DreamChaser

These terrible stories are nothing new, the Ballet community has been aware of what the BBC will reveal (and far worse) for many many years and yet parents still keep putting their children in arms way and these so-called elite institutions keep receiving the precious funding. It’s time that parents also woke up! How many posts do we all see on his forum each day from parents desperate secure that elite place?!? Yet choosing to be blinkered to the truth of these institutions? We kept our DD at home until 16, she has received high quality, supportive training, attended mainstream school and has grown into a beautiful, confident dancer, and an individual who knows who she is as an dancer and a person. She’s now started 1st year Rambert but was also accepted by RCS and ENBS to name a few - we did not even apply to RBS, Elmhurst and a few others for the reasons that the BBC will uncover on Monday. I guess my point is, and I’ve made it in previous posts, these schools are not the be all or end all and we should really wake up and stop treating them this way as we simply add legitimacy to their god awful practices IMO.

Hello My DD has accepted her place at Rambert School. It would be great to make contact with parents who also have dancers starting in September. Perhaps set up a WhatsApp group?

Perhaps take a look at the recent RBS thread detailing the safeguarding investigations into WL if you want to go in with eyes wide open. Following years of concerns around safeguarding issues at a number of UK vocational schools and the training offered- you only have to look at the RBS Upper school intake and wonder why so few from Lower School gain a place- if the training was good enough then surely they would progress post 16? We opted to keep our DD at home. She is now auditioning for 16+ training with offers from Tring, NBS, Rambert and finals for Central and RCS, she opted out of finals for ENBS and took the decision not to apply to RBS or Elmhurst read into that what you will More than one road to get them where they want to be and I really do think the days of thinking that the RBS is the pinnacle of training is over IMO We’re happy with the path we took and have a confident, well rounded, happy DD 😊

My DD got a yes today My DD got a yes today. Hoping you got positive news too 🍀

Positive result for my DD today. It’s her 1st choice so very pleased and relieved. I so would be very interested in connecting with other parents who have had a yes and are taking the place, and parents of any current parents regarding accommodation. 🙏

Anyone else waiting for the outcome from final auditions Friday and Monday? 🤞🍀🙏

Rambert requested shorts and crop top or tight fitted t shirt

Good luck to everyone at the Rambert finals today and Monday. Sat in a cafe keeping everything crossed for my DD

It’s completely confusing! Unite accepted our online booking for Mill Point as long as we act as guarantor DD will have just turned 16 in September, this was entered on the online form. I’ve had to cancel during the 7 day cooling off period however as the contracts sent state that we are liable for the full years rent if we cancel after the 7 day cooling off period and DD chooses to go elsewhere or doesn’t get the funding. The exceptions on the contract apply to uni students not getting the expected grades. This is confusing as another parents have posted to say that the deposit is fully refundable, not as worried about losing £250 deposit, as I am being liable for a full years rent! To add to the confusion, we also applied to Dwell MSV and get a reply to say that they do not accept students under the age of 18yrs but we know from this thread that this is not the case. I wonder how much of the confusion is the disparity between what goes on at national level as opposed to how the properties are managed locally? do NBS offer any support to guide us through this process?

Sorry me again! We’ve been sent all the contracts from Unite a little worried that it states that if we cancel after the 7 day cooling off period then we will lose the £250 deposit and as guarantors are liable to pay the full years rent if a replacement tenant isn’t found - which I understand is unlikely. Amy06 mentioned that the £250 deposit was refundable if perhaps our DDs decided to take a place elsewhere - we still have 3 final auditions to go to. Does anyone have any experience of cancelling with unite to go elsewhere? The cancellation policy only has exceptions if you miss the grades or get an offer elsewhere if you get better grades - obviously not applicable here….

Thank you for checking

I’ve tentatively reserved a room at Mill Point, would anyone be aware of any positive or negative experiences of this accommodation? Is it used widely by NBS students?

Lots of info on Unite accommodation, does anyone have any experience of Sanctuary - Grafton St and Denmark Rd?

Hi Amy Does Mill Point accept 16yr olds? Have PM you 👍🏻

It’s very quiet on the thread this year so thought I would try to revive with an update on where we are…. First round auditions completed and a few weeks to catch our breath before final auditions next month. It’s been an interesting journey to this point and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how my DD has weighed up and considered each US and what it offers. Although she has been offered a place at Tring, which was initially her ‘dream school’, she is now clear that she doesn’t want to be in a boarding school environment, preferring more of a ‘university’ experience. She loved the feel, location and classes at Northern Ballet School in Manchester and has been offered a place - great to have that on the table. She has also been lucky enough to have been offered a place at KS Dance in Warrington, she absolutely loved the audition and experience day, and Kate Simmons was very present, warm and welcoming but the location and the studios have given her cause to hesitate. So we know DD has the offers above although Tring is completely off the table, so we’re now waiting to see how final auditions go for RCS, Rambert and Central, she has withdrawn from ENBS as she has realised that she needs more than a pure ballet focus and can see the value of continuing her contemporary training. Anyone else on this journey?