Babyballerina

Thank you

Does anyone have any experience of applying to upper schools in Europe? Any advice/previous experiences would be most welcome.

Really, my son says he doesn’t get any!! I’ll check with him. The house parents also said they don’t get any. Thanks for the heads up I will definitely check

Well this has changed since last year as that wasn't happening at all. As i say i speak from experience not just hear say

My boy is in Elmhurst year 7 and they don't have homework. They said that the day is so full that they don't have time to do homework in the evenings. As for the weekends, he stays unless its leave out and the range of activities they have is wonderful. He is thoroughly enjoying every moment. Having also had a daughter go through White Lodge, i feel that they have too much time on their hands and not enough supervision on a weekend especially as they get older. They go to Sheen with the houseparents in year 7 and 8 on a Saturday afternoon but Sunday seemed to be 'entertain yourself'. I can assure you that this was not a good idea

I agree with you we have had a lucky escape. I feel for the ones who are staying because of the intense pressure they will feel over the next two years. They have also now put on the acceptance form that you sign to stay for the next stage that it is ‘subject to progress and/or injury’ Does that mean they can ‘assess out’ in year 10! How catastrophic would that be for their education. Since we have walked away from the establishment in question I have a happy young lady who is enjoying ballet for the first time in a long long time!!

You are absolutely right on all points! They have taken 12 of the most talented kids in their year 7 intake, talent doesn’t disappear, only to ask them to leave when they have failed them . My feeling is that the child should be awarded the MDS funding not the establishment, the funding should move with the child!! This large school has a very large bursary from a major company that is to fund international students for 2 years and then they can apply for MDS funding. Why are we funding international students at the expense of home grown talent. Our training needs to be completely overhauled.

Thank you! It has been particularly harsh for this year group as this is the first year at the school without Lockdowns!! Usually, it is one possibly two at a push but this year it has been awful! Nobody expected this at all, so so hard for all the children!

My DD is in the first year group that have gone through this incredibly harsh and brutal process. They did do videos and photographs that where quite frankly awful. This year they have assessed out 9 of the year group, 7 of which are girls! All have been replaced with international students. This leaves 2 British girls in the year group. You say they are supportive, I disagree!! This process has resulted in one of the children attempting suicide!!! Not one of the ones who are going from the year group were told that there was a problem and they might not get to the next stage, in fact they were told the opposite at artistic meetings. On a positive note my DD is going to another vocational school that will nurture her. In their words at audition ‘she is a huge talent’

Yes Nala my little girl has been offered week one

Do they do more than one role?? It seems very expensive. I’m probably jumping the gun but want to be prepared. Thank you Balletmum1704

We have been lucky enough to be recalled for final auditons for the junior company. We didn't expect to get past prelims so I am now looking at the logistics and cost. Has anyone else done this before?? I know the initial cost and that's going to be a struggle but it the incidentals and the extra accommodation, tickets etc that I'm not sure about. Any insight to this would be amazing.

not really rudolp23 she is very focused in class, not that i'm in class but from what the teacher tells me.

My DD is a Royal Ballet JA and we have had our yearly progress report from the teacher. She has said that she has a very young look about her!! She is 9 and year 5 but I'm not sure what she means. Does anyone have any ideas?? I have asked her what she means is it physically that she looks young but she said its not a physical look. Her exact words were 'she is a lovely mover but still has a young look about her'

The letter that was emailed to me says year 6 is 12.45 to 14.15. Hope this helps