KathyG

Always remember that I had a gut feeling while at work that the letter had arrived couldn't wait to finish work and dashed home to find husband had already done the same and opened the letter!! W/L for ds, he had already prepared parents in case of distressed call but W/L isn't the end of the story just prolongs it. 10 days later it was a yes someone had turned a place down. Thinking of you all waiting for that letter.

When the prelim auditions take place the schools may not know if there will be any places in a specific year apart from year 7. As mentioned some may leave and of course some will be assessed out. The schools may have an idea but usually don't know for certain until the apprasials take place. They will also not fill places if they don't see anyone which meets their criteria. Our year while at W/L only had 8 girls. We have known of students attending W/L summer schools and then being offered places in the September without actually auditioning during the audition rounds. As for reasons why you are assessed out we were never given a real reason I think they saw someone they liked better during the auditions and needed to make space for them!

That is good to hear, if I can do anything to help in any way I will.

It was very much the same for us DS still went back after half term (he was the only one of the group he was assessed out with)even though we had to take him out 2 days later for Elmhurst audition. He still got an awful lot out of the last term and a half, as Julie said performing at the summer fair where he got to wear a kilt! Have to say though I was glad that our year was when the Opera House grand defile wasn't on the last day but the week before and as there were no Linbury performances only performances at W/L and students left for the summer at different times it made the last day much easier. I think the majority of those assessed out take it in their stride and move on to the next, their determination to dance keeps them going.

That explains why DS school suggested referring him to Queen Elizabeth Hospital when his physio allowance under BUPA was used up. They said there was about a 4 week wait though.

Thank you Belljul, my DS is very happy and doing very well. The school he is at now suits him very well. Though it took a while to settle. Now he is 6th form he even stays at leave out weekends and went back on Thursday this week rather than stay home until Sunday as he would rather be with his girlies and friends! Can I just add that a previous post said that those assessed out were invited to audition at other schools in our year that wasn't the case we had to apply just like everyone else.

I'm willing to help in any way I can. I can learn on the techie side of things if neccessary if that helps, though my kit is quite old. Which side/part of London is it best to be to help?

The year it happened to us there were still audition dates available so we were able to audition for both Tring and Elmhurst. Mad dash to get photos done!! This doesn't seem to be the case now with both of these schools either not having audition dates or all booked up. One of the boys assessed out in our year was told all audition dates at Elmhurst were full but he was invited up to Elmhurst to take class instead of auditioning. Then recalled for finals. Not alot of help from W/L in getting places at other schools. The treatment we received at these schools was very different with one of them saying "you have been assessed out of one and come here but there is no funding for you!" and we were made to feel as though we were wasting their time. The other very welcoming. The results were interesting as of the 4 who were assessed out in DS year 2 were offered both Tring and Elmhurst, 1 was offered Tring and 1 Elmhurst with not even a recall at Tring. Goes to show that each school is looking for something different. Strangely my DS who hadn't been offered a place at our local state school even though he was a sibling for year 7 had remained on the Waiting List and was offered a place for year 10 which we could have needed!! For us despite the angiush caused in being assessed out I think he is much happier and has progressed much better at the school he is at now than he would have been if he had stayed at W/L. I have been known to think should he have come here from year 7! But think what he would have missed out on performance wise if he had. Being assessed out is still a very unpleasant situation to be in but as JulieW, Meadowblythe and myself can say it is not the end of being a dancer and changing schools can be a blessing.

We know of one who was assessed out and within a couple of weeks got his place back!!

Hoping results aren't to long in coming. I remember the day we got our letter telling my DS he was no longer suitable for W/Ltraining and as both JulieW (thanks for all your support) and Meadowblythe say it is not the end of the road. My DS has done much better by changing schools. It is a very stressful time and if I can help in any way, not as good as Julie to emotional! I'm afraid. Regarding Tring I believe they don't assess out but can withdraw funding which we know happened to one boy. Wishing all good luck, we know our apprasial result (deferred) as DS did'nt do it due to injury!..

They may not know at the time you audition if there are any spaces available for the year you're auditioning for. So they are in effect keeping their options open by calling back those for years 8 - 11. With W/L their accommodation isn't very flexible each year go in specific areas. Where as Elmhurst's accommodation is very flexible. Both schools don't do their apprasials until just before the Feb half term which then confirms how many places may be available for the following September. Also remember that Elmhurst don't assess anyone out until year 9 and usually not many. On the academic front if they used that my DS would nver have got accepted any where!

Bloch is open 12 - 5 and Dancia 11 - 4 on Sundays Sansha not open. Didn't go to Freed's or Capezio. Bloch was very busy the other 2 very quiet. and all I can say is thank heavens for student discount!

We felt exactly the same when we auditioned 2 years ago. Couldn't quite explain why but felt it wasn't for us. There was a boy in my DS year who went there and is now back at his previous school. They do produce some excellent dancers though

Look at Sergi Polunin quits RB!! http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/135-polunin-resigns-from-rb/

With regards to contacting the masons you need to know someone who is a mason. They can be very discreet. You need to have a connection with a mason to apply for funding. We tried and were unsuccessful in obtaining funding from them.

When we auditioned for year 10 at Tring we were told up front that there was no funding for year 10, but at finals they had suddenly found at least 2. Same at Hammond although we didn't audition we knew of 2 who did and both offered funding. In fact at Tring they were very blunt about the funding at the first audition making us feel as though we were wasting their time in applying. The masons do offer gifted and talented scholarships we know of a few in receipt of funding from them.

As stated on previous threads letters only go out after all auditions are completed.The school will have an inkling of whether or not there will be any beds but probably won't know for certain until current students have completed their apprasials. Usually someone will have to leave to make space in year 10.

Wishing you both all the best, it will be us this time next year. Look forward to hearing how it all goes. Have already heard of 1 Elmhurst girl getting a contract. Thank you also for the support you have given us in some stressful times.

We are also looking at which summer school to choose but we're thinking more of which ones have close ties to companies. (Preparing for next year) We're thinking of Northern's or maybe their Easter course.

My DS also hated it, like Julie's DS he only wants to dance and he found the style of dance for GCSE also different. When choosing from a very limited AS options he refused point blank to do Dance.

When DS attended WL summer school he was a JA but another of his friends in JA's wasn't offered a place. So being a JA doesn't guarantee a place.