Overview

There are several steps in the applications process for students wishing to join us in September 2020. Alongside our requirement for your school to predict you will achieve a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, you will also need to complete and submit an application form. After this, you may be called for an interview and practical audition or submission of a portfolio. If successful at this point, you will then be made a conditional offer, which will only be confirmed in August 2020 if/when you achieve your predicted GCSE grades.

Although this process may look daunting, each stage is a chance for us to get to know you better, and for you to find out more about us and what we can offer you. Applying to LIPA Sixth Form College (or any post-16 education provider) is a big step, so it pays to make sure that you have all the information you need before making a decision.

Prospectus

The first thing to do is to thoroughly read through our prospectus and this website to find out more about what is on offer, and whether it matches what you want to study. If so, would a Level 3 course with us be suitable to prepare you for the next step on your journey (whether you want to go on to university or go into employment)?

It’s important to be realistic and honest with yourself at this stage. If, for example, you see your future solely in musical theatre, it’s important to recognise that LIPA Sixth Form College doesn’t offer a course focused on this area (although many elements of the courses we do offer will give useful and appropriate training), so don’t consider applying for something that may not be right for you. Talk to us if you’re not sure a course might be suitable to support you in achieving your goals.

Audition/submission of portfolio

In addition to your interview, you’ll be invited to give a practical demonstration of your ability in the discipline you wish to study. Don’t worry too much if you haven’t had much opportunity to gain experience previously – we are just as interested (perhaps more so) in your potential to develop your skills, to respond positively and creatively to feedback and to generate and explore ideas as we are in your technical ability so far.

For those applicants wishing to study Acting, Dance or Music, the audition will be quite straightforward, as you’ll be asked to give a practical demonstration of your ability in front of our staff. For those applying for Sound Technology or Production Arts, we will invite you to supply us with examples of work you’ve done so far that is relevant to the course you wish to study, and to talk to our tutors about them. Examples might include music tracks you’ve put together in your spare time, artwork you’ve done for a school project, or photos of a set you helped build for a school play.

For more detailed information on what you can expect at your audition or portfolio submission, and how you can prepare for it, take a look at the audition and portfolio submission guidance notes in this section.

Conditional offer

If you have a successful audition/portfolio submission, we’ll offer you a place to join us in September 2020 on one condition – that you work hard in your forthcoming GCSEs to get the minimum grades we require. Being offered a place at LIPA Sixth Form College (or anywhere else) is a real achievement, but it also marks the start of an intense period of hard work as you prepare for those all-important exams.

Your place will be confirmed on GCSE results day, and you will be invited to come into LIPA Sixth Form College to enrol for your course. You'll then get details about induction, ahead of the start of term in September. Full details about this will be sent in July to all applicants who receive conditional offers.

Hope to see you next September!