KathyG

That's really good to hear. Glad enough was raised. Keep up the good work

We went down the audition road looking at it as days out to enjoy I don't think we thought about what if he was accepted. I didn't know about Ballet.co then, we are talking 8 years ago so no one's previous experiences to read about and help guide us. We didn't know much about funding, even the dance world was all very new to us. He'd led a shelter dancing life until the school changed hands. Due to the commitment involved if DS hadn't been the youngest I don't think we would have entertained the idea at all. We haven't had a family holiday since he went away. I actually asked DS recently knowing what he knows now would he do it all again. His answer was probably not at 11 he'd wait until 16. He has had a tough ride during his time at vocational school which included some serious cases of bullying at both schools he's attended. Some very bad behaviour on his part. Alot of bitchiness as he put it amongst his peers. Despite this he is also one of the happiest young men I have seen and absolutely loves his school. I agree we don't get to see them perform enough, but if you are accepted into W/L and they are doing Nutcracker they won't be home over Christmas much! They also do more in the community Richmond Fair is a lovely day out. BRB don't use Elmhurst students much, though DS is about to do a walk on bit with them in Swan Lake. As others have said it is expensive just auditioning. Audition fees and travelling adds up. The MDS obviously helps but depending on the school what does it cover? It varies a lot. If my DS hadn't been assessed out of W/L I'm not sure we could have afforded the last 2 years. I have in fact just finished paying my last bill and he left there just over 4 years ago. Partly due to them under charging us not by much but over 3 years it added up. They didn't tell us they had changed the way they were working out our fees when I asked for help when my husband was made redundant. If you struggle on MDS be very aware of how much upper schools can cost. For some they may actually pay less but for most it can be a lot more than they were paying on MDS. We would have to be earning about 75,000 a year on MDS to pay what we have paid out in upper school in one year and we earn no where near that amount. Would you be better saving the money for upper schools? Once on this road we tell them you can't go without funding but what do you do after 5 years of vocational training to find you can't afford upper school! Plan A of good schooling locally fell through for us when despite being a sibling he didn't get into the local school of our choice and he was allocated one of the lowest performing schools in Surrey and as he isn't the best academic in the world that was a blow for us. He could get good dance training at home though they weren't used to having boys then. Going away meant he got a better education than he would have got at home. He still didn't do brilliantly but he did at least get some GCSE's. Finally there is so much to consider which we probably didn't all those years ago. Looking back he has been happier and done much better at his second school than his first. So be careful the one considered the best may not be the best for your child. Good luck and I hope hubbies behave as they can also be a challenge when going down this road! Sorry long post!...

Same here

Looks like it's no longer available, unless I'm looking in the wrong place!

When DS first went away I felt for those who couldn't go home due to distance as Sundays was a very lonely time for them as those who could had gone home meant not many others around to keep those who couldn't go home to keep them company. We tried to invite those left back to our home for the weekend. When DS changed schools we actually had a call from the school to say you need to come and take him home for the weekend as he is so distressed. He had a very bad start to the year partly due to his behavior. When we took him back on the Monday I actually thought he was going to refuse to go to class and want to come home. But both his ballet teacher and Mr Kelly came and spoke to him and encouraged him to go to class, Mr Kelly even said he would come and watch to see he was ok. He hasn't looked back since, that was a real turning point for us. When he went back this term he was telling us it would be 50 something days before he came home again! something he was happy about. It is tough but on the whole they get through it we just have to make sure they don't pick up the we're missing you vibes and encourage them to join in with any activities organized. Something I'm still working on with DS. It will be ok just tough at the time.

After my DD's tap class was cancelled last month the class are trying to find a hall (local scout hut is on offer) so they can continue their class as teacher is willing to continue teaching them.

Admittedly we don't buy pointe shoes but even buying flats can be interesting. DS wanted to try something different from his usual Sansha's. Bloch were ok not brilliant though (when we were buying jazz sneakers and tap shoes that was very different). Dancia were completely disinterested only showed him one shoe not even a suggestion of something else and they weren't busy at the time. He ended up with Sansha's again.

If going to Sansha please remember the stairs to the shoes in my opinion are dangerous. They are very steep and there is a low head bit as well.

If only my garden was suitable! It is such a lovely location why shouldn't they make good use of it if the students aren't there. I look forward to the pics with the range Rover.

Elmhurst fees for 2011 - 2012 6th Form boarding 8298 a term 6th Forn day 6224 a term So boarding 2074, that sounds about right by the time you add the rest Dada 400, Bupa 150, then uniform it comes to about the 3000

I also miss my DS more now than when he first started vocational school for the same reasons as Julie, DS has turned into a lovely young man to have around. I actually feel a bit odd reading how upset some mum's have got with there child leaving to go away as I didn't! It was what he wanted to do and I have a lovely smiling photo on his first day at W/L on the side. We've always let him decide when he would call us rather than set a time, I was always concerned if I rang him he may be busy enjoying his self and we may disrupt that. I didn't want him to feel he had to miss out on something to call home. He always does though when he needs something. The few times I've rung him I usually get the one word answer and you can tell by the tone he had better things he wanted to be doing. Over the years we've had varying degrees of contact sometime everyday sometimes not for several days. If there is a problem the schools are quick to let you know, but some problems are slower to resolve and can take time. One thing we have done over the years is Granny and others write to him every week, it may be small talk but they do like to receive post, parcels are better! As to going back my DS is packed and only still here as we have a family thing on Saturday then once it's over he's off back to Birmingham. Excited to be starting his graduate year. Good luck to all starting the journey it can be tough at moments and we've had more than enough knocks and dashes to the school but to see DS so happy it's all been worth it. Try and enjoy it the years will go very quickly and before you know it they are graduating.

So pleased for you, I felt you were badly treated at your dance school when they should have included you. Enjoy

You only get help with boarding costs in 6th form at Elmhurst if you earn under the magic 33,000 a year. Elmhurst do offer some additional funding but haven't worked out how you qualify for it. We applied but were told we didn't meet the criteria. Though others in DS year do! We are paying about 250 a month in rent and bills on top of the Elmhurst bill. Would be good if the government website was updated to reflect 2012/2013 onwards. It still shows 2011/2012 details.

A Dada is about 1250 a year, so about 400 a term then at Elmhurst boarding ontop can't remember how much. Though remember 6.1 costing us about 9,000 for the year. Even in 6.2 and 6.3 an additional approx 400 a term for meals on top of Dada plus rent. I thought Elmhurst had about 20 Dada's. Royal Upper school is still MDS, does anyone know why they don't offer Dada's like the rest of the MDS (dance) school's do in 6th form?

Where are they putting them, there are only so many beds in the school or are they selecting those who can be day students! I thought they already had a wedding licence as when DS was there a wedding was held. The salon looked lovely with the view out of the window. Maybe it was a one of licence! The biggest problem the school has with holding events is access after dark as the gates to the park are locked. A problem also to parents during winter when the gates are locked at 4pm. Other than that as long as it doesn't disturb the school why shouldn't they rent it out it is a lovely location.

My DS with offered the chance to do summer school in America this summer. The places were offered to DS and his friend through their ballet teacher at school. When they got there it turned out to be an American EYB type performance. They went out to Boca Raton in Florida for 3 weeks where they did classes everyday except Sunday from 10am - 6pm. Then at the end of the course they did 3 performances of Coppelia. The main roles were danced by 2 members of American Ballet Theatre. DS felt he had good parts in the ballet. The groups were small and DS and his friend the only boys and the oldest. My DS throughly enjoyed it and for someone not used to travelling it has prepared him for next year. He has gained some much needed performance experience from the show. They were also lucky enough to stay with a member of staff who treated them like family. He would do it again tomorrow if he could.

Today my DD (25 yr old recreational tap dancer) got an email from her dance school to say the principal had after much heart searching sold the school due to other commitments. DD later got a call from her teacher who she met with to be told all adult and advanced classes have been cut and only classes up to grade 6 would be taught. DD has completed right through to Adv 2 so syllabus isn't what she's after. The class she was taking was an advanced free class. As an adult dancer finding a class to suit is difficult and my DD is gutted as she loved her teacher and style of teaching, we're hoping they can find a location to continue as DD says she can't start over again at another school. What a good start to the new school year!

Not a dicky bird from my DS since Sunday, though from what he has said nearly half his year are there!

Have just watched Mo Farah win his 2nd gold, he is an inspiration especially knowing the schools he went to. Congratulations

My DS is already back in Birmingham ready for Summer School. He's that keen!

While getting my daily news fix came across this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18977297 If successful maybe a valuable source for some funding!

I like ironing as long as I have something to watch while I do it

I have to say I enjoyed the 2nd show much more than the first. Could be because DS was on for longer. We also got to watch his warm up ballet class. Regarding the debate about a bigger theatre my feelings are that when it comes to your graduate performance there are usually lots of people you would like to be there and want to be there. Currently you are only allowed 2 tickets for that performance and my DS has already said he wants at least 6 people to be there and we are a small family. There may have been empty seats at some performances but how do we know the tickets weren't sold and the people just didn't come once they saw the casting! If we'd seen the casting for the performance before we'd booked tickets we may not have gone. We did though as I love going to the school. For the graduate performance I know that people were waiting around in the entrance hall to see if they could get tickets. Probiem is as I see it, is money, the school can't take on the expensive of hiring a bigger theatre, ferrying the children to it and all of the other costs involved and what happens if they don't sell enough tickets to cover the costs! The school won't be able to cover any losses. This could affect scholarships etc. But unless they try we will never know. IMHO

According to their website you can't get a full loan to pay for the course you have to find £6700 yourself!

Congrats and well done to all those who graduated today it was a really wonderful show. It will be us this time next year I hope DS year do as well as this current group. Lots of tears including Mr Kelly according to DS. Well done.