amos73

If vocational schools haven't all broken up and normal schools haven't I wonder who they are expecting to apply apart from International students - it is quite baffling?!

Yes, WLSD is the non vocational dance school run by Anna, that is affiliated with YDA. My DD does after school classes there and the teaching is first class. She even has two of her lessons with the year 7 vocational students so the standard is high. Can't recommend it enough!

Have sent you a PM

The Music & Dance Scheme is a means-tested scheme open to children who satisfy the age and UK residence qualifications. The level of funding provided is dependent on the gross parental income in the household where the child normally resides, with an allowance given for other dependent children in the household. (Took this from the Elmhurst website!)

I thought it was the income of the house the child lives in full time?

Hi I'm not sure whether or not they got in from SS. I think the earlier post did say there were 2 overseas students but the rest of the recruits were JAs. My DDs ballet teacher knew of the two overseas students who had places in the summer so I would guess that means they weren't taken in from SS but I could be wrong. I wasn't aware of a funding cut to MDS but just that they were going to have to close the museum due to lack of funds. Re EU applicants on the RBS website it says as below, which doesn't sound like lower school students from EU get funding? Students who have lived in the UK for two calendar years commencing 1 January and are under the age of 20 on the first day of the academic year can access means tested financial assistance for tuition and boarding fees. UK residency is essential, simply holding a British passport does not entitle students to access this funding. Students who have lived in the European Economic Area for three calendar years commencing 1st January, who are over the age of 16 and under the age of 20 on the first day of the academic year can access means tested funding for tuition fees only. Such students may be awarded means tested bursaries to help with boarding and living fees. For households on the lowest incomes, grants are also available for travel and uniform costs.

Same for My dd. Both weeks are before term ends and it's her last year at primary so she would not want to miss that.

Yes they definitely can apply there is a separate application form for international applicants on RBS website and this year 2 international students have started year 7 after getting places. Apparently there are still 12 uk girls so they have taken 14 girls this year. Kind of why I was wondering if they are looking to boost funding if they are taking in more than twelve. I know they had to close the WL museum due to cuts in gov funding.

Haven't done any applications yet but DD will be auditioning this academic year for Yr 7. It's all the diff photo requirements that are putting me off at the moment. Hoping to pin DD's teacher down next week and enlist her help.

At a guess 'MumsNet'?

Exactly my thoughts Pictures - DD would never want to miss her leavers party at primary school which is during the second week of the SS. Edited to add - Just a thought re the SS. As was mentioned on the other thread having the Summer school earlier may be to encourage international students, but I was wondering WHY they want to do this? Do they pay more than UK students for SS? It would be interesting to know if there is in general a push for more overseas students due to reduced funding for the school - I know that this year for example WL year 7 took in two international students who would of course be paying full fees, and not eligible for MDS. It would make sense if there are general government cutbacks affecting the arts and RBS is feeling this. (Although I realise this has nothing do with the JA experience day so apologies for going a bit off-thread).

I would agree Pictures that it is the audition which really matters - although I can't help thinking it makes sense to get the best possible photos you can! It is the visual reference they are left with and you want to show your DC in the best possible light in them.

Odd - they have done this with the Summer school for next summer too - both WL weeks are before schools finish. Hard to understand why.

I suppose so but we are a london school. Term doesn't finish till the end of the second week of summer school. And judging by this years summer school dates next years starts two weeks earlier!

Yes, that's what I thought when I saw the dates. Seems a bit odd.

Just seen that applications open for the summer school next year already! But then looked at the dates for WL and saw that both weeks are actually before school term (or at least state school term) ends - is this normal? I thought it took place during the summer holidays.

I have to confess it's been so nice having a break from all the driving her to and from classes!

Yes, agreed. It is really informative and Anjuli writes so well. Hi PV! Haven't seen you post on here for a while. Hope all good with you and DD and she is looking forward to starting Tring CBA and YDA associates in September. Also, DD's old teacher always said she didn't have much turnout but after changing ballet schools and some private lessons too, where she was taught the correct muscles to engage for turnout and some homework exercises to help with it, guess what she has almost got flat turnout now!

Hi ballet mumealing All 3 you mention worth auditioning for. Dd does tring cba and YDA associates and we are in west London too. Tring have a nov audition so you could apply now. Also worth contacting YDA when they go back in new term as my dd auditioned for them last year mid term as some people had moved up to higher group and there were some spaces. Rbs auditions aren't till may next year. Good luck!

My DD can do box splits effortlessly, but has had to work hard at her turnout. She does exercises given to her by her teacher and has improved an awful lot but finds she is still more turned out on one side than the other. She can also get flat in froggy, which is an exercise often used to see the degree of rotation they have (I think), but still can't hold her turnout completely when standing. Although like I say it has improved a lot in five months of regular exercises - she is almost flat in 1st now and on one side in fifth but the other side (her less 'open' side) not as good in fifth. From what I have learned from speaking to teachers some people have bone structure that prevents them turning out, in other cases it can be muscle tightness from overusing certain muscles that can precent them from accessing their full turnout, and then they need to learn the correct muscles (deep rotators) to use to hold their turnout. This is why they could be flat in froggy but not when they stand in it. Maintaining their turnout is even harder when dancing - her teacher (who was a first soloist with the RB) says when dancing something difficult you have to think about actively maintaining it all the time. So, my understanding is you can have a lot of natural rotation but activating it and holding it whilst dancing takes a lot of effort and time to develop and use the correct muscles.

Congrats to your dd balletmum1979 also! Yes, hope to hear good news re swl for all those waiting.

Pictures which centre was that for? And cherry blossom congratulations and where and what year swl for your dd?

Thank you Gazelle and Bestfootforward - nice to hear there is some chance of a place. Perhaps I will give them a ring!!

Thanks JulieW! Yes, indeed there are many different outcomes and they are still young so who knows where they will end up and how they will get there. Thanks for sharing your dcs experiences! Really interesting to hear about their various paths.

Congrats balletmum20 on another SWL! your DC must have something they like to get it two years in a row. Although I understand frustrating too. Interesting to hear that occasionally places do come up on the SWL, tutu girl. I kind of thought they wouldn't as I couldn't think why a space would become available - does anyone know the reasons why a places would ever become available? Thanks