margarite

I’ve never used a photographer for DD’s photos for lower schools/intensives (it’s just been me, an iPhone, some gaffer tape and a white sheet) but must admit we’ve gone to a professional for upper school admissions. For us, one less stress in a stressful year and no cries of ‘Mummm, you’re SUCH a bad photographer’ ‘you’ve made my legs look stumpy’ etc etc.

Thanks to everyone who posted or DM’d - much appreciated. Spreadsheet is filling up nicely 👍Would still like to hear from any Tring or BTUK parents 🙏

We’re deciding this month which upper schools DD will be applying for and I need help from current parents to try and work out how much we’ll need to pay on top of fees ( I have worked out our Dada contribution if DD is lucky enough to get one). I’d be really grateful if anyone who has children at the following schools ( or who have recently left) could DM me with roughly how much rent/food etc cost per month. Tring NBS RCS KS Dance Hammond BTUK thanks in advance 🙏

2 x BSBL velvet SAB skirts: Grey/silver XXS £10 inc postage Rose pink S £10 inc postage (has a very small mark in the fabric but hardly shows) Happy to send photos if you DM email address

DD is doing a shoot soon with several outfit changes so I’m looking for pre-loved skirts for her to wear - SAB style or knee or full length rehearsal. She’s nearly 15 but wears a size 4 so needs to be XS or petite. if anyone has anything suitable they’d like to sell in the next week let me know! Thanks

When DD’s year took IF in year 7, marks ranged from late 60s to just over 80 - all the kids discussed their marks freely. DD missed a distinction by one mark, but she wasn’t too upset as her last RAD exam 10 months before had been grade 3, so she’d had to make quite a jump in technique. I would say roughly 70% get distinctions? The only difference I’ve noticed is that there’s probably less hothousing in the run-up to the exam than what we experienced in her non- vocational school (e.g extra exam focussed lessons with fewer kids) but maybe that’s because the pupils at vocational school are seen as strong dancers so expected to take it more in their stride? In her last exam, less than half of DDs class were entered, and were told that they all had a good chance of a distinction.

DD did EYB twice in 2017/18 and they take roughly 50 kids for juniors and the same for seniors. Normally around 100 audition per age group so there’s around a 50% chance of getting in, which is pretty good compared to JA’s - which is roughly 10%! She really enjoyed it 😀. Good luck!

Remember that there will be children offered MDS who have offers from other schools, so some of the awards might be handed back. Several of DD’s classmates who got MDS awards for year 7 were originally on the waiting list. Good luck everyone 🤞🏻

Good luck everyone 🍀. It’s a fab school and my DD is loving her time there. Fingers crossed for lots of MDS offers xx

Fair point, but someone did report a ‘no’ further up the thread 👆

I think most people with a ‘no’ don’t tend to come on here and report it! That’s why it seems that ‘everyone’ has a yes or waitlist. I know from past experience that there are lots of ‘no’s’ as both DD and her many of her friends have had them! Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m guessing the majority of applicants would get a straight no?

My daughter has been applying for RBS intensives since she was 10 and after many ‘no’s’ finally got waitlist and then a place for the spring intensive this year. Don’t give up 💪

My daughter got a place from the waitlist for the spring intensive so you never know 🤞🏻

Waitlist for DD age 14 🤞🏻

That sounds amazing thank you! Yes very happy to pay postage x

My daughter is 14 (year 10) - she got a place from the waitlist last week for the 14/15 year old classes. Good luck!

Bloch Arpeggio or similar (I think Capezio do a similar one too): Camisole straps Pinch front Princess seams To fit small size 6. Thanks

I’m so pleased for you both! Congratulations x

I would say you should definitely apply again as even getting a waitlist place is hard. My DD is full time at vocational school, dances 21+ hours a week and this is her ninth application for a RBS course (including associates and FT) and her first waitlist!

There’s been more movement - DD has been offered a place from the waitlist!

I've gaffer-taped up a white sheet to the wall as a backdrop – worked well once I'd cropped in. You couldn't tell it was a sheet in the photo. We lived in a very small, very old house at the time so finding somewhere to take a photo with nothing in the background was a challenge (I won't even mention the other challenges of the sloping floor and tiny ceilings 🤪).

I’ve always done them (apart from for Year 7 auditions when we roped in DDs then dance teacher) and she’s been successful for all spring/summer intensives applied for (apart from waitlist for rbs) but it does come with the potential for arguments - especially if like me you have never danced and don’t exactly know where feet/arms look their best! We’ve decided to go pro for Upper School auditions (to take at least one stress out of the process) and will be booking a shoot.

We're happy with the academics at Hammond. My daughter (who was firmly in the middle of the class all the way through primary school and therefore a bit overlooked ) has really benefitted from the smaller class sizes ( approx range 8 to 15 pupils depending on subject). In maths and science in particular she's gone from needing quite a lot of support to being in the top third of the class and is on track to get some really solid GSCEs. Yes, there are less subjects to choose from, but this is balanced out by the extra attention each child gets.

Oh how annoying! My daughter also wears this style (but in a 6X) so if I spot any on my travels I’ll let you know xx

My DD (now in year 10 and still loving it) did a festival ballet solo which tbh she'd almost grown out of technique-wise, but I was advised for her to use it as she could really 'perform' on the day as she knew it so well. As Betty's mum said, Hammond really look at the performance side of things. Re the singing, DD practised this by herself at home a few times, but they are really not expecting a polished vocal performance, i think they can tell potential from quite brief vocals. Lots of DD's friends got MDS who can't sing!