Piepie

Thanks to everyone who replied on this thread, it has been really helpful. I think we are going to research our options of returning dc here, present them with these options saying either it's this year or next. I really like the thought that these years haven't been wasted, that they have provided a good grounding in dance and we can use this to build on. I do believe that dc will rise to the challenge, and if they want to dance, then we will do everything we can to support that whilst also keeping other doors open, rather than leaving them at that school and starting to feel that the cons are seriously outweighing the pros. Regretting not having got them into a summer school now! Really grateful for all the support, it's such a hard thing to talk about with other people who don't understand. xx

Thank you all so much for your input so far. I find myself feeling a bit upset reading the thread as it's such a difficult decision. Answering some questions: I haven't discussed it with my child as it is a very difficult discussion; I think they know that the academics is sub par, and that they are missing out, and that they are bored some of the time. This decision is massive, can a thirteen year old have enough input, I know I didn't have a clue at that age! I think this vocational school is meant to have better academics than others, so not sure transferring would make things better We are about an hour from London so could easily get in to the associates there. Our local school was okay, and I think could accommodate them, I think i will speak to the ballet teacher again about what might be possible. Yes, we would be in a better position to give more to the dance if they weren't at the school. Yes, I believe the school has been affected by same academic shortages in teaching. I think I agree about the academics being able to be done later, but think that GCSEs should be done now, plus as I mentioned dc is really quite bright. Please keep posting, this is really helpful!

Hi, I'm new to the dance forum but I really need help in making some decisions about schooling. My child is at vocational school, and doing fine in terms of ballet. However the rest of the schooling is really not good, issues with hiring and retaining academic teachers becoming worse and worse. My child is really quite bright, and it was a big sacrifice as we had to give up a non-means tested scholarship for an independent school to go to ballet school where we have now been means tested out of receiving any of the MDS. This would be fine if we only had one child, but we don't so we actually can't afford to go to the school. Plus dancing a lot, being guided by people who know about dance child likes it Minus academics rubbish too expensive can't do other sports not sure if a career in dance is a good one anyway So my query is can I bring them home and provide enough dance training and still give them the opportunity to audition for vocational again at 16 when I feel decisions about the rest of your life might have more weight than at 12, and with nine or ten good GCSEs in hand! I would love to hear from anyone else who has made this decision, and what it was like for your child when they re-integrated into mainstream. Thanks