Moonbeam

I think it might be to do with the numbers then, I just can’t understand why they didn’t put her in for it in March when they did have enough to do a RAD session as she had been in that class a year and at the rehearsal class for pre primary she was miles ahead of the other pupils as she had been in pre primary for almost 2 years and all but her had been in the class less than a year.  I don’t have a huge desire that she has to have all of her certificates especially when it’s just the primary exam so if they’ll move her to grade 1 without it I would happily do that as she dances a lot and has other exam experience as she does modern and tap too. 

Thanks Valentina, it’s very interesting you say that as the reason I was given for her spending a year and a half in each of the pre primary and primary classes was to build the foundations and now it’ll be 2 years in the primary class which I’m not sure of the benefit.  I am hoping I can get her into a grade 1 class soon. 

Thank you it’s good to hear about other methods of training, we just put the girls where we were recommended by a friend of a friend that is a dance teacher so I have nothing to compare it to.  I’m still hoping to have an open discussion about the future plans for exams and once I know what the plans are I will be in a position to make a decision.  I might be wrong with my timings, maybe once they move past grade 1 they speed up a bit but the earliest for grade 1 will be just before 10 with this delay.  

I can’t see grade 8 on the timetable but I do see the others there.  I really can’t work out what the benefit of 2 years pre school a year and a half pre primary and 2 years primary have if girls her age can start in higher classes than she’s in. 

I think one of the bigger issues we face is the availability of RAD dancing schools in the area.  I’ve always been proud to say the girls go to a RAD ballet school but I’m starting to wonder if I should have picked somewhere else that they would have progressed. I know it’s not always important but I know it’ll start to affect their confidence when they start noticing others in the classes above them that are the same age as them. 

9 minutes ago, margarite said:

There was another girl at DD's old dance school whose mum chose not to query why she was with much younger children and her daughter ended up in Grade 2 until she was nearly 11, despite getting mid 80s in her Grade 1 exam. I think everyone has a fear of being 'that mum' but sometimes you just have to speak out.

I know what you mean.  I had already queried it and was basically told if I didn’t like it to move them.  I’m not looking forward to the next conversation given the response I got in January.  My eldest will be in Grade 2 until she’s 13 now as they normally have 18 months between each grade is what I was told when I queried it before which I think is too long and waiting 2 years seems even sillier x

19 minutes ago, Mummy twinkle toes said:

Many schools do not even do pre-primary/primary. I would suggest moving her. She will not be missing out by commencing at grade 1. It is more important for you and your Dd to be at a school where you can communicate with the teacher and feel settled.

Over the years we have stayed too long in one school or another. We stayed because we didn’t want to upset people or hoped it would get better. Dd2 was being held in grade 2 from age of 8-10, for example. When asked why we had a multitude of excuses from not ready, needs to work on strength to “we do not enter until they can get distinction”.  She is now 12 and taking her grade 6 with a different school. Moving my children as been the best thing we have done.

Good luck.

I know how you feel, I have had similar conversations with myself bout wanted her to remain at the same school but you’re right if I can’t even have a conversation with them about it without feeling they’re going to get upset with me then maybe it’s time to look for another school.  Thank you xx

33 minutes ago, SugarPlum2000 said:

@Moonbeamhow long has your DD been in the primary class for? The RAD specs have a guideline on how many hours a child should spend on each grade before taking the exam and moving onto the next and it states that for the Primary exam they should have  40 hours of teaching. 

She sat her pre primary exam in March 18 so by the time it comes around to March 20 that’ll be 6 terms so roughly 80 hours of classes. 

I’ll speak to her tonight to see how she’s feeling about ballet and if there’s girls in grade 1 that she’s friends with as I don’t think there’s many girls in her primary class that are her age. My youngest just turned 6 and I’ve been told she won’t be sitting pre primary until March next year too.  I’ve always thought I could trust their judgement and maybe it was a confidence thing but if they don’t let the girls do their exams then their confidence isn’t going to improve.  Both of my girls are quite quiet and I definitely feel my eldest is needing moved on to boost her confidence. I can’t see that it’s ability as she got a distinction in her modern exam, I know they’re different and I don’t get to see their ballet often. 

Cross your fingers for me tomorrow xx

When I received the message that told me I could move them I almost did I was so annoyed at the way it had been put.  My thoughts after the message were even if I  move her she won’t be able to sit in March so I just thought hang in there don’t lose your patience and she’ll sit her exam in November and hopefully they’ll fast track through grade 1 so she can be in with children her age and obviously now I’m thinking maybe moving her in January would have been a good idea.

I know when I spoke to the principal in January she referred to her as primary 2 when she was in primary 3 so I do think she has her in the wrong age group, however she was reluctant to budge on this point and when I questioned it further I was told they were right and basically if I didn’t like it I had the option of taking the girls to another dance school if I didn’t trust their judgment.  I’m not a pushy mum but I am getting a bit frustrated with this as my daughter believes she’s sitting this exam in November as that’s what they’ve been telling her but they haven’t told her she’s not sitting it.  I definitely need to talk to them tomorrow about this. 

Thanks Jane I think we’re going to try and speak to the teacher tomorrow, I think it’ll be easier face to face.  I can’t think of any reason why they would be holding her back as she is a decent dancer and as far as I am aware has been progressing well and working hard, that’s the last comment I had from the teacher when I asked when she’d be sitting the exam and at that point I was told November 19.  I don’t see any reason for her to continue a primary class for another 6 months, she’ll be bored if they’re learning the same things for 2 years, I would think. I also know other dance schools wouldn’t dream of putting someone her age in a primary class and would instantly move them onto grade 1. I hope I get some answers soon. Thank you all for your replies, I really appreciate it xx

I’m not sure to be fair, I do know when she sat her pre primary exam she was with children in the year below her at school but I think that might have been due to numbers for the exam sitting which may yet again be the case this time but we haven’t been told anything other than she’s doing it in March 2020 now. 

I’m looking for some advice on my daughters ballet. She’s been at the same school since she was 2 and has danced there for 5 years now, she’s almost 8 and still hasn’t sat her primary ballet exam.  The principal teacher told me in January this year that she’d be sitting in November 19 and now I’ve been told, without any explanation that she won’t be sitting it until March 20, by which point she’ll be at the age when most of the girls in the dance school sit Grade 1.  I know it’s not always important to do exams but I’m worried about this affecting my daughters confidence.  When is it normal to sit a RAD primary ballet exam?  Thanks xx