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Tring Park 2020 Auditions


AdageKitty

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34 minutes ago, NotaClue said:

Wrongly or rightly ... I’ve always been led to believe that Tring is one of the toughest when it comes to “funding” - definitely a million dollar question xxx

 

Looking at the information we have found on the MDS scheme nationally of those with dance funding Tring and Hammond appear to have the same allocation.  I did see on another thread that Hammond have a lot this year - is 13 not nearly twice the usual number.

 

Does anyone know which schools other than Tring allow pupils to carry their MDS into 6th Form?  Their policy look pretty clear but I haven't seen anything for the other three.

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I’m of the opinion that funding - especially if it is the government money via MDS or DaDa funding - should be transparent & it surely is the government who should be making information available. Then perhaps more of a level playing field may actually develop? Data request rules must permit asking those questions? 
I have no idea personally on the facts/rules etc just the ‘impression’ I think we all have that Royal & Elm can pretty much give out an MDS to any child qualifying on the resident & finance rules but that Hammond & Tring have fewer awards annually that they can give....

So does that mean Royal & Elm potentially could offer MDS to at least 12 girls & 12 boys entering year 7 every year plus others with later years entry? So over 24 awards annually potentially? 

Yet on here there’s been mention of the only other 2 schools who receive this funding for dance as only having perhaps 6-8 awards in any one year to give out across the year groups....

As I say, personally no idea of actual facts/figures but do think a challenge for open info is long overdue!

The schools themselves should be challenging this anomaly! If only 4 schools deemed worthy of government (well taxpayer) money then surely they should be on an equal footing? There are many more music schools (some attached to ‘choir schools’ of major Cathedrals & the such) in this funding programme & looks like on the whole these continue to fund under MDS criteria all the way through to A-Level age; families not moving to the less money generous DaDa as is often the case in dance. I’d hazard a bet that they have same percentage of pupils who can be funded without this silly ‘pecking order’ that we have allowed to develop in dance....& without the goal posts moving for post 16 funding too which is an extremely big issue for decision making post 16!

Lets have the info & push for transparency, fairness & equality!!

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The Government wrote a report on the MDS scheme a number of years ago but I can’t seem to find it now.  In it they gave the percentage of pupils in each school who receive an award.

 

There is also some information on the forum where a member provided some statistics.

 

At the moment we are still considering waiting another two years and reapplying for US.  Even with an elusive MDS we would still have a considerable contribution and when it comes to a DaDA I am not sure if we would receive very much at all.  Another two years of saving might be the best option at this point.

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I may be wrong and I’m sure someone will correct me , but I seem to remember , a few years ago ,that there were only about 4 or 5 MDS at Tring .

I also think the majority of these went to the boys .

I am referring to a period when my DS was in the school .

I have a pupil there currently who was awarded an MDS for year 7 , but a few days later than the first offers . So I presume she was on a waiting list .

I hope I haven’t contravened any rules by posting this .

 

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Several years ago when DC was year 7 & wait list we’d been told there were likely to be 6 MDS & were forewarned that reserve list was long & DC not that high up on it & boys always sought....!I think in the end there were 7 given our that year - bit at least one went to a current pupil in older year group. Sadly not one for us that year....

I think info is more open & transparent now from schools....

Bit still think it is the government sharing of funds out to the schools that needs looking into for fairness so that it is a known fact how many each school can & do offer & that the 4 schools (this maybe should be more?) each have a pro rata equal share. (ie. a school with a higher intake should necessarily have a higher ratio of pot that one with fewer maximum places) 

On the info that was around at the time there was certainly the assumption that technically 24 MDS could be given out to year 7 White Lodge joiners.... though in reality figure will likely have been less as there would probably be some joiners from overseas or who financially were outside of funding criteria. And possibly same situation for Elmhurst. Tring (& Hammond possibly?) have smaller intake onto Dance (Classical) course so it wouid make sense that it would have fewer to give out, but based on the other 2 mentioned schools surely they should be able to offer to all year 7 qualifying joiners? If it were an even playing field....hmmm. The government are responsible for much of this lining up a ‘pecking’ order of dance schools..... it should be that if a school deemed good enough to be granted government money then there ought to be equality. After all, different schools suit different students - it’s not necessarily always just about going to where you get a place based on an order of supremacy!!

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I think the link between MDS and classical dance may account for the disparity. WL and Elmhurst are specialist ballet schools, whereas the courses at Tring and Hammond are dance. The MDS descriptors target classical ballet, so the higher level of funding at schools where students have chosen to specialise down this route makes sense.

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In order to qualify to offer MDS the 4 schools have to offer chiefly Classical Ballet focus....

Hence lower school Hammond timetable is predominantly ballet focus. 

Tring Dance Course (lower & Upper School) is Classical Ballet focus & in my cross ref of all 4 schools timetables for years 10 & 11, Tring has every bit as much Ballet as RBS & Elmhurst. 

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5 minutes ago, SissonneDoublee said:

I think the link between MDS and classical dance may account for the disparity. WL and Elmhurst are specialist ballet schools, whereas the courses at Tring and Hammond are dance. The MDS descriptors target classical ballet, so the higher level of funding at schools where students have chosen to specialise down this route makes sense.


In the main I agree with you on this however the dance offering at Tring and Hammond is not the same.  Tring have separate dance and performing art courses.  The hours of ballet at Tring are comparable with WL and Elmhurst.  Class sizes in dance are smaller but the limiting factor is most likely funding.  I have read numerous posts on here about those offered places but there not being enough scholarships.  While Hammond offer bursaries for their course at Tring this is offered to the performing arts course pupils.

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4 minutes ago, Peanut68 said:

In order to qualify to offer MDS the 4 schools have to offer chiefly Classical Ballet focus....

Hence lower school Hammond timetable is predominantly ballet focus. 

Tring Dance Course (lower & Upper School) is Classical Ballet focus & in my cross ref of all 4 schools timetables for years 10 & 11, Tring has every bit as much Ballet as RBS & Elmhurst. 


Thanks @Peanut68, we were obviously writing at the same time.  Glad my information is the same as yours.

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14 minutes ago, SissonneDoublee said:

I think the link between MDS and classical dance may account for the disparity. WL and Elmhurst are specialist ballet schools, whereas the courses at Tring and Hammond are dance. The MDS descriptors target classical ballet, so the higher level of funding at schools where students have chosen to specialise down this route makes sense.

The MDS awards are targeted towards the ‘most suitable for classical training’ (I think this is roughly the wording I read back in the day....) though actually individual needs/circumstances etc are taken into account.eg. Hammond may offer bursary to those in higher family income bracket & the MDS to others requiring higher level of funding as this could behold them with travel etc too.

So not always just 100% talent based....lots to consider. 

Also remember some students at all schools may well be in receipt of various funding assistance. eg. military families, Masonic & other organisations offering arts education funding, wider family assistance. 

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I believe from a friend that the dance CAT schemes also offer MDS funding? If so - and if these MDS awards affect the vocational schools’ ‘pot’, then as the only classical ballet CAT scheme is the Nothern Ballet one I am not sure why each of the CAT schemes have MDS funding available? Surely they can’t be said to be offering a classical ballet based course when they are very clearly contemporary based save for Northern Ballet and places on the other CAT schemes will not be awarded based on candidates’ suitability for classical ballet training? 

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PLEASE PLEASE could someone attending the year 7 girls funding audition next Tuesday message me the itinerary for the morning?  I have called the school and left a message and emailed but had no reply and I feel a bit daft calling or writing again. Please it’s for next Tuesday yr 7 girls. I have booked the hotel but I don’t know what time I have to have her there or if she needs to take anything. 
Thanks x

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Hi, we’re going for yr 10 entry and have to arrive at 8.45am. There is a jazz class then they each do a 2min monologue and a song that is 32 bars maximum. I think it may be mixed ages in that group. We are due to finish at 11am.

Hope that helps xx

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17 hours ago, Peanut68 said:

That is a very good point to raise Legs!!

It really does appear as if there is no coherent & thought through joined up process to the MDS & possibly DaDa funding....

BTW all, apologies as I may have taken this thread off track somewhat! Bit just to clarify, my comments relating to funding are more regarding all schools not just relating to Tring....

Important to research all aspects for each institution & age group!

 

🤞🏻to those awaiting results for Tring & good luck to those going to all the various funding auditions there next week x

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22 hours ago, Flower said:

PLEASE PLEASE could someone attending the year 7 girls funding audition next Tuesday message me the itinerary for the morning?  I have called the school and left a message and emailed but had no reply and I feel a bit daft calling or writing again. Please it’s for next Tuesday yr 7 girls. I have booked the hotel but I don’t know what time I have to have her there or if she needs to take anything. 
Thanks x

 Hi Flower, my daughter is in the year 7 girls funding audition so I hope this helps.

They need to arrive at 8:45 am on Tuesday. There will be a 90 minute ballet class and they must arrive ready for class. They may also need to attend a 15 minute physio appointment - organised alphabetically and departure times will be set accordingly (so I assume if you're early in the alphabet you pick her up earlier than if your name starts with z!) 

That's virtually all the letter says - results will be 7-10 days after the audition.

Good luck!

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2 hours ago, KeenButClueless said:

 Hi Flower, my daughter is in the year 7 girls funding audition so I hope this helps.

They need to arrive at 8:45 am on Tuesday. There will be a 90 minute ballet class and they must arrive ready for class. They may also need to attend a 15 minute physio appointment - organised alphabetically and departure times will be set accordingly (so I assume if you're early in the alphabet you pick her up earlier than if your name starts with z!) 

That's virtually all the letter says - results will be 7-10 days after the audition.

Good luck!

Thanks loads. I think that is probably what mine said.  See you there. Best of luck x

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Hi Princess Dreams, 

We were there yesterday for PF funding auditions, I personally would assume that your audition is still going ahead unless you hear otherwise. I guess if the school is open then they will run the auditions?

Good luck 🤞🤞

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