along for the ride mum

All this makes rather depressing reading! Why would we send our offspring away to vocational school at 11, enduring all the sacrifice that entails (both financial and emotional) if there is so very little chance of them ever being able to progress to 6 th form? (Even if they are lucky enough to make it through all the appraisals and pitfalls along the way) I do hope the situation improves, it seems so wrong that even if a pupil has made it to the dizzying heights of being offered a 6th form place, it ultimately all comes down to finance no matter talented they may be

Congratulations dancing 1003 and DTadmin , how lovely! DTadmin I am so pleased for your dd, I felt sure there'd be some positive news for you x

Congratulations dancing 1003 and DTadmin , how lovely! DTadmin I am so pleased for your dd, I felt sure there'd be some positive news for you x

If you don't have any luck with the Harry Potter one, I saw an absolutely lovely Nutcracker advent calendar in Between the lines, pricey though, £12 I think

Same for Elmhurst I believe

Oh I'm sorry to hear that DTadmin I have been eagerly anticipating a nice letter for you. I beleive things have a way of sorting themselves out for the best though and this isn't always the. Way you think will be the best. She sounds like she has a great attitude, good for her! And good luck for the other auditions x

Tring do a residential course at Easter. Dd did when she was 10 and loved it.

I was just coming on this thread to write that very comment! Euggghhh, I hate it being so dark and dismal! I couldn't quite decide whether to post on this thread or the one about treats for the blues! I am definitely in need of a little something to cheer myself up. Missing dd and fed up with dark evenings and gloomy weather and neither situation about to change. I need to give myself a large boot up the backside and start planning ways to cope with both!

Until you are waiting for the letter after finals!....oh and then I guess there's appraisals..... And then.... JuSt have to take it a day at a time I guess xx

.....and breathe! You will need to, it's a long wait. When they say 10-14 days they do mean it, our letters all took the full 2 weeks to arrive so try not to scare the postman too much by pouncing on him after a week! I kept convincing myself they'd come sooner which only served to drive me crazy. I then in turn drove everyone around me crazy!! Best of luck and I hope that when it does eventually arrive it is good news x

Yes I'd have to agree, the canvas, a few marks and a bit of wear won't do any harm. Enjoy the experience x Edited to add, I've just remembered having the same dilemma this time last year!

Best of luck to your lovely dd DTadmin and also to everoyone else auditioning. Please let us know how she gets on xx

Thank you for your feedback Michelle, I parked in the Worcester Street car park, very close to the venue. Coin or card operated machines and it cost a little over £7 but maybe we weren't there for as long. I hated driving in Oxford, very confusing traffic lights but can't fault the council for the very comprehensive parking information on their website. Glad you enjoyed the workshop

I agree Taxi, this was for 12 to 16 years old and from what I could gather they were worked fairly hard. My own dd would have loved it but had other plans!

I found the website ok to be honest (once I'd remembered my password ) but have phoned them and booked on the phone before and found them very helpful and accommodating.

Has anyone been to any of these events, I'd be interested to hear feedback. I took my friend's dd to the youth ballet workshop in Oxford last night and was surprised to hear that only 5 girls were there. It being half term and only £10 for two hours of teaching, I would have thought it would be packed to the rafters. Apparently there was an adult workshop going on at the same time but as u simply dropped off and collected I have no idea if that was better attended or not. It seems a shame to me when an opportunity is offered that it is not taken up. Thoughts?

Thank you everyone, your input is appreciated :-)

Actually, I have answered my own question here. I have discovered that Oxford city council has a great website which gives full details of all car parks. Well done them!

Can anyone help with a little advice, I need to go to Oxford which I am totally unfamiliar with and will need to find parking in the evening from about 5:30 for a few hours. Any suggestions?

The Travelodge by the cinema is awful, but the premier inn on Hagley Road was fine and only a 5-10 minute drive from school. Good luck everyone, I really can't believe it's a whole year since we were going through this!

I have just noticed that this is now available on BY Vision for anyone who hasn't.already seen it

PDC if auditioning for year 7 dance course then in my experience ( this time last year) the children were all expected to dance a solo. We were in the same position, no dance prepared and no time to fit in extra classes to learn one. I took the advise of dds very sensible dance teacher who said not to try and fit in learning a new dance but to use something that she already knows well and feels comfortable dancing. In the case of Dd, who has never done festivals or anything that required her to know a solo, that was the lyrical amalgamation from her last exam. It was exactly the right length and she was comfortable dancing it with no concerns about maybe forgetting a new routine. I believe they just want to see them moving, I know there will be others who have reservations about this but all I can say is it must have been ok as it was a successful audition. Good luck

Great tip about he stash of goodies, Jane. I'm well aware that we've been fortunate so far but it may not always be thus. I have always thought that the second term would be harder for dd. The excitement of the new experience will be wearing off, Christmas will be over and the days Will be short, dark and gloomy, so I will stock up on postable treats and baking ingredients!

I'm sure either is fine, they aren't going to take a child or not take a child based on whether her hair is up or not in a small photo. My mum's mantra is 'dont sweat the small stuff' - grammatically incorrect but the sentiment is right. It will be fine. X

Some great tips here, although I'm definitely more of the cake buying type than the cake making type! As a newbie mum, I think I'm doing fairly well so far. The knowledge that dd is in the place she wants to be and loving every minute ( she keeps telling me while apologising for not being homesick and telling me that she does love me and likes home but wants to be at school more) helps! However, my lovely thoughtful husband decided to treat me on the first weekend she spent at school and bought tickets to Billy Elliott!! Great, I 've always wanted to see it........I spent most of the evening in tears!!! He assumed it was the letter from mum scene, NO, the whole thing of White Lodge auditions and the arrival of 'the letter' we're more than poignant for me never mind the reprise of the letter song when he says goodbye!!! Bless him, so well intentioned! I must have looked like a nutter