospects and degree courses usually require 2 A levels/3 H grades and 5 GCSEs/National 5s (C or above, or 4 or above in England), including English and Maths, for entry.
You could start out as an assistant coach on a voluntary basis, then take a Level 1 qualification to progress to higher levels. Coaching is also often a second career for ex-professional sportspeople.
What the work involves
Sports coaches provide specialist support, motivation and knowledge to athletes in order to help them attain their best performances and achieve personal goals.
As a competitive coach, you could work with a variety of levels of athlete, ranging from children's football or netball teams, through to professional and even world class sports professionals.
At a non-competitive level, you will focus on providing fun and accessible exercise sessions for participants with a range of abilities and fitness levels.
You will usually coach one specific sport.
Type of person suited to this work
You will need excellent communications skills. You will also need to have good motivational abilities in order to inspire and encourage sports players to push themselves.
You will need an in-depth knowledge of your chosen sport, and an understanding of nutrition and physiology is also useful.
It is also essential that you understand a variety of training methods and principles so that you can provide an informed and beneficial service to your clients. Patience and determination are also vital qualities.
Working conditions
You will usually work early mornings, evenings and weekends. This is when the majority of your athletes will be available.
If you are working in a seasonal sport such as cricket or football, you might have to supplement your income with another job during the quiet months.
You will spend hours on your feet, and might also have to undertake activity in order to demonstrate methods and principles to athletes.
Future prospects
The vast majority of sports coaches working in the UK work on a voluntary or part-time basis. Competition for full-time positions is fierce.
Career prospects will depend on the level of success you achieve in your work. If you gain credibility, you could move into a related development or management position.
You could be self-employed, work for a local authority, or in a school, gym or professional sports club.
Advantages/disadvantages
You will be teaching the sport you love to a range of people and developing their interest in it.
You may have the opportunity to work with talented athletes.
You will have to spend long periods of time standing outside in all weather conditions.
Money guide
As a newly qualified coach working for an employer, you could earn between £14,000 and £22,000, depending on experience and employer.
Experienced coaches who work for a NGB or professional association can earn between £30,000 and £35,000.
If you work at the highest level of your sport, such as coaching Premiership football players, you could earn in excess of £100,000.
Coaches working with amateur teams or individuals usually earn between £10-£20 per hour.
Further information
Content generously provided by Indigo Trotman.
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JOB PROFILE: Agent/Literary Agent
Tue 19 Mar 2019Qualifications and courses
Most entrants will have a degree but enthusiasm, good industry knowledge and the ability to make good contacts are equally important. For entry onto a degree course you will usually need a minimum of 2 A levels/3 H grades and 5 GCSEs/National 5s (C or above, or 4 or above in England).
Most entrants to this work will have previous experience and qualifications in related fields such as sales, business, music, performing arts, public relations or publishing.
It is also possible to start out as an assistant or administrator and then work your way up to an agent or manager.
Contract law knowledge and a second language may be useful in the negotiation of rights deals. Knowledge of the existing client lists, up-and-coming industry figures and working knowledge of the industry in which you wish to work will always be beneficial, for example as a literary agent you should have a strong knowledge of the genre of books you wish to specialise in (e.g. business books, children's fiction, commercial fiction, etc.).
What the work involves
Agents represent and promote artists and creatives in the film, television, radio, theatre, music and publishing sectors. They can also play a similar role for sporting professionals. You will be expected to work proactively to enhance your client's career by securing work and negotiating to ensure that the client attains the best work at the highest fee.
Literary agents are responsible for assessing the quality and commercial potential of manuscripts submitted by authors. They will work with a selected author to create a more polished manuscript that would be marketable enough to send to publishers under their recommendation.
You will also have to develop publication and rights agreements with publishers and TV, radio and film producers on behalf of the writers.
Type of person suited to this work
As you will be acting as the link between your client and the world they work in, you will need excellent communication skills. The ability to develop good contacts and a name for reliability is essential. It is also important to develop good working relationships with clients.
You should have a good head for business and an assertive approach will be helpful when it comes to agreeing contracts on behalf of clients.
You should have a good knowledge of the law and how it applies to your client's sector, as they will rely on you for professional advice in this area.
Working conditions
Agents are office based and can be self-employed or work for agencies.
Although, theoretically, they could work anywhere, most agents are based near London. Literary agents can also be found in Edinburgh, which is an important centre for the UK publishing industry.
Travel is common and you should expect to work 30–40 hours a week, including evenings and weekends, as some of your work will involve attending performances and social events to network and raise the profile of your clients.
Future prospects
This is an extremely competitive profession, made increasingly more difficult to gain employment in due to the rise in opportunities for digital and self-publishing meaning agents are less in demand. Agencies are constantly being set up but few stand the test of time. Most agencies, particularly literary agencies, are relatively small, although there are a few large ones. However publishers increasingly prefer to respond to new publication ideas through agents.
Your success will be determined partly by the standard of the clients you represent but, also, by the quality of the advice you can provide to them.
With sufficient experience you might have the opportunity to work abroad in entertainment and publishing hubs such as New York.
Advantages/disadvantages
You will have the satisfaction of supporting new artists and helping them to succeed.
As you will earn your income from commissions, you will be under pressure to identify and promote new artists.
Unsociable hours and extensive travelling can affect your personal life.
Money guide
Salaries vary widely according to the nature of the agent, the number of artists they work with and the success they have in their field.
Literary agents are paid commission which is usually between 10% and 25% of authors’ earnings.
New entrants can expect to earn £15,000 in a large agency, progressing to £30,000 with experience.
Top agents with prestigious clients can earn in excess of £100,000.
Further information
Content generously provided by Indigo Trotman.
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JOB PROFILE: Stunt Performer
Tue 12 Mar 2019Qualifications and courses
There are no academic entry requirements for this work but you must be over the age of 18 in order to be employed. Equity (the trade union for the performing arts) recommends that film and TV producers only employ stunt performers who are on the British Stunt Register (BSR).
To join the BSR register you are required to prove that you have at least 1 year’s experience and qualifications in a minimum of 6 sports in the following groups, 1 of which must be in Group A: Group A Fighting (martial arts and boxing), Group B Falling (trampolining and high diving) Group C Riding/Driving (horses, cars and motorcycles), Group D Agility/Strength (gymnastics and rock climbing) and Group E Water (swimming and sub-aqua). You must have experience in at least 4 of these groups (one of which must be Group A) and you cannot have more than 2 sports in 1 group.
When registering these qualifications they must not be more than 5 years old. You will also need to give the BSR evidence that you have spent a minimum of 60 days in front of the camera either as an actor or walk-on artist, including at least 36 qualifying stunts. You must work for 3 years as a Probationary Member of the Register, a further minimum of 2 years as an Intermediate Member, or Stunt Performer, before you are eligible for Full Membership of the BSR. You must then work for a further period of five years to become a Stunt Action Co-ordinator.
Organisations such as the British Academy of Dramatic Combat (BADC) and the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat (BASSC) offer a range of courses, workshops and classes in stage combat for practising actors. You must maintain and improve your skills in order to remain employable.
What the work involves
Stunt performers plan, design, practise and perform stunts in areas such as motorbike riding, car driving, diving, flying, paragliding, bungee jumping, skiing and horse riding.
Standing in for actors in TV, film or video productions, you will enter flaming buildings, crash vehicles, drive at speed or do dangerous stunts at sea.
You could advise other performers on health and safety issues.
Type of person suited to this work
Stunt performers are dedicated to their art and committed to ensuring that their skills are highly developed. A high level of stamina and fitness is essential. You should be a risk taker with an adventurous spirit.
You must be a good communicator, as you will have to work closely with the production team and explain stunts and their possible ramifications. You must have good reflexes.
You need to be happy to practise every aspect of your stunts over and again until they are reproducible in all aspects, so you must be a perfectionist. You must always be aware of the dangers you face, practising long hours to make the performance appear easy! An awareness of health and safety procedures is essential.
Working conditions
Part of your working day could be spent within a studio, on location or on a film set.
You could be working indoors or out, in cramped spaces, at heights or sometimes in bad weather conditions.
The hours will be very long, often up to 16 hours per day depending on the production, with frequent weekend work and travel to distant places.
Future prospects
Opportunities for live stunt work are decreasing, as digital graphics and new media can simulate stunts, so competition for work is growing increasingly fierce.
Stunt artists work anywhere in the world, with the main employers being film, TV and video production companies.
You could progress into advisory work, helping film directors or advising and training other stunt artists. You could also direct action scenes.
Advantages/disadvantages
You will have the opportunity to travel the world and no two days will be the same.
Seeing the finished product on screen is rewarding.
This is difficult, dangerous work involving many risks.
Entry to this sector is very competitive, as only a handful of people are admitted to the British Stunt Register each year, and it may be difficult to remain in the industry as you grow older owing to fitness levels.
Money guide
There is no formal pay scale for stunt performers and income varies greatly.
Equity establishes minimum rates for stunt work with TV companies and independent producers.
Although the majority of stunt artists are freelance, you might enter full-time employment with a salary of about £12,000.
A very experienced performer may earn £25,000 and above per year.
Further information
Content generously provided by Indigo Trotman.
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JOB PROFILE: Hairdresser/Barber
Tue 05 Mar 2019Qualifications and courses
You can either train as a hairdresser full time at college or you can start as an assistant/trainee in a salon and attend college on day release. Several NVQs are available including the Level 1 Certificate in Hairdressing and Barbering, the Level 1 Diploma in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy, a Diploma in Hairdressing (Levels 2–3) or a Diploma in Barbering (Levels 2–3). Those who wish to specialise in African-Caribbean hair could take the NVQ Diploma in Hairdressing (Combined Hair Types) (Levels 2–3). You could also study for a BTEC Level 1 Introduction to Hair and Beauty.
Another route into this career is to apply for an apprenticeship, either in hairdressing or barbering, both of which are available at Intermediate and Advanced Level.
Those with NVQ Level 2, a HABIA Apprenticeship Certificate or who have 6 years' hairdressing experience can register as a state-registered hairdresser with the Hair Council (HC). The Freelance Hairdressers' Association (FHA) runs a course for hairdressers on establishing and managing their own business, as well as a 2-day colour course and 1-day bootcamp (workshop) covering cutting, styling, blow drying and colour techniques.
Qualified hairdressers can take more specialised courses through part-time study, such as the BTEC HNC/HND in Hair and Beauty Management (Levels 4–5) or the Level 4 Diploma/Certificate in Salon Management from the Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT). Foundation degrees in hairdressing, as well as degrees in subjects such as hair and beauty management, fashion styling and hair and make up for fashion, are also available. Entry usually requires at least 1 A level/2 H grades and a Level 3 BTEC, NVQ or equivalent qualification in a hairdressing/barbering subject.
For those wishing to work in theatre, film and TV, there are degrees in subjects such as specialist hair and media make-up.
What the work involves
Hairdressers shampoo, cut and style clients’ hair to a range of modern or classic looks. You could also provide dry or wet shaves to male clients.
You will discuss hair treatments with clients and may carry out colouring, tinting, perming and fixing hair extensions. You will also give advice on general haircare and hair products.
At senior levels, you could provide training to junior hairdressers.
Type of person suited to this work
Cutting and styling hair involves close personal contact with clients so hairdressers need good communication skills and a friendly manner.
You should have an interest in fashion, a creative flair and an eye for detail. You will need manual dexterity when using specialist chemicals and equipment required to style, perm and colour customers’ hair. You should be willing to learn new techniques and methods throughout your career.
Sometimes you may work on reception, booking appointments and taking cash, so you will have to be efficient, confident and numerate.
Some salons require staff to be able to offer a wider choice of services, such as nail and beauty treatments.
Working conditions
Most hairdressers and barbers are based in salons in high streets and other areas.Some work as mobile hairdressers, providing services to clients in their own homes, so a driving licence would be required.
You will do a 40-hour week, which may include working Saturdays. A lot of salons remain open in the evening once or twice a week. Certain salons also open on Sunday. Part-time work is often available.
Future prospects
In a salon, you could progress to a role as senior stylist or manager. Alternatively, you could set up your own business.
As a mobile hairdresser, you could provide services to people in hospitals, care homes or prisons, as well as private clients.
There are opportunities to work on cruise ships. With further beauty therapy training you could work in film, TV or theatre.
Advantages/disadvantages
As a profession, it gives you continual opportunities to be creative.
It is a very sociable profession as you meet new people on a daily basis.
You are on your feet for most of the day so it can be tiring.
Regular contact with beauty products and chemicals means that this type of work may not suit people with skin conditions or allergies.
Money guide
As a trainee you can expect to earn the national minimum wage, which varies according to your age. Earnings also vary with employer and geographical location.
Experienced hairdressers can expect to earn between £14,000 and £24,000 per year.
Top professional hairdressers can achieve in excess of £30,000.
Further information
Content generously provided by Indigo Trotman.
