JA_Dad

Congratulations GollyRox. Great news. Regarding the Funding mix up, does anyone know whether those starting in lower sixth this year at Tring will remain on MDS for years 2 & 3 or will it refer back to DaDa ?

Hello to all, happy 2014, and here we go again..... I've just done a bit of catching up so welcome LittleNutcracker and MVOBE, enjoy the ride. These forthcoming weeks and months can be very tense, frustrating and anxiety filled but at the same time extremely exciting. I wish you and your DC's well. Good luck at Elmurst tomorrow today MVOBE, it's a lovely school and has always left a good impression on us. (I think I know who you are and if I'm right, I'm sure he'll do just fine.) I have to say that the talk of regrets over opting for vocational boarding is a tad un-nerving to us as we're only 4/5 months into that journey and with it being so soon after having made that decision. We, like many others I've read on these forums, would never have considered boarding prior to all this so it has been a dramatic and sometimes traumatic choice for us to make. I am, however confident that it is the right thing for our DD having seen how well she's taken to the life and how much she loves to be there but would add that it's almost impossible to advise others on though as it's such a highy individual choice both for child and parent. now, to matters in hand; Does anyone have any insight into when the WL finals yay/nay letters are due ? I know that there are still some auditions to come but my partner and I were argui..... debating as to whether in the past couple of years we'd recieved the letters before the other centres had completed or not ?

Congratulations to both. See you on Induction Day which we believe to be May 18th. (I make that 11 forum members now with DC's who will be there.)

The RBS audition processes is quite similar to that of Elmhurst's as described by angela_s. First auditions are held at the 4 main associate centres around the country, (London, Birmingham, Bristol & Manchester), and consist of an hour long class in front of a panel of 3 or 4. Parents don't get a look in though, although you do get a brief talk by whoever is in charge for the day. White Lodge finals are held on two separate days and on each day the auditionees are split into 2 separate groups. One day is set aside for Year 7 Girls numbering approx. 30 to 40 who were split by age on our occasion. The other day contains one group of Year 7 Boys numbering 20 to 30 and a second group of Girls and Boys auditioning for years 8,9 &10. The format of both days are much the same…. The day starts at approx. 9:00am and the children are taken off to start their activities almost immediately. Depending on which group they’re in, the order of their schedule will vary but it will consist of… A One and a half hour Ballet Class in front of a panel of 8 or 9. Physio assessment including measurements, stretches & general poking and prodding etc. Informal chat, (this is the “Interview”) where our DD was asked about family, her current school & favourite subjects, living away from home etc. Writing task. Nothing too academic, they are just asked to write something about their family or a favourite book for example. Tour of the school. Lunch, (they take a packed lunch). We were categorically told that the interview and writing task were in no way part of the selection process and were just a way of gathering information and having some reference points for those that do eventually start at the school. The physio assessment, however, is very much a part of the audition as I understand it. As for you as a parent, once the children have been taken away, you have a very informative and re-assuring talk with some senior members of staff and the pastoral team where topics such as term times, the school day, weekend logistics, student wellbeing & school policies are described. On both occasions that we’ve attended there were also a lot of questions from the floor and you can learn a lot. You’re then taken on a tour of the school before being left to your own devices. We’ve tended to disappear off into Richmond or Sheen for a bite to eat and nervous chat at this point. You can then return to the school in the afternoon in time for the candidates being released at around 4:00pm. There are occasionally call-backs at the end of the day where the panel may want a second look at some of the children. This causes much speculation but as has been discussed on this forum, is best not to be read into.) Additionally, throughout the day there are members of the PTA at school, raising funds via the selling of RBS merchandise and more importantly making themselves available to answer questions on parenting a White Lodgian. The difference at Elmhurst was that there was no interview and this year there was no written task. (last year there was an IQ type aptitude test. I don’t know if they’ve dropped this now or it is just a Year 7 thing ?) All in all, we have found finals at both White Lodge and Elmhurst to be great days out which our DD has thoroughly enjoyed and both parent and child have always come away excited and with an extremely positive view of both schools. (OK, not quite a novel then, so if I've missed anything or you have any further queries, keep posting.)

Blimey O'Reilley. There's so much to say. Alas, I don't think I've the time to do it justice right now. Anyone ? If no-one else has posted by tomorrow evening, I'll put together a short novel.

Congratulations Plié, I hope your DS is pleased now after watching his sister celebrate last week. We were just discussing your situation here and it sounds like you've got some big decisions to make. Do you have any idea what you're going to do ? Will it be one at each school ? or is YDA still on the cards ? Have they been seperated at school before ? We too had 'Yes' for our DD today but she has her heart and mind set on WL. I don't know how Elmhurst work their waiting lists etc. but it appears there may be a fair amount of duplication in offers so good luck to anyone who's still waiting.

We are officially still waiting on an Elmhurst result but have accepted the WL offer. 1 week from reciept of the offer is what's stipulated.

Hi Piglet, It sounds like you're in a very similar situation to that in which we found ourselves last year. Our DD got an MA place after a 'No' from WL finals and continued with just an additional 2 or 3 local classes a week (albeit with an outstanding ex-RBS teacher) whilst moving up to the local comprehensive for her academics. It remains to be seen how difficult it will be for her to fit in with a year group who have already had a years full-time vocational training but looking back, I think even she would agree that she wasn't quite ready last year. There's no doubt that the MA classes, her local teacher and a week at WL summer school have all contributed but in truth she has simply matured mentally and as a result, blossomed as a dancer over the past 12 months. I'm sure that different children will mature and fully realise their potential at different ages and that the level and quantity of training at this stage is not necessarily the most important factor. I am, however, by no means an expert and have only my own limited experiences to draw upon. The best advice I can give is to listen to the wise words of others on this forum, there's a wealth of knowledge and experience here. Good luck to your DD with that MA place and whatever future opportunities come her way.

cheers hfbrew. *Blush*

It was a 'No' last year but a 'Yes' this time for Year 8

Anymore for anymore this morning ? It appears not. Maybe the postal service are just being a lot more efficient this week. Anyhoo, and please forgive me for potentially getting a tad too gushy here but I’d like to take this opportunity to big up this forum…. I originally joined during last years WL audition process and found this forum a great source of information and news especially as a relative newbie to the whole venture. I was off work sick with a fever whilst awaiting this years results and it was a great help to be able to spill my rather neurotic and sometimes delirious thoughts in this way. Through this particular thread and some PM’ing, I’ve now managed to make contact with another parent of a girl in the same year that my DD will be joining in September. In turn, she has now introduced herself to some of the incumbent inmates as part of some pre-White Lodge social networking which’ll hopefully make the whole transition a tad less daunting for her come the autumn. This has only been possible thanks to this forum, its contributors and administrators. I can only urge the many “guests” who have been viewing this thread over the past few weeks to get involved. It can be very rewarding. A special and final congratulations to Spax, Tippy_Toes, balletjack, theodore, plié, Sherbert, krishell and Belijul who all had family members receive ‘Yes’s this year. See you on induction day.

Wow, now they're flooding in. Congrats balletjack

Excellent news TippyToes. A huge "Well done" to your daughter. Enjoy the rest of the day.

Hi Pas De Deux, Sorry to hear of the 'No'. As I understand it, there was 1 place given to a Year 8 Girl, 3 Year 9 and there were at least 3 Year 10 available but I don't know if they were all filled. As for the boys, I only know that there was 1 Year 8 Place available, and there would have been at least a potential 2 for Year 9 due to the extra beds. No idea about Year 10. I should advise though, that if your DD is currently Year 9, next year would not usually be auditionable,(if that's a word ?). Changes to the student numbers will rarely be made during years 10 & 11 as the students are studying for their GCSE's

And so, potential Year 7's, now it begins...... For those of you who haven't been keeping up or had time to trawl through the last 9 pages, here's the rub..... If it's a 'Yes', it'll come in a very plain A4 envelope with no RBS stamp, postmark of "JUBILEE MC" with just a single address label, addressed to an individual rather than "To The Parents of....". If it's sadly a 'No', it'll be in a standard DL sized envelope with the usual RBS markings. There's some anecdotal suggestion that the 'No's may be posted the day before the 'Yes's in which case..... nothing in the post on Tuesday is a good sign; nothing by the time the Postie passes on Wednesday is a very god sign; nothing by Thursday and you'll likely have very short nails, handfulls of hair and be on the phone to the school. Best of luck to all of those waiting.

With only last years experience to go on, I'd suggest that it's likely to be at the latter end of this timeframe at best. Finals were a week or two earlier last year and we didn't receive our Mids letter 'till the end of March.

I fear that may be tempting fate somewhat again which is something I've been trying my best not to do lately. besides, I still have a JA in Year 5 hoping to follow in her sisters courus so with any luck, I'll be a JA_Dad for a while yet. Once again thanks for all the congrat's, I'm pleased to have kept so many entertained throughout the day. It was terribly nerve-wracking at this end but well worth it as I'm sure many of you will empathise with. After a 'No' from last years finals, I can equally empathise with those that didn't get a positive result this time. It's a blow but our DD has proven today that when you really want something and you put in the effort, you can bounce back. ...and as a final sign-off, Good luck to all the year 7 girls for tomorrow. Enjoy the ride......

Thanks for all the congratulations. I shall pass them on when she gets out of school. (she still doesn't know yet.) no Soph, she's not at YDA, she's an MA but good luck to anyone else who's still waiting.

the results are in and it is a Yes.

Oh My! What are you trying to do to me.

The 'No' our DD got last year was certainly in a small envelope but fate is without doubt, indeed being tempted here so I'm going to find something to do to distract myself.

Difficult, yes but I can't open it on my own. I'd get in big trouble. Our DD has been climbing the walls in anticipation albeit with a healthy dose of pesimism of course. It really would be a dream come true for her. @Sherbert : was it a 'Yes' for your DC ?

I've traced the postmark on the mystery A4 envelope to the Hounslow sorting office which is just 2 miles outside Richmond! Now I'm nervous......

Hi Spax, Was it addressed to you directly or to "The parents of....." as with usual corrospondance ? We've had nothing again this morning however there is an A4 envelope addressed directly to my partner ? very plain looking. It's probably a red herring and I promised not to open anything until both our DD and her mother are home later but I'm extremely curious as to why we've still not heard?

Hi Suzyszoo, Best not to second guess these things, (but I will anyay)..... As has been mentioned on this thread, it's a little odd that they are leaving a week between the girls Year 7 and 8,9,10 finals. There certainly has been some flexibility in the numbers studying per year in the past so it's possible that they may be holding off on some choices until they've seen the year 7 batch ? Pure speculation, I know but we still haven't heard when others on here have mentioned recieving letters on Tuesday ? It could of course just be a postal service thing however we don't live a great distance from London or in the sticks ? There has certainly a waiting list in the past for year 7's. I don't know about other years ?