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annaliesey

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Thanks for sharing this annaliesey. I have seen a few of his blogs before so have an idea of what he has been going through with his son. I must admit even though I know that this type of bullying exists at vocational schools and general dance schools I still find it incredulous that these institutions get away with it. It goes against everything we know about safeguarding children. There really needs to be more done to take these vile people to

task and hold them accountable for their actions. I wish he would name and shame the school, they totally deserve to be outed for such horrendous behaviour and arrogance. At the very least it might make people think twice before enrolling their children there. 

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36 minutes ago, joyofdance said:

Thanks for sharing this annaliesey. I have seen a few of his blogs before so have an idea of what he has been going through with his son. I must admit even though I know that this type of bullying exists at vocational schools and general dance schools I still find it incredulous that these institutions get away with it. It goes against everything we know about safeguarding children. There really needs to be more done to take these vile people to

task and hold them accountable for their actions. I wish he would name and shame the school, they totally deserve to be outed for such horrendous behaviour and arrogance. At the very least it might make people think twice before enrolling their children there. 

 

I don't think he will ever name and shame the school and I suppose if you are writing to raise awareness and for own therapy, you probably don't want that to be the focus, but rather share experiences and warn others what to look out for, what mistakes not to make etc. 

 

It's pretty sad how it all unfolds really and I agree with you there should be so much more that should be done - but where to start? 

 

It's ludicrous that on one hand there is all this legislation for children in entertainment with performance license fiasco or where you can't even wear an offensive t-shirt, then on the other hand there is absolutely nothing for summer schools, dance intensives, historical physical abuse, dance comps, etc and even where legislation exists there are so many loopholes and just a lot of stinking bad attitudes. 

 

 

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I do understand why he doesn't name the school and obviously this forum is not for that purpose. There are also potential legal ramifications,  however it does frustrate me that these institutions and sometimes individuals get away with and are given licence to continue with this appalling behaviour because we are too frightened to out them. Raising awareness is important and it seems the best tool we have to inform others for now.

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I spent far too long reading this last night. What a terribly sad story. I read some of the very early blogs too, when the young man in question had just entered Year 7. The contrast between those initial posts when the family clearly had faith in the school and a conviction that they were doing the right thing despite the challenges to the later ones when all trust and hope had been completely destroyed is striking. Reading this, alongside the experiences of quite a lot of young dancers I know is incredibly demoralising. Frightening even. I doubt many parents let their children go to vocational school expecting it to be "easy" either for the child or the rest of the family, but surely they should be able to expect that their children will be safe, cared for and listened to? The more I learn, the more convinced I become that at the very least, a sizeable minority of children have really significant problems at vocational school, maybe even the majority.

I've always been relieved that my DD didn't want to audition for lower schools - I think it's tough enough in upper schools to be honest  - though I totally understand the appeal, particularly for those who find it hard to access high quality training locally. But it seems that too often these bright, creative, precious young people are being crushed by the very people and institutions they trusted to nurture them. There really has to be a better way than this.

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Me too pups mum spent ages reading this blog last night and a bit too late probably as I found something about reading it got under my skin kept me from going to sleep! 

It was just SO depressing.....though glad to see that currently the young man has his joy in Dance and Life restored.

Vocational Schools like other schools may dislike criticism ( and of course we only have the dads side of the story in the blog ....not to put him down in any way though) but the difference is these children are away from home and as a parent I would be very concerned about my child's overall experience at such a school ....not just how good the ballet training etc is.

I would certainly be as interested in pastoral care as in any other aspect of the school( in academics dance etc etc ) 

Do people think that it's difficult to attract really good staff in this respect to such vocational schools or is this a much more unusual situation.....as outlined in the blog.

There are so many aspects of this blog which are truely disturbing ( what's this nonsense about keeping children out of the sunlight....quite ridiculous and disgraceful in fact....hope this isn't the norm.

Children do need to be nagged and cajoled from time to time but not destroyed!! Creative teachers should be thinking ...now how can I get the best out of these pupils in this lesson .....what will inspire them ....what will give EACH pupil a sense of his/her progression today.

That may sound idealistic but its only knowing the pupils in your care really well ( and more or less complete care at vocational schools )  ....it's what parents are paying for ....and unless the selection procedures for these schools are completely skew whiff the students should  all be very keen to start with anyway.....unlike a more general school.....I wouldn't have thought a particularly hard lot to teach.

 

I know there is a degree of pressure on vocational schools to produce results.....I'm sure they do want to offer parents value for money etc but also know that not all talent at 11 is still so at 14 and places are valuable etc etc .....but the due care of pupils IN ALL ASPECTS.....is what should be at the fore front of their policies. 

This blog made me think though that if at all possible look for excellent local teachers ....and there are often many ...who cover different aspects of dance ( doesn't have to be the same teacher for everything) and keep the children at home ....until at least 16 anyway. 

Im sure parents do excellent research before sending their children away to vocational schools so it seems some problems are well hidden. 

Are vocational schools subject to OFSTED ....I can't remember.

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I too spent far too long reading this till the wee small hours the other night and even though I’d heard of many such horror stories and am not surprised by it I still can’t find words to say even vaguely politely how I feel about such institutionalised abuse and it’s cover up - and all in the name of protecting a prestigeous institution  whose students are supported largely by tax payers and parents who stretch out every last penny and forgo family holidays as well as enduring mental torture to enable their gifted child to live their dreams....

so very sad !

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I have a suspicion that a big part of the problem is around the  supply:demand issue. There are so many talented youngsters who would give their eye teeth for one of very few places. This means the schools have little to lose - if a pupil leaves there's a queue waiting to take his or her place. Plus I imagine that pupils and their families probably feel that they have to put up with bad treatment because they are one of very few lucky ones, especially if they've received funding. It must be incredibly difficult to walk away from an opportunity that you have fought so hard for, may never get again, and which you know is so sought after. I think this applies even with associate schemes to a degree and I have huge respect for parents and pupils who recognise that these things are not right for them and walk away. I am not sure I would have that strength of character myself. I suspect this is a big factor in why people keep quiet, or at least don't act decisively until things are desperate. And I'm sure it's not just ballet. Any field where there are huge numbers of potential participants and very limited opportunities is at risk of this sort of thing. The children seem to be viewed as a commodity rather than individual people.

As to why some of the staff seem to be so toxic....might it be because they are products of this system too and have  been  damaged themselves? I have a friend who was a pupil at a very famous public school (nothing to do with ballet!). Whilst there he suffered horrendous abuse from both staff and other pupils which has left him very damaged. And I suspect I don't know anywhere near the full story. And yet he is proud of being an old boy, and publicly seeks to uphold the "values" of his Alma Mater. He thinks it made him "strong" and judges others against that standard. Were I a betting woman, I would hazard a guess that the individuals in the blog, and many other senior staff in schools and companies the world over are the same. Not that that makes such behaviour acceptable of course.

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I think you all have articulated the problem perfectly particularly Pups Mum . It’s encouraging to see the issue explored in this forum as it can be a very lonely experience having a child at a top Voc school being bullied by staff.You can’t discuss it with other parents especially if their child is a favourite with said teacher: you certainly can’t discuss it with pastoral leaders or the head- your child would simply be asked to leave... it’s that supply and demand problem.

In our case we got through it mostly with the help of my dc ‘s old ballet teacher and wise words from helpful people on this forum. I can’t thank people enough for their support from here.

My dc is still at the school but has a fantastic teacher who has restored his confidence and joy in dance - for now. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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26 minutes ago, Balletmummy18 said:

I think you all have articulated the problem perfectly particularly Pups Mum . It’s encouraging to see the issue explored in this forum as it can be a very lonely experience having a child at a top Voc school being bullied by staff.You can’t discuss it with other parents especially if their child is a favourite with said teacher: you certainly can’t discuss it with pastoral leaders or the head- your child would simply be asked to leave... it’s that supply and demand problem.

In our case we got through it mostly with the help of my dc ‘s old ballet teacher and wise words from helpful people on this forum. I can’t thank people enough for their support from here.

My dc is still at the school but has a fantastic teacher who has restored his confidence and joy in dance - for now. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's difficult isn't it? The ballet world is a small one, and with increasing technology it gets smaller. Even with the relative anonymity we have here, I reckon most of us probably know at least a few of the others. Or more to the point, our children know each other, whether that's from school, summer schools, competitions or whatever. I realised that when my DD complained to me about something I'd written here. It was something quite innocuous to my mind, a joke really. But another forum member mentioned it to her daughter, probably also completely without malice, and my DD got teased a bit. Not serious, but it would put me off posting about any more serious concerns I might have, as I know it could get back to involved parties. I wonder if there is a need to be able to post as "anon" on certain topics in fact? I know some other forums have that facility but they tend to be big ones with paid staff, so it's probably not feasible here.

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1 hour ago, Balletmummy18 said:

I think you all have articulated the problem perfectly particularly Pups Mum ... you certainly can’t discuss it with pastoral leaders or the head- your child would simply be asked to leave... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow. 

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Given our family's experience of specialist boarding schools (not ballet) I would go to almost any lengths to find alternative training before allowing a child under the age of 16 to spend time in the 'care' of such an institution.  As a minimum, such schools should have a robust principal/director who is not a dancer/musician etc and whose brief is to stand up for the children's interests in the face of the single-mindedness that so often justifies inappropriate behaviour on the part of the artistic staff. I simply do not accept the argument that an abusive atmosphere is necessary in order to achieve elite standards of performance.  Parents should never be disdained and talked down to as 'non-experts' and that blog demonstrates a quite incredible level of immaturity and silliness on the part of adults who are in a position of responsibility for vulnerable children.   

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36 minutes ago, amos73 said:

 

Wow. 

 

36 minutes ago, amos73 said:

 

1 hour ago, Balletmummy18 said:

I think you all have articulated the problem perfectly particularly Pups Mum ... you certainly can’t discuss it with pastoral leaders or the head- your child would simply be asked to leave... 

 

 

 

 

My dc had similar problems with their y7/8 teacher and we did discuss it at length with pastoral leaders and school leadership, including the artistic director and changes have happened as a consequence of these discussions. They haven’t been asked to leave (yet!) and they are having a much happier y9 with a different teacher, although we have already made a decision that they won’t be staying for y10 and 11. 

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7 hours ago, joyofdance said:

I do understand why he doesn't name the school and obviously this forum is not for that purpose. There are also potential legal ramifications,  however it does frustrate me that these institutions and sometimes individuals get away with and are given licence to continue with this appalling behaviour because we are too frightened to out them. Raising awareness is important and it seems the best tool we have to inform others for now.

 

I know, everyone has gone too far with political correctness and acceptance or dealing with things in a behind-closed-doors manner

 

Sometimes we need to speak out publicly or there is no real consequence to people or institutions.

 

Everyone is so worried about libel claims when in reality, they would never make it to court. Even if they did, if it’s based on truth, there’s nothing to fear and everything to gain from speaking out.

 

when we look at the whole #metoo movement there is some huge inspiration there, my personal view anyway. 

 

Someone mentioned Deepcut on either this thread or another thread (Nicola H) as reference to the army getting their act together, yet my understanding of that is very different. It was an appalling case of significant and widespread sexual and physical abuse and murder that was covered up in the most corrupt manner and Deepcut simply closed down. There was never a satisfactory enquiry for families. When institutions want to hide things, they will, unless there is enormous pressure. 

 

If “they” (government) wouldn’t do things for Deepcut, they sure as hell won’t for a ballet school

 

(Sorry to get political) 

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Well one of the values of OFSTED is that they have time set aside ( or used to) just to talk to parents.

If any parents then had serious concerns about the school this could be aired.

 

I have no idea then how far the concerns would go....obviously the school would put their side of things but I'm sure if OFSTED were a little suspicious they would certainly lower the school's rating and ask for certain performance targets to be achieved and then visit the school again ....often within a year .....depending on severity of findings....to see how things progressing.

 

I know OFSTED Is not everything but can be helpful in getting a school which has lapsed its standards a bit to get back on track....though occasionally this is at the cost of the head teacher.....sometimes deservedly and sometimes unfortunately not.

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It's depressing. But I do think there is hope. At least we're talking about it now.

And other fields have changed. In my own profession, ritual humiliation of students and newly qualified staff was viewed as a legitimate educational strategy until relatively recently, but not now.

One of my professors was blatantly racist and sexist but nobody ever dared challenge him because he held all the power, and we had none. The other staff in the department were sympathetic but also scared and would advise us to just keep our heads down and take it. Which is what I did when he deducted 15% from my end of module mark because, according to him, my supervisor "always over marks the pretty little girls". Everyone in the room, students and faculty alike, just looked at the floor, as he adjusted our marks on the basis of his personal prejudices. I'm sure there are still people who think like him out there, but I'm confident that the behaviour is far more controlled now. Back then, I wouldn't have believed things could change, but they have, despite hundreds of years of tradition. They can change in the ballet world too I hope, and the first step probably is people like us saying "it's not OK".

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54 minutes ago, Farawaydancer said:

 

 

 

My dc had similar problems with their y7/8 teacher and we did discuss it at length with pastoral leaders and school leadership, including the artistic director and changes have happened as a consequence of these discussions. They haven’t been asked to leave (yet!) and they are having a much happier y9 with a different teacher, although we have already made a decision that they won’t be staying for y10 and 11. 

 We also struggled in years 7-8 and once had a speakerphone conference with my DS in the room as he has had several issues and injuries and was very low.

He was not the only one ....

Credit to his school pastoral team DS was supported whenever he came forward to speak out about his experiences and many of the children seemed to stick together and make group complaints about some staff and other student behaviours.

It seemed to take a long time to sort things out, but strongly worded emails and chats with medical centre staff did produce positive results in the end.

My experience has taught me to keep being nosey and make sure I’m on the end of the phone whenever DS finally wants to tell me what’s happening!

He - now at 15 is very clear about what constitutes abusive behaviour and is quite vocal about it!

 

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Would just like to add that although have no experience of vocational schools had a lifelong career in Education as a teacher ....usually with the specialism of Dance and Drama and sometimes the Dance/ Games/PE hat! This was all in Primary schools though where I think the ethos has always been more caring. 

But have experienced several OFSTEDs now .....including those really comprehensive ones right at the beginning.

Where Heads have resigned it's often been not that they were awful people ( though at least one was) or anything just incompetent in a particular type of school where they just couldn't show proper leadership. 

I knew one Head who resigned who I felt shouldn't have .....after a poorish OFSTED ....I can't go into details but there were long standing issues at this school concerning really senior members of staff who had been there for years and years and who were reluctant at any form of change. 

Dont want to go off the main point of this thread but just wanted my background explained as do,have some experience in Education!!

 

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LinMM ballet schools are not state schools so it is the Independent School Inspectorate rather than Ofsted that looks at them.  I know from reading ISI reports on schools I am personally familiar with that ISI are utterly ineffectual, skimming only token paperwork and taking at face value the positive sell given to them by senior management.  And yet even ISI raised concerns about recruitment and safeguarding procedures at the UK’s most prestigious ballet school in their 2015 report.  

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Unfortunately certain schools have been investigated before and nothing appears to have been done- you can google Linda Goss for her remarks having taught at the most famous UK one. The supply and demand is an issue. There will always be more people willing to go. Let’s hope in the future all schools will ensure care of the child comes first.

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The blog is a harrowing read and unfortunately for many of us all too familiar events being discussed. I'm pleased to read the child and his family are recovering. 

 

My dd was one of a small group 'chosen' to speak to the ISI inspectors a number of years ago, every comment made by the children that was in anyway negative was dismissed by the inspectors; the food was fine, the not being able to use the toilet in the night imagined, medical rarely being open a lie... It was a tick box exercise were they ticked the boxes they wanted. 

The online forms parents are asked to complete before the inspection give little option for you to make comment. And anyone with experience of a school or hospital before any type of inspection will know how the powers that be rally round in the build up to the inspection. It is a totally false situation. 

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Oh dear this does sound not very good for Independent Schools as a whole then. 

 

I think ALL schools whatever their type need adequate regular inspection for everyone's benefit ....teachers ..pupils ..managers ..alike.

It shouldn't be about scapegoating .....just how to improve performance if it should fall short of what can reasonably be expected.  Ideally nobody should lose their job initially .....only if they do not respond or have no inclination to respond to reasonable criticism of work/ school etc.

 

With a good Inspectorate in position schools may not fall too far below reasonable expectation for too long.

what is the point of asking children what they think if they are then not believed when it doesn't suit what people want to hear!! 

Am very sorry to hear this.

These days for example OFSTED tend not to do the big general inspections of previous years but now after some years experience of inspecting schools just home in on any particular perceived weaknesses of a school and will go in and just inspect this area. 

Also they give less and less warning of inspections which tends to keep schools a bit more on their toes more than knowing months and months in advance .....which can create a false situation of course....but they did get wise to this!! 

 

 

 

 

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5 hours ago, LinMM said:

Well one of the values of OFSTED is that they have time set aside ( or used to) just to talk to parents.

If any parents then had serious concerns about the school this could be aired.

 

I have no idea then how far the concerns would go....obviously the school would put their side of things but I'm sure if OFSTED were a little suspicious they would certainly lower the school's rating and ask for certain performance targets to be achieved and then visit the school again ....often within a year .....depending on severity of findings....to see how things progressing.

 

I know OFSTED Is not everything but can be helpful in getting a school which has lapsed its standards a bit to get back on track....though occasionally this is at the cost of the head teacher.....sometimes deservedly and sometimes unfortunately not.

can you    ' tip ofsted  off'  aobut isssues i nthe way  you can with the CQC   for health and social care ...  ?

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Having read the ISI report, I would highlight the fact that the issues raised in the 2015 inspection were largely admin-related. Although they did refer to safeguarding, in a lot of the concerns the problems were linked to how information was stored and how well the staff knew data, rather than anything more sinister. The education and care of the students was praised throughout. By the 2016 monitoring inspection, they felt that the issues had been addressed.

The articles about Linda Goss, while shocking, are over 20 years old. Not excusing the events by any means, but we certainly to consider how much can change in 20 years.

I work in education, and at the vast majority of schools you will find several happy parents for every horrified one. The parents I know from the school in question are applying for places for younger siblings, which hopefully is a sign of positive change.

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Sissonne I hope for the sake of the current pupils that you are right.  But I don’t think failings that are just “admin-related” are necessarily minor.  A failure to keep the very basic paperwork that ISI requires in order suggests a “we know better and boring things like safeguarding rules are beneath us” attitude.  Although I note that they took refuge behind a policy technicality in refusing to deal with complaints once the child had left.  And as for a teacher in class calling a 14 year old sexy - that would mean dismissal in a state school.  Very worrying.

 

 If I were a governor I would be asking serious questions of senior management.  But given the supply/demand imbalance there is really no motivation for the top schools to reform themselves - the hyper-competitive admissions/assessments culture creates an aura and when your child is one of the “chosen few” it takes a huge amount of courage to rock the boat.

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And where did these teachers come from? I'd be willing to bet quite a lot of money that most if not all of them were trained at similar schools themselves and were  treated the same way when they were children. Its all part of the 'elite culture' mindset. That if you are one of the elect you should expect to suffer for it, and the old 'well I survived it and it didn't do me any harm' attitude. One of the main reasons why change happens slowly if at all.

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I think one of the important points in your post Sissone Doublee is the comment about how well the staff knew the data.

 

one of the better things about Inspections in state schools is that schools had to get their policies in order and staff had to know what they were! 

One pretty tough inner London school I taught in made a massive improvement when they got their discipline policy in order! 

There were clear strategies put in place so that if a child did A this would happen if did B the next step would be taken and if C then parents contacted immediately ...at work...( at first I thought "good luck with that!") and so on.

Everyone knew what the rules were and all the staff followed the same procedures ( as opposed to every teacher doing their own thing) and the discipline improved leaps and bounds! The whole school was much safer and nicer to work in and parents who played up and didn't want to do operate were given a transfer form for their child to go to another school!! ( which they rarely took advantage of)( though one notorious parent did threaten to come in and give the head the chop ....literally!) Quite radical thinking and seemed a bit risky at the time but it worked!! 

Well of course Vocational schools have different issues as wouldn't think discipline was one of them! But good appropriate policies which the staff all know about and are putting into practice can improve any school ....even a ballet school! It's absolutely no good one member of staff writing up a policy which then goes in a drawer somewhere and nobody knows what it's about! or where it is even!!

 

I'm sure most schools have improved in the last 20 years and so some things may no longer apply hopefully to the school you are talking about and some of you seem to know. 

 

I sound like a right goodie goodie re inspections etc ..but  I'm not ....and really groaned like many teachers when knew an inspection was coming up! However because I have seen some good results in the longer term I do think they are necessary and mostly do a good job.

 

Sorry to be obtuse Nicola but what do you mean "tip off" 

You could express your opinions at certain points in an OFSTED  .....especially if looking at very particular issues ....but a tip off sounds like somehow contacting them before the event. Whether school Governers or Parents have had opportunity to do this BEFORE a visit I don't know but certainly haven't heard of teachers doing this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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That is exactly what i mean, where an individual has concerns that an organisation is not folowing the law / putting people at risk and more importantly is not on top of adressing that .. what is the route to involve the regulator and trigger inspection / enforcement.

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