sarahw

Great thanks- just checking letter hadn't gone astray- annual leave and all that...

From our experience of JAs applying to summer school only 1 or 2 got in from the centre. Some got SWL and never got in and some got nos. That was on multiple occasions.

call me cynical but I felt the swl was to justify the huge pressure put on parents to apply, with the associated fee, when there was virtually no chance of getting in......

I know others will disagree........

Hi

Has anyone had a letter with audition time yet? Thanks

Fusster

have sent you a pm

Hi Balletmummy,

I have a dc who changed at around 7 I would say. So it may yet happen! If it doesn't then you may be in a better position than those of us who have dc desperate to perform! ! Very expensive education with dicey career prospects is how I feel!

It is great that your dd has an active hobby so that is great and the most important thing. From what I have seen around me some just don't want to perform and as a parent once you have given them the opportunity I think you have to respect their decision. Have seen some very painful cases of dc at festivals who clearly don't want to be there. ...

PM if I can help in any way xx

Hi Ebony,

we had the same experience at one of the schools last year. We did tell dc from the start what the situation was- they still wanted to try and valued the opportunity and experience.

So while it is upsetting now, and I feel for you, it's awful, it doesn't mean you made the wrong decision to try and your dd will benefit from it in the long run. These experiences of rejection and the ensuing trauma will happen again in their lives and they will be ahead of those who have never been there before. And it makes them stronger. ....

Should have added any navy leotard- they do have a specific one but you can wear any without sleeves. You can buy a zip sweatshirt and joggers but optional. They are pretty laid back. Any pink ballet shoes full or split sole.The stuff is from Planet Dance but u will be sent a list in due course.

Hi

You can choose socks or tights. Hope she enjoys it ....

I should say this is in a school that achieves high results but the care for individuals is always there

My dcs teachers hand out the reports at the end of the lesson but I don't think they say the grade (although the kids compare straight away!). They then very kindly deal with any disappointment in individuals.

They would never do as initially described for exam entry. Generally they enter the whole class together. More able students will also be doing the class above to enable a 'jump' at some stage. If some are not completely ready they do a performance award instead.

Thanks Huddsballetmum

That is comprehensive information and very relevant to our situation. We don't need to make any decisions yet but I may well contact in the future.

Many thanks

Great. Thanks all for that information. I can see now why dc is struggling and frustrated with it at the moment. I think additional maturity will unmask the benefits.....

Hi all,

I have just been reading a thread about contemporary dance which then merged into a GCSE dance discussion.

I am interested to hear what you think about GCSE Dance. I am a non dancer with a dc who wants to go to vocational school to do ballet. DC is academic.

Now I guess if u get into a vocational school GCSE Dance is neither here nor there. But what if you didn't and wanted to keep the option of being a dance teacher in school open?

DC is in Y7. Disappointingly dance club is taught by PE teacher and DC does not consider it 'proper' dancing. Having said that the school recently put on an outstanding dance performance with mostly older children, which I assume was contemporary. ..

This is a choice we will need to make in the next couple of years....

I'm sure the RBS already know who is going to fail appraisals in advance..... Hopefully not many.... How stressful. ...

Should have added it is a nice problem to have! Well done to your ds

Suzyszoo

I think you have to do what you are comfortable with. I know I have seen a similar article in our local paper. Personally I would be dithering as well.

The other thing is you do have time- there is no rush so just think about it for as long as you need to- don't get rushed into a decision.

I know that not all those assessed out of WL have funding at Tring.

Adelia Wood Smith made it very clear to me that their priority for allocating MDS is Y7. But I don't think they had many MDS available this year.....

We have found the Wear Moi ones to be good, also capezio.

Hi Lilac,

Your dc sounds so much like mine I can't believe it. We have just had an associate appraisal also. I wish I had an answer. ... I will follow the thread with interest.

In my dc case it is self generated pressure. Our home teachers are fab and supportive which helps- as others have said getting them to look at smaller short term goals seems to help, is less overwhelming. I'm sorry to say a previous experience with an Associates teacher who wasn't able to be so intuitive with dc was quite damaging.

Good luck to you- it is so distressing for parent as well as child.

Hi Katymac

I have never met you but I have no doubt that you have/will help your dd make the right decisions for her. There can't be anyone else who has done more research and soul searching.

Just smile at them and thank them for their advice- with your fingers crossed behind your back.

Hi pictures,

I feel the same about ss- so confusing and my dc school has such a long break to fill it feels like it's just not possible. This year we have limited to 1 due to annual leave and sanity reasons but dc would go for 8 if able. It's very hard to tally it up with siblings and work...

This issue about RBS seems to arise quite often. People, quite naturally, assume the RBS must be best for everything and they haven't always researched other options. As in normal schools I think that different options are better for different children. It worries me because I know that some children at RBS feel a huge amount of pressure and they may have thrived better elsewhere.

I think it's in the uppet school audition thread?

VonRothbart

I am so sorry to hear that. They are clearly so nearly there. How frustrating. It will be a difficult few days but they will get through it and being so talented they will do very well in the future.