2dancersmum

The finals for this take the form of a master class for each of the levels and I believe there is one overall winner who gets the actual 'Margaret Brockway Award' but I am not sure of the value. This is an event that takes place annually for the Midlands region and usually candidates are put forward by their ballet teacher individually as numbers are limited. They are divided into Juniors and Seniors but the categories are determined by grade and age. If you are on facebook the RAD Midlands page has details and photos of the event. I think most of the regions have a similar award - certainly there is one for London and the South East and for the Northern region as I have seen the results shared on the RAD facebook pages. Well done to your DD lildancer. 2 of DDs junior friends also made finals.

so pleased for both you and your DD. I think that is a really good solution as I am sure the travelling would have taken its toll eventually and she won't be in London at 16 on her own which I am sure will give you some peace of mind. Was it really MDS for 6th form, I thought it was only DADAs for post 16 training? Wishing your DD all the best for her future training.

Firstly congratulations to your DD on getting the place - an achievement in itself but I understand the dificulty now that you know timings for what is involved. I know the length of the train journey is probably not much of an issue for you as don't you already do that for Central associates every week but it must be adding sginificantly to the cost of your DD taking up this opportunity. The leaving school early aspect would also worry me. It might be ok with the school this term but next year for year 11 your DD will have an increased workload at school and missing some every week might become an issue. Bear in mind also that if she is auditioning for 6th form places she will already be missing a number of days, especially if she reaches finals. I think only Central have their auditions on weekends. My DD found that quite tough this year as at one popint she seemed to be forever having to catch up on work missed. I think I would be looking at the length of the commitment to the company as it may well be ok to give it a try this term and see how doable it is so that she can have the experience at least and perhaps see for herself if she can manage everything. In your situation I would be saying no as normally I go by a guideline of 'if it takes longer to get there than to do the class, its not worth it as a regular class' and because of concerns about balancing ballet and school workloads. Good luck in your deliberations.

I was under the impression from friend who works as a health visitor that girls have done the majority of their growing by age 14 and that boys usually start their major growth spurts from age 14 up to typically 17/18. This was certainly true for my son and daughter. Also, she said that the way they estimate height at 16 (so before a boy stops growing) is to take the mothers's height + 12.5 cm and the fathers height and that the boys height at 16 should be +/- 8 cm of the midpoint between these two figures. Certainly at 14 my son was about 5'6 and he is now easily 6 ft so I expect your son still has some growing to do.

I think at Hammond the subjects vary a little each year as we were told they would offer an A level in any of the subjects taught in lower school, provided a minimum number of the new intake chose that subject.

As far as I am aware you can do A levels at RBS, Elmhurst, Tring, Central, Hammond and Legat but the number that can be taken and the range of choice does vary. If you check out the threads on here on 'post 16 schools' and 'vocational schools for 2013 entry' you will find more information on applying to these schools.

check out the 'Oxford Tube' aswell - it may not be a feasible option as journey times may be too long - it is a coach service from Oxford to London that runs every 10 mins. Daily adult return fare is £16 and 2 under 16s can accompany free and I know they do a student rate of about £10-11. Although the journeys start at Oxford the outermost stop is at the junction of the M40 so depending where you are living that might only be a few minutes drive. It stops at a number of places in London too but not being very familiar with either London or Oxford I couldn't say how convenient the locations are. I have friends who have used this service and been happy with it - though not for a daily commute. Good luck.

Just a reminder that the rules for student loans and maintenance loans for students have changed from last year. Those on a degree course at Central and Rambert can get the £9000 loan for tuition fees and the maintenance loan. The maintenance grant is income assessed but the all students are now eligible for 65% of the maintenance loan with the remaining 35% being assessed on household income. The full maintenance loan for students living in London is £7675. It may seem like a lot of debt for the student but dancers will be in common with all those going to university. In addition, repayments are only made once the dancers income is above £21,000 and payments stop if income falls below this. Monthly repayment is about £25 a month at this level and since it is taken at source will not really be missed. The reality of girls earning above the threshold continuously, whatever the profession, is that for most girls the debt is likely to be written off. Dancers at the other ballet schools, who do not have student loans have to pay the full housing costs upfront (or their parents do). Housing benefit used to be possibilty if the parent was still able to claim child benefit for that child but I'm not sure with all the latest benefit changes if that still applies.

stardancer - may I ask what the hurry is for your DD? It is only 3 months since you were awaiting results of her Intermediate exam. Taking Advanced 1 after less than a years study, regardless of her young age, seems a bit rushed to me - especially since you have mentioned several times on this forum that she only has one class in it a week? I'm sorry if this post seems critical. I am just genuinely curious.

Actually by "giving it a try" I was not suggesting that parents would be telling a happy child she has to leave vocational school after initally allowing her to go. It is more that one of the difficulties in deciding what is best for your child is the fact that leaving home to study elsewhere is a step into the unknown and you have no real way of knowing if the reality for the child will live up to her dream. A friends DD went to vocational school at 11, the school she really wanted to go to. There were the usual problems of homesickness but the girl settled down. However at the end of the year she asked if she could leave. She wanted to return home and continue local classes for her ballet. She was happy away at school but happier at home. A few years on and this girl is glad she had the experience and that her parents allowed her to go but she does not regret leaving and will be trying again for voational school aged 16.

I wouldn't really know which is the best for your DD but I believe ballet in the Laines audition is usually of a high standard and is certainly the longest part of the audition. For Laines you have a ballet class, a shorter jazz class, a solo in modern or jazz, a song and then a drama workshop. I think that it pretty much the format for places like Bird, Performers College etc aswell.

Gosh C4D that is a tricky one to advise on. I think you really do need to have a look at it from all angles and have a good long chat with DH. Do you know anyone in person that you can both talk to about their experiences of having a child away at school? My DD is older than yours and my DH still had plenty of reservations about letting her go away to school but he was able to have a chat with another Dad and that reassured him somewhat. On the whole, I tend to echo other posters in that the only way to know if it works for your family is to give it a try. Like spannerandpony I too know the difficulties in getting good training locally as it gets so much harder at the higher grades and schoolwork in year 8 is nothing compared to years 10 & 11. Wishing you all the best in your deliberations.

Just want to wish your DD all the best for her dancing at ENBS and I echo JulieW with the thanks for letting us know. It is nice when you have followed all the threads on auditions and success stories to actually hear the outcome and not be left hanging, as it were. Congratulations once again. At least she can concentrate on her GCSEs now.

Central results are now out. Heard of a 'yes' today but no news here yet.

ENBS, Rambert and Central are all post 16 schools, although ENBS and Central do run courses for younger students - summer schools, associate schemes etc (I don't know about Rambert). Entry to ENBS is 16 years for a 3 year course, although we were told at a re-audition workshop that they preferred their students to be 17 (or at least 17 in the first term of the course) because of their maturity in terms of living in London. Rambert and Central are funded differently to the other schools in that they are part of the 'conservatoire' group and as such their courses are funded like university courses. Hence the fees are £9000 per year and the students can get student loans etc in the normal way. Rambert go on to offer an MA as well as their BA Honours course. Central offer a 3 year BA Honours degree course though I believe that you have to re-audition for the 3rd year and students from elsewhere will also audition for entry to that year. I think both Rambert and Central have applicants at 16 and 18 years of age. In terms of going onto study elsewhere after the initial 3 year diploma - Ballet West have just launched a 'Professional Finishing year', and don't Elmhurst already offer some form of post-graduate course?

hi spooky - I presume it is summer school application forms you are after as the associates info is on their homepage. I had an email from Amy yesterday about their courses and it says on their facebook site (Monday) that all details, application forms etc would be available on their website "within the next few days". Once they are available they will appear on their home page as 'latest news' aswell as in the education section. They have rejigged the courses for week 2 a little this year so that there are now 3 levels instead of 2.

Heard of another DADA yes today and one on the reserve list. Fingers crossed to those still waiting.

That has been my concern with some of my DD's applications this year too. She didn't apply for ENBS but we are familiar with the school and building. At least your DD has been living away from home to know how she copes with that aspect. Really it is more of how independent she wishes to be. Elmhurst may be a boarding house but I believe they can still get meals at the school (I think?) whereas ENBS she has to be more self sufficient. Good luck.

Good luck to your DD with her decision. I'm sure in terms of training it must be a win win situation. I'm guessing this one will be done to her gut feeling of which suits her as obviously the schools are very different in atmopshere and location and the acommodation too. A huge well done to her for having this decision to make in the first place.

Definately over subscribed - my DD has applied in the past, been waitlisted and not got a place and we know of several who applied, especially 2 years ago who had a 'no' in very nice letters explaining that the summer school had proved far more popular than envisaged.

Good luck to all of you awaiting news from Tring and other final auditions. Letters must be out about now for just about all the 6th from places as isn't Central the only one with finals still to go? DD has been too busy with exams and practicals to think about it much but I really hope we hear by the Easter hols as I think she will find it more difficult to concentrate on revision when she is home all day. And she may still need that academic back up plan for September!!

A few years ago now I was talking to a mother at a BRB workshop who told me her daughter was at Elmhurst. DD and her friend came out chatting with this woman's daughter as DD's friend knew the girl because she did RBS Associates with her. I don't think it matters whether a vocational school approve of their students doing associate classes or not - some people will do them regardless. I agree it seems unfair and as spannerandpony points out - when does the child get quality rest?

Well done to your DD Angela. She is a lovely dancer - I spotted her at the BRB class. I was actually the mum stood opposite you as we waited for our DDs to come out - the last ones of course. I only realised who you were when I saw your DD and then too late to say hello. Never mind - another time. My younger DD will be so thrilled to hear your news.

Congratulations to those offered a place and commiserations and sympathy to those who were not. A special thought for you and your DD Brankruptmum - a lovely healthy attitude there and I am sure you will make the most of your DD being home again - even if it ends up being briefly. On the subject of attending more than 1 final audition. Sending your child away at 11, even if it is to follow their dreams, is not an easy decision for most parents and personally I would have wanted every opportunity to revisit schools to reinforce impressions/decisions. When you know a school only by reputation and have no personal knowledge, accepting the first offer and not attending any other finals does require complete confidence from both parents and the child that the first school really is their preferred choice. Not easy on just one short visit. And incidentally, I do know of more than one child in the past who has chosen Elmhurst over White Lodge. I also know of one girl some years ago who went to White Lodge because of its status, hated it, left and auditioned for Elmhurst the following year. Each child is an individual and each family is different and each needs to do their best for their child as they would faced with any decision, not just applying to ballet school.

As you can read in the thread above my DD met several girls from in the final 2 years of Ballet West. Cannot remember any details of what they told us but the gist was that they absolutely loved the course and the performing opportunities. We've had the prospectus and read up on it and my DD would love to go there. Re funding : obviously Laines comes in the high fees or DADA camp but Ballet WEst is part of a university surely and as far as I am aware you can therefore get the normal student loans for fees and accommodation, the same as any university student. You then only start to pay back the loan once you are earning above a certain threshold. For us the finances would probably be the deciding factor ultimately, as the training will be excellent at both places.