The red shoes

100% to all of this !!

Just to point out.. they have regular reports and meetings and it’s made quite clear in the reports if a student is exceeding about required standards, meeting require standards, improvement needed to reach required standards or significant improvement needed. Obviously if your technique , musicality etc keeps being marked as improvement needed through year 7&8 I’d say it was a good indication that your time is nearly up. The drive and graft is up to the student to get their reports up into the meeting and exceeding sections . It can’t just be down to the teachers . They are very transparent.. no shocks That’s all I wanted to say

Fantastic!! Great story !

Yes true but a lot may have had false hope for 5 years and then realising they aren’t cut out for a career in classical ballet. Hard pill to swallow at any age . My ds has a choice between RBS and another school which promised 5 years. I laid it all out to him and he still wanted to go to RBS as wanted to at least “ try” to get through to the end. His words and kudos to him. I think this has now gone way off track of what the original poster was looking for so will leave it there 🙂

Of course.. and everything you say is true. They have a wonderful counsellor available every day and will see many students on a weekly basis for a variety of issues. The pastoral care is very good and has helped my DS no end through ups and downs with moving away etc. My point was that they have a reputation to uphold and so they have to find a way of choosing the best. Yes harsh but true. And actually my 11 year old is very aware of the year 9 process. They are all so supportive of the ones who won’t be continuing on.. he is witnessing the process now and will know what to expect. As a parent you can prepare them as much as possible but it’s inevitable it will cause heartbreak. So does getting an injury, so does not getting the part you wasn’t, or not getting into upper school after 5 years training at any of the top schools in the UK. Heartbreak, disappointment.. it’s all part of it. I feel for those at other Vocational schools who have 5 years training because that is what the school sold them, and then are unsuccessful in all their upper school auditions . Again bitter disappointment. The school promised them 5 years and that’s what they got.. but now nothing . There is plenty of support for the students leaving and yes it’s horrendous but most stages of a ballet career are .

Sorry when I said all year 9’s must apply to other schools, that’s wasn’t because all were assessed out that was for their plan B, C and so on which is actually vital and very important the ballet world

As opposed to giving false hope? They may just not be what they are looking for anymore , doesn’t mean to say they won’t go on elsewhere to be successful. Most of this year’s year 9 are going through to 10&11 which is fantastic . Some leave because ballet is not for them anymore... yes that does happen! Yes it’s not nice but lots of warning is given right at the start of year 7. You go in with your eyes wide open to the fact and your children are also prepared from the start.

Indeed this is true however they have had 3 years of the next training in the world ( in my opinion) and that is better than none at all or 5 years of mediocre. RBS have said ALL year 9 students must apply to other vocational schools and indeed normal secondary schools. They help them with their videos , etc and are very supportive .

Don’t be disheartened. My ds got a no in year 5 for summer intensive then a yes in year 6 and now in year 7 at White Lodge. Looking back his photos were really not great .. I rushed them . it’s purely based on photos NOT talent.. remember that Xx

This depends on if you need to hand over a substantial deposit to accept her place. I know Tring do this !

This is correct and they took 12 . They didn’t fill the 15 places

Just out of curiosity and possibly a bit nosey ... are any boys auditing for WL year 8? I ask as a current year 7 boys mum and there are some spaces in our year group going into year 8. Apparently there are auditions tomorrow as ds and his fellow year group had to tidy up the dorm for people looking around tomorrow

Hope Keelan only retired at Christmas and is already back ! She is teaching the year 7 boys till the Summer and sitting on auditions panels and assessment panels ! Can’t keep away 😂

José Carayol... he has taken over as director of the foundation course years 7-9. Lovely man!

If you’re waiting on feedback of any sort from young dancers you’ll be waiting a very long time 🤦🏻‍♀️

Last year all the boys were in one day and they had the class and the physio check. They were in small groups and rotated .

He will be either on the10th or 11th. Last year we heard quite quickly I think within 10 days

They have a criteria... so to tick as many boxes as possible. Not just flexibility!! Best of Luck xxx

Yes they do put stretching at the beginning lol. My son said this at the WL finals last year. I’m inclined to say it’s so they can see flexibility/ potential flexibility at the start and then know who to watch / or not bother watching for the rest of the audition... harsh but true 😬

Could it also be that maybe.. just maybe.. the child hasn’t got “ it” and no matter how many dance schools you go through, change too or how much money you throw at the teachers.. the child is not made for a professional career in dance. It’s not always the fault of the teacher or school by the way... you we can’t transform every child into dancers sadly.

Would be interested to know how many boys from year 11 are going into upper school and how many of those started in year 7.??

Was this a boy or girl? Year 7 entry? Was it recent ?

There has indeed been a girl offered a place at white lodge from the white lodge wait list! I think an international student has pulled out

Apparently MA results are out? Saw a lady on another thread get hers just now xx Good luck to you all xx

@Bookish there is a Costa a few minutes drive away on Pebble mill road... you can use toilets in there , I do this regularly 🤣