Jewel

Tring used to be called Arts Ed. There were two schools, the one at Tring Park and the one in London. They became separate in the 90’s. According to Wikipedia it became known by its current name in 2009. Rupert Pennefather also went there.

The school bus is for Lower School students and leaves from the boarding house (which has moved since my dd was there I don't actually know where boarding is located now.) Very occasionally it has been possible for seniors to cadge a lift (probably easier for those who have been there since they were young and know the people). My dd started on the diploma when she was 16 so for her first two years lived with a host family. I am told they don't do that now for the younger ones. When she moved into private halls for her third year she was able to drive in. There is a bus to Warrington Road.

I’m not familiar with Trinity. Quite a lot of older Hammond students live in Tramways. There are also a few in Abbeygate and Tudor Place.

Hidden in teensy tiny print in one of the policy documents is the statement that Kate, Penelope & Alex Frost are all licensed chaperones. Having googled their names it appears they are the owner/teachers at Penelope's Dance Studio registered at the same address as Birmingham Ballet Company.

The fact that their application details asks for a dancers instagram handle instantly puts me off where children are concerned.

If you live in Birmingham and the classes don't clash I'd say it is eminently do-able. If you have to travel from outside the area and they are on different days then it might be too much.

LIPA isn't on the published list I saw. Is there an updated version somewhere? I guess I think of places like Trinity more as music conservatoires. Guildhall is on it, but again I think that's more to do with the music side than the drama. The one well known drama school that is on it is Central. The specialist institutions currently are: University of the Arts, LondonConservatoire for Dance & DramaCortauld Institute of ArtCranfield UniversityGuildhall School of Music & DramaHarper Adams UniversityInstitute of Cancer ResearchLondon School of Tropical MedicineNational Film & TV SchoolRoyal Academy of MusicCentral School of Speech & DramaRoyal College of ArtRoyal College of MusicRoyal Northern College of Music Royal Vetinerary CollegeTrinity Laban

The list of specialist institutions is very small and doesn’t include ballet or musical theatre schools (though remember this is degree institutions not MDS or DaDa institutions. Several music conservatories are on it alongside places such as London School of Tropical Medicine and some art/design collleges.

In previous years Hammond have invited everyone offered a place to funding finals. (Assuming you are eligible on grounds of residence etc).

Whereas KS Dance offer ISTD teaching qualifications (including Cecetti ballet which my child would have loved the chance to learn)

I've just realised I still have a list dated 2011!!!!!

Does he have a gut feeling about where he might feel happiest?

it’s unusual for vocational schools to allow associates whether residential or not. It certainly wasn’t allowed at my child’s school.

How refreshing to hear of the positive attitude of Beth’s coach.

the school has been closed for the last 3 weeks. pre-Covid you would be receiving an invitation to attend a taster day around June time. Lots of information is given out on that say. Whether that will happen this year or nor, who knows.

Are you absolutely set that it has to be just ballet? Many dancers, even those who have been in vocational training from a young age reach 16-18 years an realise that there are more opportunities to train/work as a dancer, regardless of genre.

There is a teacher I know who was nominated for an honour for her work with disabled dancers. She was nominated by a friend whose daughter she taught. But unfortunately it’s also midlands area.

yes, she was able to keep it up by having singing and LAMDA lessons as well as one drama class per week. She later moved entirely towards musical theatre.

Do they, gosh I bet dd will be glad she missed that. Previously only drama students did PE (although she’d have liked to do more general fitness type classes)

My daughter never really had other things to give up, she hated sport and lived for performing arts from a very young age. She did give up piano when she went to vocational school at 11 but singing and drama etc were always and still are very important to her.

Even before the pandemic my 16 year old decided not to go for a London college and to go for a school environment for similar reasons.

Dd has told me about another friend who came to the UK aged 16 and she has been doing American school online alongside her Trinity Diploma. It's been very tough as she has been in college 8.30am - 6pm Mon - Fri then has been studying well into the night. I'm not sure that would be possible if she was on a BA hons course with the additional academic element to it.

The only experience we have is second hand and is slightly different. A friend of dd came to the UK for vocational school at a younger age (our year 10 so age 14). She did UK GCSE's aged 16 and then moved to a different Upper School where she did UK A levels and a diploma so she came out of the American system completely. There are three strands to the UK vocational system. One set of schools offers the Trinity Level 6 Diploma which is equivalent to a BA hons degree level but without the academic element. Some schools such as RBS, Elmhurst, Tring & Hammond offer UK academic A Levels alongside this diploma. These are the qualifications you use to get into university here. They do require a lot of study outside of the classroom. It's probably the course that keeps most options open for those who are academic. Another set of schools don't offer A levels just the diploma which can, if a student wishes be topped up to a full BA Hons degree by doing a year long distance learning course. With a BA Hons degree you can apply for Masters programmes or teacher training etc. It's a higher level than graduating high school. Then there are a limited number of schools (Central, RCS, Rambert etc) that offer BA Hons degrees in classical ballet that you can start aged 16. The contact hours for these courses are usually long and there will be some academic element to them. Taking Rambert as an example they have Critical Studies with academic assignments and have to complete an 8000 word dissertation in the final year.

Is that because they havn't managed to email all applicants perhaps. That is a slightly different situation if that is the case and one that was not made totally clear. I know I've been stalked on other forums before so the school have seen lots of things I've said, both good and bad.

But no one has discussed personal financial information. If a school offers MDS GOVERNMENT funding then anyone should be free to say whether their child has been awarded one. My child got a Dada. At Hammond. The school can say or do what they like I said so at he time in my real name on social media and I will say so in the future. I'd like to see them justify to the awarding body otherwise.