Peanut68

Great idea from Glowlight....maybe your DD’s current overseas school has links already with a U.K. establishment? Perhaps they could liaise to help your DD do one (or more if needed) term as an ‘exchange’ student. This may well be possible as I’m imagining many are not taking up places as families feel less inclined to have youngsters overseas (either leaving from or coming to U.K.) when there is real risks of additional virus ‘spikes’/local or national lockdowns & return from travel quarantines around the world..... these times are certainly troubling & future changing

I’m feeling rather shocked & ill informed....clearly I’ve not thought to read enough or ask enough questions....yes, I knew ‘private’ schools do not adhere to same rules/scrutiny as ‘normal’ state funded (how do state funded academies fit in this? And MDS/DaDa supported dance courses ARE state funded in effect) hence can employ people in roles without perhaps the ‘traditional expected qualifications’ (& yes, I appreciate that sone fantastic teachers come more from a place of educating from high depth personal experience in professional careers etc) BUT surely the safeguarding & pastoral care for anyone under 18 should still be subject to exactly the same ‘rules’ ‘regulations’ ‘inspections’ ‘monitoring’ & ‘complaints & grievances’ procedures as absolutely anywhere where young people study/play/work.... Realuse we parents can be very naive & trusting & possibly a little ‘star struck’ when looking at institutions/teachers etc....be it local/national/international full or part time courses or classes..... I truly hope this makes us & they industry’ wise up quick! We must also acknowledge that very many ‘private’ schools (including I’m sure some vocational ones our youngsters attend) do comply to relevant safeguarding & pastoral guidelines & accountability..... But it is our responsibility as adults to ensure our young people are aware of what is acceptable behaviour & what is not & to not be starry eyed or just accept where they see ‘favouritism’ as ok/normal but to question & ‘look out’ for wrong doing & look out for their peers too.... difficult I know in what has become a very competitive arena (remember they’ve all just competed for places for funding & now will do again for parts in shows, to be chosen for competitions etc & then for jobs) Plus it’s all very much part of how they look physically.....and at a time when they are only just becoming fully aware of their own bodies/sexuality/desires etc..... (this goes for males & females who can both be vulnerable & manipulated & abused.) I’m aware that it’s hard for ‘bodies’ like the RAD to get involved beyond ‘chucking members off their lists of RTS or withdrawing paid membership.... and therein lies the chief issue....elite sports & arts training such as dance NEED a truly independent regulating body to protect & support our youngsters (& the sports & arts themselves) I see a need for perhaps a new Government (not just industry) funded & publicly accountable body to oversea across these areas with specialist divisions (for dance/music/drama/gymnastics/ football/rugby/tennis/swimming etc etc etc) My musings...

I think Danceworks Ballet Academy can specifically tailor a course to an individual’s needs (& presumably budget....) Coukd be a temporary option to get appropriate level training? https://danceworks.com/london/intensive-mentored-dance-programme/

Exactly illustrates my point - thank you for sharing your personal experience Bluebird These high costs to maintain membership (& keep skills up to date & relevant) are what puts many off doing so....especially where perhaps they themselves are teaching in a low key way (eg. Running 2-3 adult classes once a week with no intention to take exams). However, this ought not negate professionalism (& indeed I guess the whole safeguarding issue is more critical when teaching minors - though again I question myself here as adults too can be vulnerable.) And I know myself adults want to & should have opportunities to take exams & perform. Msybe more involvement by the ‘bodies’ is needed & more sliding scales of membership fees based on number of classes run/number of exam entrants annually/or a levy within fees charged to pupils that could be linked perhaps to insurance thereby providing parents/pupils a level of reassurance (though can see how this would be difficult to enforce & keep a check on) Ir a while new model whereby students pay an element of fee registration....lower costs to teachers as this would be subsidised by pupil payments so in effect larger schools would ‘pay’ more than smaller.... I’m sort of thinking how annually fir my sons rugby (& I think football t FIFA too?) we have to pay 2 ekemebtsof subscriptijn - one to the RFU which includes an element of insurance & also means we parents & the player sign up to rules & regulations - not a bad idea for dance too? More of my personal musings (not from any truly qualified point I must add!)

A weird anomaly (RAD loophole?) I think often found in big & small schools alike is how often that lots of the teachers teach the RAD syllabus but often only one has ‘Registered Teacher Status’ with RAD so all exam entries go through them... I think this is partly due to the high cost/time commitment preventing teachers doing the organised RAD teacher training & lack of available funding or support (such as schools prepared to hire unqualified teachers & not prepared to invest in their staff’s continued training) & must in part also suggest there is not enough governance in the industry or perhaps enough weight or value placed in the various industry bodies qualifications? I cant imagine many areas of education where this can be the case? A maths teacher without a maths degree or diploma & PGCE (sorry if this is all wrong....am writing as onlooker not with any expertise) But then few have to totally self fund courses to become qualified in mainstream teaching subjects to my knowledge? I know there are courses (such as dance degrees with RAD & other colleges) which I presume can attract student loan financing but on the whole so much in the dance world requires a high money outlay which - esp. if teaching in a typical more ‘recreational’ school - could take a very long time to recoup. So, whilst organisations, school owners, parents & students do not demand for schools to all only employ/work with qualified teachers, then we will never have the back up of those organisations to truly moderate & guarantee standards or even be able to be at all accountable for them. It devalues their brand & even the RTS as a qualification. It leads to RTS teachers entering candidates in their name from their schools (& often even from other schools) that they have not necessarily ever taught or even met! I think there needs to a far broader shake-up of so much in the dance world..... for instance, a qualified teacher will be one who has trained in safeguarding one presumes? And to retain RTS, then proof must be provided of ongoing CPD (& I hope - but do not know - if this then requires ongoing safeguarding training/registration/enhanced DBS checks etc to comply with latest best practices?) To chaperone young dancers a safeguarding online course has to be completed....yet to assist in a dance class this does not seem to be required? This ought not to be the case surely? So come on dance world - get evaluating & get proactive! And RAD (& I’m sure others...) clean your house to close these loopholes....make having RTS with these bodies a requirement for all teachers & not merely a rubber stamp for exam entries... And this I anticipate will require many more to enroll on courses....well, surely this then could bring fees down? Especially as so much is delivered online anyway (& not just since Covid) delivering costs & mentoring & asessng surely can be recouped by more being able to participate in training if it’s cheaper to do? i ramble on again but hope people here get the gist....

Lovely upbeat post Tulip - thank you! And congrats to your DD achieving her ambitions (& to you & your family for seeing all your years of support & sacrifices rewarded by her achievements & hopefully long & happy career/s!) Also, I do hope all students, parents, friends & employees will feel empowered to stand up, speak up & shout out & seek redress where necessary when they witness any wrong doing or unhealthy actions within any educational establishments anywhere in the world!

It struck me at the time that the latest (ugly & odd) extension to Hampton was throwing good money away.... I rather hope some super rich person buys it & reinstates it as a grand residence....but there would be much of the horrid additions to remove....& dare say high demand for rooms in Chester.... Probs will become bedsits? Am sure one day Hammond will get permission/enough land Ownership to actually build purpose built boarding on the Hoole Bank site.... Though must add, our kids did have ‘best of both worlds’ living where they could walk into city centre at weekends & the ‘bus to school’ gives an element of normality & differentiation between ‘home’/school.... I just really struggled with the grottiness of Hampton - especially the rear entrance/hallway/kitchen. But, think it’s provided many with lots of stories to entertain their grandkids in years ahead!!

Hope the tradition of school st Hampton is maintained? Maybe turned it to 6th firm/degree student accommodation???

Well not before time & imho long overdue! Could well be a factor though in there perhaps being less bursary support available? Money can only be spent once....I think investment in boarding however absolutely the right priority & hope all enjoy the improvements! Out if interest....are these in addition or instead of Hampton Lodge/Clovelly/Betty Hassell Houses? Apologies - am being a nosey ex parent!

New boarding houses....not before time!!! I’m intrigued to hear more about these!

I think RBS course also had a teacher enrollment to ‘watch’ classes for a fee.... I certainly had an email but very late in day to enrol with link to pay but a) didn’t really see value (unless it counted as COD credits I guess) & b) couldn’t really see it could benefit me much in terms of learning teaching skills - would rather save money for studio courses...

Thanks Bangor - Wasn’t too sure.....knew about the tax hencevno benefits etc....still UK passports now/post Brexit? And so how do these Island residents get funded for vocational training out if interest?

Again I may not be right on this but think places like Jersey/Isle of Man might not elegance for MDS so it’s possible local authorities may assist funding as I’m sure I’ve heard of people from those regions attending schools with help...they are still part of overall UK so might give a precedent for you to present?

Local authorities used to be the bodies that funded arts education but I think once MDS & DaDa funding from Central government was established this largely ended....though each authority may be different so worth looking into for any candidate. Also they can usually provide you with a list specific to your region of charitable bodies which might help arts (though in my experience the funding generally - not always - is for more university age or for small amounts more like a grant towards kit etc....but as they say, every little can help!) Also look for very local to you organisations; we’ve benefited from small (c. £300 annually) from a local Arts Society who make awards to children & adults in very small geographic area to help further studies/but kit/attend courses etc. I have heard in large city areas of sizeable awards (probably not anywhere near full funding but might be a game changer!) from organisations like Rotary/Lions & Masons (though it can be a long drawn out process with no guarantees & often needs to be almost a year in advance if starting (which is daft as you don’t know you need funding until after finals etc....) But if you don’t ask you don’t get! good luck to all still needing that vital funding xx

Do check what T&C’s you’ve signed up to with registration for this if any school/course with Sept start date. By simply not paying may not protect you if you’ve actually signed what could be construed as a contract or written ‘significant intent‘ to join as that might make you liable for the first terms fees that they could (let’s hope none would) go after you for....and if schools are suffering financially in these challenging times their governing boards & finance masters may indeed force hands to chase for any contractualMy agreed payments!!! CHECK!!! and good luck to all still hoping to secure places/funding at any schools x

I thought Carlos Accosta had recently become Patron of Elmhurst Ballet School? Please correct me if I’ve got that wrong! Is this then a sign of forging closer links with the two schools closely aligned to the two ‘Royal’ companies (RB & BRB)? It does seem that ‘names’ are often linked left right & centre as they are regularly asked to align their name to help with prestige/fundraising etc (though some could potentially view these 2 asssociations as a conflict of interest....?)

I suspect ‘make-up’ was a euphemism to explain money to buy ‘unmentionsbles’!!! Ie. To buy sanitary products for time if the month....my we have come a long way with more openness etc....now did the VAT on said items get cancelled in the last budget orbis that a battle still to be won??

Never really thought about it but actually the MDS dance kit allowance probably ought to increase by age (& dare I say gender?) to reflect extra costs when numerous pairs of pointe shoes are used 0 per term plus dance uniform requires tutus & skirts....maybe reduce the early years (sorry - that will make me unpopular!! ) & make kit allowances to up the pointe shoe years....????

Remember there will be new drama & new music course year 7’s (though they do not qualify to be considered for MDS....not sure if any fee remissions go to those courses either?) Pretty sure a few years back it was 16 started year 7 dance but that a couple left over time & lots of new starters in years 8/9/10 so it expanded in size

Wow, that’s a lot of shoes....so RBS shoes not free to all then? Another one of those ballet myths?

It can be Day or Boarding (from school year 4-6) but it is not really so much an early start in full time vocational as we understand it from year 7, but more a very small prep school within the larger setting of Tring (with no funding available). They benefit from performance related lessons in addition to regular academic curriculum with great vocational teachers (dance/drama/singing etc) & using the wonderful Tring facilities. Plus a chance to see the older students productions etc so it’s a lovely immersive experience. It is entry by audition (but remember, no funding so it’s not going to be an opportunity available to all so not a true reflection of the greater talent pool out there!) with a mix of interests across all performance genres. I would not say it is perfect preparation for pure ballet vocational auditions for year 7 entry nor is it a guarantee of a place (or funding) to join onto any of the courses at Tring main school. They still have to audition for places on the courses (dance/drama/music/performance foundation) & if successful first round of dance then they have to do the MDS funding audition alongside every ‘external’ candidate. I would really assess your own individual family needs & finances & see what you can achieve in terms of quality/quantity of training locally & with associate schemes etc. Tring CBA (Classical Ballet Academy) & other similar quality ‘associate’ schemes probably offer higher level targeted ballet training than in the Prep ballet classes as it’s entry by ballet audition so all in classes are ballet focussed with ballet potential. Good luck all! And as others say, the rejections can be character forming & helps individuals truly set their goals & design paths to achieve them!

Should have been words along the line of “.....and I believe they get visits from very experienced fitters (& shoe makers?) & get a completely individual ‘prescription’ if you like for the best shoe for them” If they need a longer this or that it a firmer section on one foot - they get it with chance to tweak & redo their ‘prescription’ as they grow/develop as dancers. With that level of personalisation I expect even within just one brand all could happily get the ‘dream shoe’ with the school benefitting from more standardisation of colour/look & knowledge of level of expertise in fitting & steady supply! All that from my line of gobbledeegoop!! 😁

Oh dear....what was that???? Can I blame typing on an iPhone late st night???? I promise no 🍷🍷🍷involved!!! Will go back to my messsage to see what I’d INTENDED to type & re-write!!

Here’s still hoping for your DD Princess Dreams & for others still waiting.... Still hold hope as I do think this year -more than any other - places are not 100% firmed up yet & even come September/October there could be options opening up...xx

I may be wrong but I think a certain prestigious school insist on one particular brand....but then I believe (again, might be wrong!) thatvthrg get I fividusljt fitted & if needed bespoke shoes made to fit/suit each individual wearer....& (agsin, I might be wrong!) they are free to the wearer!!! My DD would be doing pointe in Dr Martens if they were free 🤣🤣🤣