KathyG

DS has today told me that another graduate of the Royal Ballet School has been offered a contract with RB. This was more of a surprise but not unexpected.

Central did have an open day a week or so before the finals for the finalises (or did when DS auditioned a few years ago)when you got a tour, meet the teachers, pupils and chat. Notice for this though was very short only a couple of days. Congrats for those through and wishing better luck next time for those that didn't.

Also wishing everyone a healthy and happy new year and hope it brings us all joy and happiness.

Thank you for your query of 5 December about changes to the Dance and Drama Award (DaDA) scheme from September 2013. I am replying as a member of the policy team responsible for financial support for 16-19 year olds, including DaDAs. As you are aware, a limited number of scholarships in the form of DaDAs, are available to help the most talented students attend specialist courses at private dance and drama schools, as opposed to the state maintained schools attended by most young people in England. In your email your raise concerns about how the awards will be made from September 2013, and whether funding will still be available for schools to make the awards. Under the revised arrangements, DaDA funding will still be available and will continue to support individuals who schools believe show the most talent and potential to succeed at audition. The audition process itself is therefore progressing as normal. However, if a student is offered an award the precise amount of support for fees and maintenance they receive will be based on an assessment of their gross family income. The income assessment will be undertaken by the appropriate DaDA school, using national scales which will be available publicly - but the number of DaDA awards available will remain limited. Schools were informed on Wednesday 12 December whether they will be part of the DaDA scheme in 2013/14. DaDA schools will receive an indication of how much DaDA funding they will be allocated for 2013/14 in February, in line with previous years. Schools will then decide which students will be provisionally offered an award subject to the appropriate income evidence being received. It has never been possible for a school to offer a DaDA prior to receiving confirmation of their following year’s allocation. Therefore the fact the national scales are not currently available should not affect the audition process itself though we appreciate that successful students will not know the precise level of support they will receive. You will be able to find out more about the household income thresholds from DaDA schools and on the Department for Education Website early in 2013: www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/youngpeople/studentsupport/a00203099/dada-scheme. You also raised a concern that the changes to DaDA would make dance training something for the rich, and those with the talent but not the money would be unable to receive the training they require. This is not the case, the introduction of a fully means tested scheme means that students from lower income households will receive more support than they currently do and students from higher income households will have to contribute more. You mentioned that the different way individuals are assessed for a Music and Dance Scheme Award (MDS) and DaDA seemed unfair. MDS and DaDA are two very different schemes. MDS supports a large number of pupils from 8 years of age at a range of schools - covering academic education as well as vocational studies. DaDA on the other hand is a much smaller scheme supporting post-16 students at private schools with vocational study leading to one of a small number of specific qualifications. Both schemes have limited and fixed budgets, therefore the levels of support and the assessment criteria will not be the same. It is obviously a matter of individual choice as to whether a child chooses to study at a private institution and in making that decision families will need to take into account all the associated costs. I hope that the information above clarifies the position regarding the future arrangements of the DaDA scheme. Thank you for writing to us about this important matter. Yours sincerely, Jo-an Higginbottom Participation Division

I have today received a very long email from the Dept of Education which I will post when I get home. Doesn't give alot away but does say the schools found out on the 12 Dec if they were to be part of the scheme next year. Levels of funding will be available early 2013.

Ebay is the place for these but you're looking at nearly 100 pounds for the pattern. If you look at ebay there are several tutu patterns on offer but be careful what you choose.

When DS started at vocational school at 11 we wondered how we would afford it and didn't even consider the cost of 6th form training, if we had he may not have gone. We are paying over twice the amount we paid when on MDS. On MDS we would need to earn nearly 80,000 a year to pay what we are currently paying out. We don't earn anywhere near that amount. Upper school funding does need changing so families who earn more pay more. We know of several who earn much more than we do and are now paying considerably less than they did under MDS now they are in receipt of a DADA. Personally I would like to see the MDS extended to 6th form training though it would be to late for us. I have sent a long email into the Dept of Education asking them to publish more details about the changes. As someone else has said we should bombard them with calls and emails to see if we can get them to divulge more. Not hopeful on a reply as they say they will respond within 15 working days!

I also heard of a Police station being burgled after the burglery team had gone out on patrol!

Has anyone tried to contact the Department of Education and asked them? My machine won't let me (works one)

Darcey Bussell visited Elmhurst yesterday and we've been told there will be a short section on the local news this evening.

For contemporary look at Rambert, Laban and London Contemporary School.

In all the years we have been going into London we have never noticed the Gandolfi shop until last weekend when we drove past it on our way to the theatre. Unfortu.ately closed didn't look very inviting though.

My non-dancing son lost his job back in June and since has done jury service, got ripped of and mislead by one company but eventually after writing to over 100 companies started a new.job last Monday. He's not an academic with very few qualifications but he is hard working. So relieved for him as his brother is about to embark on the road to find a job! It is so hard for our youngsters to find work in this current climate. Wish all our children luck in finding work.

My DS has also told me of this but until it's published by either the school or RB we won't name names though if true one is no surprise. Very early in the year for contracts to be offered congratulations.

Thanks Bruce, details passed to DS.

If you do arrive very early there is the MAC centre just round the corner where you can get a cup of coffee and free parking. Traffic through Kings Heath and Dog Pool can be horrendous though M40 is usually ok. Sorry forgot to add Good luck and enjoy.

I know of someone who did her work experience at Urdang. Probably worth just contacting some of the schools you can get to see if they will take work experience students.

There is a lot of talk about which school you would choose for our DC's to go to, if only to be that lucky for the majority of us. Usually the school chooses DC and if they have been successful at all of the final auditions (if they go to them all) then they may have a choice they are the exceptional ones. Unless, if you can afford to paid the fees then you probably do have a choice if offered a place. For us we choose those we would be happy for him to attend and took our chance. As to the best audition Elmhurst made you very welcome, let you stay and let you in the audition room for brief show. ENBS the worse you don't even let you through the door.

Yes both Drew and Joseph are Elmhurst students , as are a number of the other finalists. I think there from year 10

Probably depends on your level of ballet. We know an 18 year old who joined the first year rather than join their peers and this year a 17 year old joined the second year. There was also an 18 year old join DS year this September.

Thanks Ian I knew it was something I'd not done correctly but couldn't find the right place to make the change.

Is it just me but we can now post in the future! Since the clocks changed our posts are still on British Summer Time. I've checked my toys and their clocks are right should I have to change anything on the Site. Must remember to change the car clock!

My DS has had 2 weeks for half term going back coming Thursday. At least he was home for his birthday.

Yes, right at the end next to Dorothy's dress. It's the only dress behind glass.

We went to the Hollywood Costume exhibition yesterday and it is absolutely stunning. DS loved seeing Audrey Hepburn's Breakfast at Tiffany's dress. Already planning a return visit with DD.