balletbean Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 I just had to pop into this thread. Had a meeting today and basically the deputy head, who's daughter dances, said I should consider home schooling!!! ... which we already are Out of interest, how does home schooling work in the UK. I'm only aware of USA home schooling. Does a home schooled student still sit regular exams and how do you source home schooling material or do you employ a private tutor? Thank you 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 1996 Education Act states 'The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full time education suitable a) to his age ability and aptitude, and any special educational needs he may have, either by attendance at a school or otherwise.' Where "otherwise" refers to the right to home educate your child. No obligation to follow any syllabus or curriculum. Can take formal exams when ready. No need to wait until 15 or 16. Plenty of resources available online plus text books easy to source. Museums, zoos, wildlife trusts, science centres all have education officers who run workshops for groups if asked. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletbean Posted January 9, 2017 Author Share Posted January 9, 2017 Thanks Jane, Very interesting. How would that work when applying to Vocational Schools for post 16 training when many establishments require the standard GCSE qualifications to enable to dancer to study Dip in Theatre Dance/Modern Ballet/Professional Dance or even the BA(Hons) equivalent? The UK are still so very focused on a square peg round hole type of education. If you get my drift. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 Thanks Jane, Very interesting. How would that work when applying to Vocational Schools for post 16 training when many establishments require the standard GCSE qualifications to enable to dancer to study Dip in Theatre Dance/Modern Ballet/Professional Dance or even the BA(Hons) equivalent? The UK are still so very focused on a square peg round hole type of education. If you get my drift. All the vocational schools regularly take students from overseas, so they are used to students who have studied under different education systems. If you have a specific query, then you could approach the school and ask 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 I think they will take you if talented in dance regardless as the students from abroad won't have GSCE either. There are very few HE children in my experience who won't be educated beyond that level at 16. They are generally self motivated. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 School time is my sanity - just couldn't do it!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annaliesey Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Sorry for late reply. I might start a thread about home education as I'm researching, planning and about to take the leap! Basically, I have some friends who we have met through dance who home educate and it's opened my eyes. Alongside this my dd and I have found ourselves at an awful school. She also wants to do options that conflict with the option blocks such as drama, art, music (can only do one) and food & nutition and textiles. Also I'm just utterly fed up with schools lack of anything supportive around dance and she and I have agreed on a plan. I'm going to start some general learning via mixed resources to get into the swing of things then we will follow maths English and general science GCSEs I think Other things will be different i.e.; OCR probably but I'm still choosing Eek! The plan is to take out unnecessary stress and focus on a different route to achieving equivalent of 9 GCSEs ???? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 My dd, aged 15yrs, started vocational school this school year. It does not have an education department, it is a Conservatoire for Music and Dance, so she started the CNED which is a government run home education system, there are modules and it follows the normal French curriculum. Although, I know, the system doesn't exist in the UK, I just wanted to say she is a hundred times more happier and less tired! She does have a support tutorial once a week and the rest is up to her, but to be honest , I have never seen her so motivated and organised! We all learn in different ways and for us it was definitely the right decision!! Good Luck! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harwel Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Sorry for late reply. I might start a thread about home education as I'm researching, planning and about to take the leap! Basically, I have some friends who we have met through dance who home educate and it's opened my eyes. Alongside this my dd and I have found ourselves at an awful school. She also wants to do options that conflict with the option blocks such as drama, art, music (can only do one) and food & nutition and textiles. Also I'm just utterly fed up with schools lack of anything supportive around dance and she and I have agreed on a plan. I'm going to start some general learning via mixed resources to get into the swing of things then we will follow maths English and general science GCSEs I think Other things will be different i.e.; OCR probably but I'm still choosing Eek! The plan is to take out unnecessary stress and focus on a different route to achieving equivalent of 9 GCSEs ???? I wish you all the luck in the world with this. It takes a brave person to go outside of the accepted norms and to do something which is uniquely right for your child. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 There may well be support available through your local authority - pointers towards expectations, resources, exams etc. Some LAs have a team/person and it could take away some of the stress for you. Dd has several home educated dancing friends and I think it can offer a completely different approach which seems to work really well for them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stirrups36 Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Home school thread might be needed... also consider the 'online school' options as well. Such as www.interhigh.co.uk, which one of my children used for a while. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 This topic was started at the suggestion of Stirrups. I am sure it will prove to be useful 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletbean Posted January 11, 2017 Author Share Posted January 11, 2017 This subject on home schooling is all very interesting, can children that are home schooled access dance lessons during the day rather than crammed into the evening like those in regular school? Or is it just done to eliminate what is seen as unnecessary curriculum associated with academic schools. Also, in my area to access funding for Uni and Performing Arts Grants, students have had to have obtained 5 GCSE's Grade A* to C, how would that work with home schooled children? There doesn't appear a way to escape the 'norm' that the Government perceive as being an education. Any parents out there that did home schooling years ago and have watched their children train and enter the 'adult' world without the recognised 'normal' GCSE's would be interested to hear from them . I'm even beginning to worry about the change from A to C.... Grades to this new grading system of 9 to 1 and not sure if establishments will understand the new system. I think I am the one that needs an education 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 (edited) I used to work as a tutor for a home schooled group so I have met quite a few people who chose to home school their children. I actually taught pre gcse level but several of them had older children successfully taken through gcses and a levels and onto university. Most areas across the UK have 'home educator networks'. These not only provide advice and help but most areas also organise classes and workshops. Typical classes offered are for drama, pe and arts and crafts. I found that parents often formed little groups with similar aged children for certain subjects. For instance, one parent was good at biology and did biology classes with them, another at maths. I was hired by one such group to teach them a foreign language. Exams for home schooled children - my friend homeschooled her DD and she took her exams over several years rather than all in year 11. She took maths and art in year 9, sciences in year 10 and English in year 11. Not sure if you are still able to do it like this but concentrated bursts of a few subjects at a time worked well for them. As you do research though I would certainly look through options with the local council and in particular try and find your most local network group. http://home-ed.info/local_groups Edited to add link Edited January 11, 2017 by 2dancersmum 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoglett Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 As well as being a dance mum...not mom! I am also a Secondary English teacher and Private tutor if I can be of any help to anybody. You've all given me soooo much help as a newbie so it would be great to talk about something that I know about rather than the ballet world where I just make it up!! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLou Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 As well as being a dance mum...not mom! I am also a Secondary English teacher and Private tutor if I can be of any help to anybody. You've all given me soooo much help as a newbie so it would be great to talk about something that I know about rather than the ballet world where I just make it up!! I am a private tutor too - secondary Sciences and Maths. Happy to give any advice I can - PM or within the thread I know several highly regarded tutors who tutor online, using Skype and whiteboard software. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huddsballetmum Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 You could also look at your local FE college if you want your child to take GCSE's in Maths, English & Science. I would in the FE sector and we have a large proportion of students from 14 to 16 for whom the school environment is not appropriate and they do a range of courses. Some just come to do English & Maths, some come and do a vocational qualification as well. It;s worth checking as it might assist with the teaching element but free up time as even a full time programme is usually only 2 to 3 days a week, and a GCSE is 3 hours per week on average. It might not be for you, or accessible but it's worth a look. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletmum13 Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Are there any online programs in the U.K.? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaylou62 Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Education Otherwise is a good organisation to start with and if you join, they can put you in contact with other home educators in your area. Locally, home educators tend to do IGCSEs rather than GCSEs. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 This subject on home schooling is all very interesting, can children that are home schooled access dance lessons during the day rather than crammed into the evening like those in regular school? Or is it just done to eliminate what is seen as unnecessary curriculum associated with academic schools. I think it is unlikely the HE dc could access anything but private classes or adult ones if old enough during the school day. The only tap classes suitable for my dd were over an hour away and started at 4pm. HE meant we could easily make the class without missing school. Also never had to ask permission for dc to perform, take exams etc. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O`Brien Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 A friend of mine in Manchester has just in the last month started home schooling her son; much to the school's annoyance. He is just turned seven and has been consistently bullied by older children since he started. It came to a head when a large group of them cornered him in the boy's toilets and tried to shove his head down the loo. He was so upset and traumatised he couldn't stop crying for days and my friend was desperately worried about him. Took him to the GP who said he'll be fine eventually. But he wasn't. The school apparently were of no help at all. The boy was begging his mum not to make him go back. She considered transferring him to another school if she could find a place. That's still an option and the ideal outcome. But for now she has her happy little boy back; enjoying doing his Maths ,English etc at the dining room table every day. Every so often the Headmaster of the school telephones her at home, trying to persuade her to bring him in to school, but she's having none of it. She knows she may face going to court but she doesn't care. She said the welfare and happiness of her youngest son is more important than anything like breaking the law. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 (edited) Lisa if she has informed the school she is educating her son otherwise than at school she is in no danger of being prosecuted. The school have an obligation to inform the local authority that the child is no longer registered and she should expect to hear from them (eventually!) not the school. Your friend needs to keep a copy of all correspondence with the school informing them that her son has been withdrawn. We informed the head of governors as well as headmaster. Headmaster should not be harrasing the mother. Edited to add that there should be information on local authority website about Education Otherwise than at school and how to withdraw a child and what to expect from your LA. Might also have links to HEAS and Education Otherwise and Education Act. Edited January 11, 2017 by Jane 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stirrups36 Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 online schools can work well. Here's my eldest daughter talking about Interhigh on TV a couple of years ago. http://bit.ly/2j26cqx Note. I have no relationship with them at all! There are good points and bad points - as with all education I suppose. Now, if you wanted some online maths... but then I would REALLY be breaking forum rules! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paleblueleotard Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Hi! I've been lurking for a while and I've been meaning to join (have a ballet obsessed DD), but I thought I'd do so tonight after seeing this topic We home educate - we're relatively new to it and are doing so for several reasons, but it's been great so far. We have always done a lot of extracurricular stuff (actually it's now 7 days a week for our HE DD!) and it often felt challenging with tired children who may have had a rotten or just boring day at school, not to mention squeezing in homework obligations. Now we HE it's a lot less stressful and DD is a lot happier having more time at home to work at her own pace and just think or create without classroom noise and distractions. We are at home for most of the time in school hours and she learns by herself (very self motivated) and/or is guided by me and we follow the curriculum more or less, as well as doing things that are not part of the curriculum but should be, plus she follows her interests too. It's great as if she wants to write a story for 3 hours, programme a scratch project for 6 hours or watch World Ballet Day being streamed live she can! After school hours DD goes to her extracurricular stuff (mainly ballet) without being stressed or tired after a day at school and gets to socialise/see other people and have a break/get out of the house which is healthy imo as well. She gets more out of ballet and the other classes she does because she's more relaxed and happy, which is another plus. School is tiring for some children when it's a thing to be endured for a large chunk of the day... There is a lot of support out there too - e.g. home education/ home schooling face book groups that are national, as well as local groups. They are a wealth of up to date knowledge if you are looking into GCSE info and how to sit them privately or various online courses (we're still primary age here so not relevant to us yet). Also there are some amazing groups or individuals who organise group trips for HE parents and children, so the opportunity to see ballets and other theatre performances (plus other exhibitions, science workshops etc) at a discounted rate is a real plus! Sadly the only day time dance classes for HE children I've seen near us are more for fun/newcomers to dance rather than for those doing grades or who take dance more seriously, but I imagine in some areas there are daytime classes around for adults that HE teenagers could go to. I think HE works really well for children who don't want to follow the herd and who are particularly able in an area(s) not covered in schools. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annaliesey Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 (edited) Wow what fantastic responses - thank you so much it's helped me feel like I'm not alone or completely bonkers Edited January 12, 2017 by annaliesey 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annaliesey Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 I wish you all the luck in the world with this. It takes a brave person to go outside of the accepted norms and to do something which is uniquely right for your child. Brave or foolish! Haha I don't think I would have chosen this route had it not been for dd having such difficult time at school. I genuinely think if we stay as we are she and I will be less happy than we could be. I do feel very responsible now though for her education and feel it's an enormous weight but also feel quite excited at the freedom to make certain choices. The last straw for me was getting a letter home, after a string of cover teachers across all subjects, saying that science was being cut down from 4 to 3 lessons per week and replaced with additional PE. This turned out to be table tennis. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annaliesey Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 School time is my sanity - just couldn't do it!!! I'm so worried about this!! My dd and I spend so much time together travelling to and from dance, me waiting around for her, I'm going to feel like we have very little time away from each other! But she and I have been unhappy with things for a long time and I'm so hoping that a lot of our stress will vanish if we are more efficient with our time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annaliesey Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Home school thread might be needed... also consider the 'online school' options as well. Such as www.interhigh.co.uk, which one of my children used for a while. I've looked at that but not really sure at the moment. Did you come across anything more assessment focused as I'm thinking we could really do with some software to help us assess where she currently is now. Then I can look at options to teaching in line with goals and knowledge gaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afab Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 My 3 DDs were homeschooled with the French distance programme which allows dancers, musicians, sport orientated children, ill children also, to work from home. DD1 and DD2 sat their French GCSEs and Baccalaureate and passed with flying colours. DD3 also passed her French GCSEs easily but decided when we arrived in the UK to go to school for the last 3 years... All that to say that when DD1 and DD2 auditioned successfully at Tring (they were 14 and 12), the fact they were homeschooled wasn't a problem at all for the school. In the end, they didn't go but the homeschooling gave them a very rich education and they were less tired and free to travel and do any class they wanted on top of their 20 something regular hours of dance a week. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RachelC Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 I was Home-Educated from 5 - 18 and will do the same with my daughter when she is older (currently only 2.5 so life is nice and simple at the moment!). I did 4 GCSEs from home via the National Extension College (NEC) and then 2 A-levels. Many of my home-ed friends got into colleges and sixth forms with a handful of GCSEs or none at all, most institutions seem to like home-ed students regardless of official qualifications as they are usually very self-motivated and eager to learn. I did an Access to Higher Education course at my local college then went to RAD HQ on their BA Ballet Education course and the small number of GCSEs wasn't a problem at all. Home-education worked really well for me as I did short periods of study during the day and was left with lots of time for dance classes, music lessons and voluntary work. My friends in school ended up doing less and less extra-curricular stuff as their homework increased, or were run-down and stressed from trying to cram everything in. It's definitely not for everyone but it's more compatible with dance training than regular school. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoglett Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 There's a very interesting interview in Hello magazine January 23rd with Nadia Sawalha about why she chose home education for her daughters. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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