kcoom75 Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 Hi, I have searched this topic and found lots of information but I was wondering if anyone knows if boarding costs are included in MDS awards. I had discounted full time dance school as I didn't think my DS would be happy boarding at such a young age, but he shocked me today by telling me he would love to live at dance school and wants to audition for Hammond like his older sister. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billyelliott Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 (edited) Yes MDS covers boarding , but you still pay a means tested contribution Edited August 5, 2015 by Billyelliott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcoom75 Posted August 5, 2015 Author Share Posted August 5, 2015 thank you billy Elliott, that's a lot better than I was expecting. Now I just have to hope he gets an award. Does anyone know how many awards are given for hammond? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 It varies each year depending on how many MDS students will be leaving from other years. From looking back on this forum it appears this has varied from between 7-15 places. A link posted a while back stated that approximately 60% of dance pupils are MDS funded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angel Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 Is that the case? I didn't think it was that many in our DD's year...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regattah Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 I agree with Angel - there wasn't as much as that in DD's year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted August 5, 2015 Share Posted August 5, 2015 I think there were around 7 ish in our year. Less last year but a couple more for next year. I saw a post from a few years ago saying 15 (but that also included those given out to older years) which I thought was high but it was before i was involved with the school so may very well be incorrect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 I think the different schools all have a varying number of MDS places that can be awarded. Someone on here mentioned a while ago that all financially eligible students at RBS are funded by MDS, and most at Elmhurst. Hammond as above, and Tring seems to have an available number that varies wildly each year, and it is pot luck whether there are enough in the year that you apply. It all depends on the number of leavers freeing up the places, and some years there are more than others. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcoom75 Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 thank you everyone for your replies. my DD went to vocational school at 16 so I don't have any experience of auditioning for year 7. does anyone know what sort of level/grade they should be at that point? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 At year 7 it's very much on potential. Children in my dds year ranged from having only recently begun ballet at an after school club to having already passed IF. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 What year is he in? How about going to the open day in October where you should be able to see a ballet class with the year 7s who will just have started. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcoom75 Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 he's only going into year four this time, but he hasn't been dancing for very long and is only in grade one. We have just moved him to a more serious dance school as he started asking about doing auditions and going to full time dance school, and I know from my DD's auditions that the competition is quite fierce. He may change his mind but I wanted to make sue he has the best chance and is prepared if he does still want to audition at 11. The open day is a good idea pictures as he has been asking to go and see the school again.......he's only been there to drop off or pick up his sister up to now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 When he is in Year 5 they run a taster day where you spend an entire day at the school. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcoom75 Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 I didn't know about the taster day but that would be great to help him decide if it's what he really wants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisiblecircus Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 You could try looking into associate schemes. That would give him some time with other children who are serious about dancing and see if he enjoys the extra classes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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