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Even young wizards have a lot to learn

Even young wizards have a lot to learn

"Child actors run the risk of falling behind in their schooling
but personal tuition on set can actually improve their work." Karen Gold reports

1 When Tolga Kenan, 12, slight and dark, was picked as    in films such as Empire of the Sun, The Borrowers,
 a 'double' to stand in as 'Harry' during lighting and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
 rehearsals for the Harry Potter film that premiered4 As Harry Potter filming could last for seven
 last week, the first thought of Tolga's mother was films and seven years - some children's entire
5 "What about his education?" Tolga, then 11, had been30 secondary school careers - the studio has invested in
 at secondary school, Bishop Stopford comprehensive in specialist tutors, textbooks and science equipment.
 Enfield, for just a month: "I was expecting the school5 "Step into the Harry Potter classrooms, where
 to raise concerns, but they thought it was a fantastic teachers are working with small groups of children in
 chance and he should take it," says his mother. So, full costume and make-up (perhaps Malfoy, Dudley
10 Tolga stood in for Daniel Radcliffe to give the Potter35 and Crabbe in one, two or three uncannily similar
 star time for his own tutoring. Harry and Hermione doubles in another), and all the
2 Every day, by law, child actors must receive a children will be doing different work set by their
 minimum of one hour's education and a maximum of individual schools," says Willis.
 five hours. Therefore, all 450 child stars, doubles and6 According to parents, children and teachers,
15 extras acting in Harry Potter carried on with normal40 endless interruptions to learning are the biggest
 education through the past year in a specially disadvantage to film acting; the needs of the film
 established school at Leavesden studios in override everyone and everything else. "One or two
 Hertfordshire. decided not to come back after the first film," says
3 "The teacher attention the children get in groups Willis. "They go to high-flying schools and I think
20 of three or five - Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint) and45 they have made a very wise decision."
 Hermione (Emma Watson) have their own individual7 All the children go back to their own schools for
 tutors - means filming can improve their exams - the next Harry Potter film has been
 schoolwork," says Janet Willis, the Harry Potter head scheduled so the Weasley twins in particular are free
 tutor. And Willis ou t to know, she has been in for their GCSEs¹.
25 films and theatre for 25 years, teaching children