PQA Wolverhampton students will soon be able to ask questions of a senior lecturer at a University on courses available and best practice for applications over an internet link.

Making sure that students don’t miss out on the advice and recommendations that are so vital at this time of year the academy has arranged a zoom meeting for all students in year 11 and above to ask questions of Dr Phil Nicholls Course Leader - Film & TV Production (BA and MA) at Wolverhampton University. Topics to be covered include best practice when completing application forms, interview expectations and techniques and what it is like being a student.

Teachers from the academy will also be joining giving their recent experiences as students for a whole view of the subject.

“This is a different approach to PQA than the more traditional advice given in classes and conversations face to face but we believe it is an important part of our role teaching performing arts,” said Julian Elcock, Principal of the academy. “We have had a surge in numbers this year leaving to university or drama school and felt it was important to ensure that Covid and lockdown did not impede the next generation through. Dr Nicholls has lins with PQA Wolverhampton through a number of students who have had work experience at the academy so it is great to strengthen the link by involving him directly with the students in this way.”

PQA Wolverhampton is always looking for new and inventive ways to involve and advise students and this fits in with the ethos of end to end tuition, students are involved from 4 years of age right the way through until university with a number of ex students still keeping in touch and involved with the academy.

Phil Nichols has a PhD from the University of Liverpool, holds an MA in Screenwriting, has a background in video production, and teaches all aspects of Film & Television Production. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

His research interest is in the screenplay as an interface between film production and literature, and adaptations to/from literature, film and other media. His primary focus is the American writer Ray Bradbury, who is best known for his short stories and novels in the popular genres of horror, fantasy and science fiction, but is also the writer whose authorship is most heavily engaged with self-adaptation.