Tulip

Minoblade, I would highly recommend Central School of Ballet. If you achieve a place there, then they believe that everyone of their students are employable.

Congratulations to your son Harwel, perhaps he may enjoy dancing for fun, if he gets time x

Reading everyone’s post is just so sad and it is unforgivable that teachers are allowed to treat students this way. I think I can guess what school your daughter attends Chrystaltips, and hopefully things can only get better, well done to your daughter for having pure strength and determination to succeed in her passion and dream. This topic sounds very similar to another thread regarding teachers who bully. Good luck to your daughter Chrystaltips.

I believe for vocational schools they need to have a robust policy and procedure in place to address bullying and the meaning of bullying. Principles or head of schools must be regularly observing, supporting and offering training to their staff in this area. Some teacher and even parents don’t even realise that their methods of teaching is having a huge effect on these very young, talented students. It is not ok to ridicule students in front of peers, it is not ok to purposely ignore students etc etc. One incident that has always stuck in my mind and still upsets me even today, was when my daughter started her full time vocational school aged 12. She is a summer birth and was a tiny little thing, she was homesick and stressed as she was the newbie. Any way the teacher told the whole class to form a circle around my daughter, then asked everyone to put their hand up to say what was WRONG with my daughters plie. The whole class then began to have a go at saying what they thought was wrong, no other student was selected. My daughter was devastated, humiliated and very upset. She never cries in front of anyone, but she cried when she went back to the barr. It turns out that this teacher actually really liked my daughter and saw her potential. Sadly my daughter then started to understand that if this teacher was giving you ‘attention’ in this way, then you were liked. I actually ended up liking this teacher, but I have never forgotten how this tiny 12 year old, who was already stressed and sad was made to feel, and I totally disagree with her out of date training methods. I couldn’t report it, because my daughter didn’t need the added stress of me going into the school, meaning she would have to deal with the fall out, and I knew that would definitely happen as I’d been advised from other mums to not say anything. My little daughter toughened up and remained at her vocational school for four years, observing good practice and bad practice, she knew the difference. If at the end of her dancing career she chooses to teach dance, then at least she will know never to bully her students.

I feel I bit sick reading the article. I witnessed this behaviour many a time. Times are changing thank goodness. Another form of bullying is to completely ignore the student.

Can anyone recommend a good sports injury physio therapist up North, preferably Liverpool, St Helens areas please.

Very gentle hugs sent to you all, you will both get through this x

Note to self, I really need to improve my copy and pasting skills 🤦‍♀️🤪

to note the point that was being made regarding what might be characterized as ballet’s inbred, native, built-in culture of obedience. There exist traditional pedagogical attitudes which get passed down and perpetuated within a kind of at times cult-like mentality, some of which is a set of arbitrary, socially constructed beliefs rooted in thinking from centuries past, based on my readings and observations. Subordinated, disempowered individuals within an authoritarian hierarchy that can reward and punish will simply not just ‘speak up’ despite the abuse and torment... due to systemic beliefs and attitudes or culture whereby complaints are not well received, supported nor handled. Otherwise, why would it have taken so long for a significant, long standing, institutionalized shortcoming to have come to light? What role does top management have in down-playing any reported troubles? Thin, underweight female performers apparently has its origins with a certain, noted choreographer and is justified as a prescriptive, aesthetic ideal of the art form, much like the adoration of unnatural ankle-foot extension and turn out. Whether ballet can self reform is an intriguing proposition. Ballerina: Sex, Scandal and Suffering Behind the Symbol of Perfection D. Kelly Ballet Across Borders: Career and Culture in the World of Dancers H. Wulff A similar thing has happened with the American gymnastics, it took years to come to light, and be taken seriously. Some parents actually chose to shush their children so not to lose their place on the squad.

The academy has actually acknowledged that student have been physically and emotionally abused and have vowed to change its practice. Sorry I didn’t know how to copy the quotes from the report.

I just hope our children have a voice to speak up and not be afraid of any repercussions, not just in the ballet world but all situations.

There were 18 year old girls there when my daughter started.

Just to say a huge well done to all your very brave children who have auditioned. Every experience will have been valuable, from making friends, to being part of a vocational class. Dealing with the highs and lows are all part of being a professional dancer, it is a very long journey.

You could actually do a years full time training and then start auditioning for professional jobs, you never know unless you try?

Congratulations, Central is a fantastic school.

For my daughter it wasn’t a case that she wanted to go away to vocational school, it was a need, a thirst to really, really have to go. She was desperate to perform, loved it and yet she was a very quiet and very academic little girl. Her strength and determination got her through some of the tough times. I always asked if she wanted to come home, but she always said no this is what I have to do to become a dancer. I actually believe that our country has some excellent training and associate programmes alongside a very good education. If your child gets a place at a good vocational school, with good education, small class sizes etc, then be proud. If they change their mind or if it’s not the right pathway for them, then that’s fine too, best to have experienced the opportunity rather than regretting.

The Hammond have associate classes full of boys, see if you can get him auditioning there.

Thank you Anna. I will emphasise how important it is that it is no longer acceptable to put up with out of date attitudes, parents should understand that they do not have to put up with this, whichever school their child may attend. It is even worse if your child lives at a school seven days a week.

A massive spider. Have it attached to the lid by some fishing wire.

Can I ask why my post has been removed. If it is because names have been mentioned, then other people have named teachers and I can see that their posts are allowed. This Ofsted report is public, are we not allowed to discuss? Should other parents not be made aware that it is important to speak out, the old attitude of develop a thick skin, keep quiet, being ignored if to thin or too big, etc etc is no longer acceptable. Children are children, they should be safeguarded at all times, emotionally and physically.

I am so sorry that your child has suffered whilst at Tring, mine did too, but thank goodness she had some lovely teachers. My daughter will not even talk about her time at Tring. My husband and I both raised serious concerns but in my opinion these fell on deaf ears and my daughter suffered for it. We only allowed her to stay there to complete her GCSEs, she achieved a place at Central where she was very happy. I can only see this school now improving, however I think the Senior Leadership Team should have dealt with all these very serious concerns years ago.

Not a witch hunt at all, but we are discussing an ISI report that is public knowledge. I think everyone on this forum have agreed that now issues are being addressed the school will go forward. I’m just sad and rightfully so, that it took an unannounced visit from the ISI to identify serious issues, Instead of management dealing with them in the beginning.

Quite a scary read

Harwel I’m neither questioning nor quoting you. We are all on this forum for each other, to offer advice and support.

According to the report there is more than one issue that needs addressing, but good that regulators are in to interview pupils, I hope their families are allowed in to support them if needed during these interviews. Tring has some really lovely staff a few years ago, excellent teachers who were very nurturing and caring. However I can understand why the school failed on their whistle blowing procedures, and why teachers felt unable to follow the procedures.