margarite

I’ve never added up the Ucas points from DD’s Intermediate exams (tap, modern and ballet) before, but according to the Ucas calculator she has just under a hundred … handy to have in the bag for the future!

Not strictly a ballet school, but  Hammond also does A-levels alongside the Trinity  Diploma 👍

I know of several girls this year who got into good upper schools (Tring, Elmhurst, Central, Hammond) without going to Lower vocational schools. They did however have weekend associates and other vocational-level classes during the week.

3 minutes ago, littledancer99 said:

We went to the Hammond summer school and my dd loved it. Mr Dutton was the ballet teacher who I believed trained at royal upper 

one year 11 boy this year has gone onto study at enb 

 

Two year 11 boys got into ENBS 👍

Agree with all the above about Hammond, it might not seem the obvious choice for classical training but the new electives from year 10 has really helped the more ballet- focused students (and of course the others with more of a commercial/MT or jazz focus to do more of what they prefer too). Exams have been good too - DD has now got eight GCSEs, intermediate ISTD qualifications in tap and modern plus Advanced  one in RAD. It’s a happy, friendly school.

Bumping this thread for @Pinksocks

Walking along the south bank from Waterloo (just over the bridge from Covent Garden) to London Bridge is always interesting, Festival Hall, National Theatre, The Globe and the Tate Modern are en route. As a Londoner I have done this countless times and still love it. Or you can walk the other way from Waterloo towards Vauxhall and the new Battersea Power Station redevelopment - there’s shops and cafes etc. The Sky Garden on top of the Walkie Talkie building near St Paul’s is free and an amazing view but you have to book in advance. If you like art the Wallace Collection (behind Oxford street near Selfridges) is amazing and also free. 
 

I must admit that I never did any of the above whilst I waited around - I usually had to find an ‘office’ for the day whilst DD danced i.e. a cafe with WiFi and a power socket for my laptop 🤣

I’ve always thought that a max of two week-long intensives was enough in the summer, with four weeks to rest, meet friends, spend time with family, do other hobbies, holidays etc. DD is 15 and just finished year 11 vocational school. She generally does two weeks of intensives, some residential, some not with a bit of self practise and stretching at home, and now she’s older, the odd open class at Danceworks etc. She always has around two weeks where she completely rests and does nothing at all, which I think is healthy. She would not be happy if she didn’t get her switch off time - come the last week of August she’s rested and raring to go! We viewed intensives as a useful way to view potential schools for 16+. And don’t worry about your daughter being left behind, I know DC who have gained 16+ places without doing 11+ vocational or multiple summer schools.

Bumping this as still for sale - happy to do a reduced price for the lot.

51 minutes ago, Tiaramum said:

Theres no need to get the professional ones if you are happy doing them or can do them with your dance teacher. If money isn't a major object then get them done professionally but find a proper dance photographer. Kate Frost is great if you can get in with her. 

We used Kate Frost and were very happy with the results. Always done pictures myself (sometimes with help from ballet teacher) for lower school/ intensives in the past, but having professional shots done for Upper school was the right decision for us.

We got professional shots done, but only as my daughter and I tend to argue if I try and do them! Never had it done professionally before, but it was worth it for us. Lots of her friends didn’t though so it’s definitely not expected. 

Just a note re Elmhurst - last year the prelim was a video round - with videos  due by the first week in December. Results for the semi- final round were sent before Christmas, I think DDs semi was the 25th Jan.

We didn’t do RBS or ENBS but think those had an extra video round too.

I have some Hammond uniform bits for sale, only the joggers have the school logo on:

Navy joggers with Hammond logo age 13 (guessing to fit size 4/6) £7

Navy Capezio thick strap Leo with pinch front size S £10 (hardly worn as too big)

Navy wrap ballet skirt (for year group 10/11) £8

Grey Roch Valley knit long sleeve v-neck warm-up size 3A £8

Postage £2-£3.50 depending on item. Can attempt to share pics if needed.

I would try and get official advice on this well in advance. As far as I know,  as we’ve just been through the Dada funding application process, the total of both parent’s P60s for the previous tax year (in your case 23/4) is what the calculation is based on - the only allowable deduction is for payments to a pension.  Good luck x

Thanks all for replying and therefore bumping the thread up so more people read it! I have had a very kind offer of a lift now ❤️

My DD was meant to be getting the train home from YBSS on 22nd July - but now a train strike has been announced for that day. If anyone is picking up from YBSS that day and travelling south, with room for an extra body, please DM me if you can help. I will of course contribute to petrol costs. Many thanks 

Yes for week 2 for DD aged 15 - something nice to look forward to after months of auditions and GCSE exams 🎉. She last went in 2021 and loved it.

Definitely not ‘utterly typical’ of the school - DD has been there for the last five years and I would say it’s a pretty caring establishment. As Betty’s mum said, I think there might be teething problems with the new audition/funding process, which is very unfortunate and frustrating for those currently going through it - but it’s not a reflection of the school experience as a whole. I hope everyone gets their answers soon ☘️

Same here. It was not DDs day today, she came out close to tears. One of those days where steps that she normally does easily just weren’t working 😢. Hope it went better for everyone else x

27 minutes ago, Adagio123 said:

Is this for weekends/down time? Ir do you mean TV or for shopping?

Emergency last-minute stuff - as they only get to the shops at the weekend - replacement water bottles, toe spacers, ballet tights, friends birthday gifts and lots of random stuff - bunny ears for the Easter party for example 🙄

22 minutes ago, sunrise81 said:

Get yourself a subscription to Amazon Prime 🤣🤣🤣

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YES! What did parents do before this existed?! Saved the day on so many occasions 

Congratulations to your DC. Firstly try and talk to existing parents at the school to see if there are any items on the uniform list that are optional or never used. We bought a scarf and coat for Hammond that never saw the light of day 🙄. A shower caddy is a great buy for storage and taking shampoo/ shower gel etc in and out of the communal showers. Start labelling items as soon as you buy them is my best tip as otherwise you’ll have a stressful couple of days in late August …

Over the moon to hear today that two Hammond year 11s have got into ENBS 🎉

My DD ( year 11) is at Hammond and took the classical/contemporary elective in year 10 and does around 21 hours of dance a week. She does roughly around 15 hours of ballet, two hour jazz lesson, three hours of contemporary and has one commercial lesson. She did tap until recently, but did her Intermediate exam and think she’s doing extra ballet instead now. The jazz/commercial elective obviously do less ballet and more jazz etc. The first three years were more mixed genre.

I love that she’s had such an all-round dance experience at Hammond (and is currently mulling over three Dada offers 🎉).

Hammond has a wide range of destinations for its Year 11s. Many choose to stay on for sixth form to gain the Trinity diploma while others head to Laine, Rambert, Central, Performers, Tring, NBS, RCS, KS Dance, Wilkes, from what I’ve heard over the years. This year there are finalists for Elmhurst, ENBS, RCS, Central and Tring funding - but obviously that’s still all TBC 🤞🏻

I have heard of a positive result - good luck to those waiting ☘️