A Way Forward – New Progression Pathways Project Report November 2009 Aims and Overview of Project For almost 50 years, East 15 Acting School has produced actors, directors, producers and theatre technicians for stage, TV, film and radio. East 15 was founded by Margaret Bury and grew from the work of Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop; it is one of only a few drama schools to have come from such a background. Theatre Workshop broke new ground, re-interpreting the classics for a modern age, commissioning new plays from socially committed writers, and creating an ensemble capable of inventing new work. In September 2000, East 15 merged with the University of Essex, offering new opportunities to develop new and innovative courses in a number of different areas, including technical theatre. East 15 Acting School introduced its technical theatre degree course in 2004. From the outset the two-year Foundation degree course with optional BA Hons top-up year was to be a practice-based course with an emphasis on learning through practical application rather than primarily classroom based or academic approaches. The intention was to develop a course that would reference traditional theatre apprenticeship-style training but progress to a higher level of training appropriate for undergraduate work. The innovative aspect of the course was to offer training based on a broader combination of skills across the curriculum rather than to offer highly specialist routes, as was the case in the majority of established courses at that time. As the course became established we realized we could offer opportunities to students whose backgrounds and inclination were more practical than academic (in the traditional sense). Our intake over the years since the course was established has included some very talented individuals from ‘non-standard’ academic backgrounds and a significant number of our students have held BTEC qualifications in related subjects. The learning environment of the course enabled students who might have been out of formal education for a period or who had not been particularly successful at school or college to flourish. We are aware that a number of students with special educational needs associated with dyslexia have done very well on the course. By 2007 the technical theatre course was well-established yet we were aware that the training opportunities we could offer were still unknown to a large number of colleges and schools, particularly in relation to the less traditional progression routes such as BTEC and HNC art and design course, textiles, fashion etc. Industry links had been established, and continued to be developed to provide work placements for the students but we were aware that a higher profile amongst employers would be beneficial for graduate employment prospects. The Creative Way Development Fund project offered an opportunity to free up time in the technical department to devote to disseminating information about the course to a broader range of potential applicants and to widening participation amongst schools and colleges within the East 15/Thames Gateway catchment area. 1 The main aims of the project were to: I Develop working relationships with partner colleges with the aim of agreeing progression pathways from relevant BTEC qualifications. I Explore the possibility of joint curriculum development to gain closer alignment from L3 to Year 1 of the technical theatre course and to develop certain aspects of the original curriculum to bring it into line with professional practice, there by improving employability. I Run IAG and related curriculum sampling events for identified groups of L2 and L3 students and/or staff. I To create an information pack (CDs/web materials/ packs/ workshops or employer link projects) as a vehicle for Information, Advice and Guidance. I Develop relationships with potential placement providers in the Thames Gateway area and beyond, and to open up possibilities of progression into employment upon graduation. I Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of partnership working as a mechanism to secure learner progression. The objectives of the project and the outcomes intended to be delivered were: I To have three signed progression agreements in place by July 2008 I To have other good links with schools and colleges in place I To create a range of employer contacts I To develop and run taster sessions. The main activities to be undertaken were: I Contact meetings with identified potential partners’ staff I Student visits I Meetings/communications with employers I Curriculum Development I Events at East 15. The project leader was Alison Taylor, Deputy Head of Technical Theatre. An initial letter offering opportunities for staff and students to visit East 15 with a view to establishing links was sent to approximately fifteen colleges in the Thames Gateway region on the basis of desk research to identify those with the best for the project. As a result of these initial approaches follow-up activities were initiated with: I South East Essex College, Southend-on-Sea, Essex I Palmers College, Grays, Essex I Barking College, Romford, Essex I Lewisham College, London SE4 I Epping Forest College, Loughton, Essex 2 South East Essex College A meeting took place between Alison Taylor and Bill Kenney, Head of the Faculty of Media and Creative Arts, South East Essex College on 22nd May 2008. A range of traditional and non- traditional progression possibilities were discussed and a number of SEEC courses, including fashion and art and design, were identified for which the technical theatre course at East 15 Acting School might provide a suitable progression route. Opportunities for Information, Advice and Guidance activities were also discussed. It was agreed that because of the large student body and the high number of potential feeder courses at SEEC it would be worthwhile holding an Information, Advice and Guidance event at the College in Southend rather than inviting groups to attend an IAG event at East 15’s Loughton campus where the technical department is based. Attempts were made to organize an East 15 ‘road show’ event at SEEC. However, as a result of the complexities involved in aligning the commitments of staff and students at both SEEC and East 15, plus the organizational problems associated with booking suitable premises, the event did not take place as planned. A further information-gathering meeting took place at East 15 in Loughton with Alison Taylor, Lulu Gunter (Faculty Programme Manager) and Jennifer Snart (Course Leader, BTEC National Diploma in Technical Theatre) on 19th March 2009. This was a very positive meeting that covered a range of partnership possibilities and also clarified areas of potential overlap in provision at Level 4 and above between the College and East 15. It is noteworthy that the initial meeting took place in Southend and the IAG event was also scheduled to take place in Southend. East 15 has a campus in Southend but the technical department is based at its Loughton campus. Despite great good will on both sides it proved to be very difficult to co-ordinate work commitments to enable SEEC staff and students to visit the East 15 technical department in Loughton. Palmers College A meeting with Alison Taylor and Sarah Waterman (Curriculum Manager for Theatre Studies) took place at the College on 1st July 2008. Following a tour of the college facilities and discussion of opportunities for progression it was agreed that there was potential for agreement in principle. Sarah indicated that the College would welcome an Information, Advice and Guidance event, preferably before the end of the summer term but, if that proved not to be possible, the autumn term would be fine. The intention was to invite Palmers College students to the road-show event at SEEC but owing to the complexities mentioned above this event did not take place. 3 Barking College A meeting took place at Barking College of Performing Arts with Alison Taylor, Rachel Schwartz- Holford (Stagecraft Tutor) and Justin Farndale (Technical Theatre Tutor) on 9th July 2008. Rachel and Justin were initially interested in exploring possibilities for progression from HNC to the top- up BA Hons Technical Theatre course at East 15 Acting School. However, at this first meeting it became obvious that there were a number of opportunities to consider including progression from HNC and BTEC courses. A follow-up meeting was held at East 15 Acting School in Loughton on March 20th 2009. Rachel and Justin were given a tour of the School and were then joined by Technical Department teaching staff led by Alison Taylor with Erica Gilchrist (Stage Management Tutor), Esther Love (Lighting Tutor), Jake Wakstein (Sound Tutor), Matt Farley (Construction Tutor) and Aurelie Mann (Prop Making Tutor). The discussion focused on curriculum alignment issues and was structured in a series of conversations on each strand of the East 15 course, with the relevant tutor for that strand. The discussions established that there was significant existing curriculum alignment between the College and the School’s Stage Management provision such that progression from HND level to Year 2 of the Technical Theatre Foundation degree would be relatively straightforward. East 15 technical staff were very impressed with the training delivered by Barking College which it was felt reflected the professional backgrounds of tutors and thus aligned very closely with the School’s industry-facing and highly practice-based technical theatre course. Following that meeting the School received an application from a student at Barking College who wanted to progress to the second year of our Foundation Degree. The application provided an opportunity to test the progression assumptions that had been discussed at the meeting in March 2009. The student was interviewed and asked to produce a portfolio of work, as normal for technical theatre applicants. Following a successful interview the student was offered direct entry to the second year.