Anna C Posted August 22, 2020 Share Posted August 22, 2020 2 hours ago, Bluebird22 said: Thank you for this insight @Pas de Quatre & @Anna C I think in the mad dash to try and get places student finance has probably been way down the list of priorities. I really hope they can offer some financial support to those who have had to swap to a level 6 course because the majority of similar degree courses are already full. I think the latter will depend upon who funds the Level 6 courses, Bluebird - if they attract Student Finance then it should be straightforward. If they are funded by DaDa then that’s going to be more complex and SFE/SAAS might suggest people speak to the receiving school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oncnp Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 (edited) Apologies if this is the wrong place but the Stage is reporting the Scottish School has closed with immediate effect From the bbc https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-53892375 Edited August 24, 2020 by oncnp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BalletMum2 Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 It’s sad it has come to this. But I am not surprised. I read somewhere over the weekend that the HNC/HND Qualification had ended/stopped. I feel very deeply for ALL Students, past and present. Even those who where about to embark. However, if there’s a Story to be learnt out of all of this. Playing “GOD” with lives, esp the innocent impressionable ones - this has to be it. Let this be the Wake Up Call to ALL Performing Arts. Regardless what Discipline. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopelessMummy Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 My thoughts are with all affected by the news and hope that students are being fully supported and other schools will rally to assist insofar as possible 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 What a very stressful and worrying time for all current and incoming students - my thoughts are with everyone affected. I’ve just posted this on another thread but thought it might be useful for those incoming first years and their parents who find themselves looking frantically around for alternate courses. I would read the terms and conditions of schools - especially new(ish) ones and private ones - in minute detail, to check for things like: Penalty clauses for withdrawal from the course Injury policy - things like does the school assume any responsibility for injury during training Accommodation providers - are these independent and inspected Qualification offered and by which board. Pastoral care - if you can get views of this from current and past parents, so much the better Accountability - is the school “owned” by one person/family, is there an independent Board of Governors, is the school inspected and by whom, what do these inspections *actually* inspect, and so on. Also worth remembering is that there are other options, especially at 15/16, even if one option is going back to academic school or college, then applying for 18+ dance training, so do speak to the Head of 6th form if your child is currently at an academic school. Wishing you and your dc the very best of luck going forward. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 In addition to @Anna C post above I would recommend checking the penalty clauses if your child withdraws from the school before the end of the course even the established, well known schools that offer DaDA even if you are self funding. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 The information-only support post has been updated as some Counsellors have come forward to offer a pro-bono session (via Zoom/Skype) to any past/present student who has been affected by the allegations. https://www.balletcoforum.com/topic/23009-support-and-contact-details-for-those-affected-by-recent-news/ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canary Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 When researching Upper schools as Anna C says if there are Terms and Conditions read them carefully. If instead they have a Contract I strongly suggest you send it to your family solicitors and contact the local Education Authority to ensure that the studios are a safe environment where they follow Health and Safety, UK Government Safeguarding policies and promote the welfare of ALL children and are not just a private company with beautiful studios and expensive private accommodation your child must stay in. Feel free to PM me with any further questions. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornishprincess Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 I agree with Canary. Be very careful and get a solicitor to check the contract. Do NOT be rushed into signing something without careful scrutiny first and tell your child that they can and MUST report to you or a trusted adult any bullying or abuse whether physical or emotional. Enough is enough 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share Posted August 27, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, Canary said: When researching Upper schools as Anna C says if there are Terms and Conditions read them carefully. If instead they have a Contract I strongly suggest you send it to your family solicitors and contact the local Education Authority to ensure that the studios are a safe environment where they follow Health and Safety, UK Government Safeguarding policies and promote the welfare of ALL children and are not just a private company with beautiful studios and expensive private accommodation your child must stay in. Feel free to PM me with any further questions. You will be on a hiding to nothing if the school is offering a degree qualification. The school will not treat the under 18's as children as other schools would, they go purely by the university's terms and conditions, which unfortunately were written with adults of 18+ in mind. Students of 16 and 17 will be treated as adults. And that means that the school will not talk to parents. Edited to add: Which is all very well until there's a big problem or crisis. And 16-17 year-olds need a far greater level of pastoral support than they are going to get from the school. They need their parents' help, but the school won't discuss anything with the parents. Be aware. Edited August 27, 2020 by taxi4ballet 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peony Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Do parents have to sign the contract? If it’s the student is it enforceable for under 18s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oncnp Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Claire Calvert (Royal Ballet) posted this on her IG stories https://www.instagram.com/p/CEU6lklg5ZG/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointetheway Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Latest news on how itv investigation led to the closure of a well known vocational ballet school. This is an essential read. if anyone has further information about this school or any other schools please check my posts for contact details or message me directly. Together we are making positive changes for safer dance. No comments here please (moderators you may wish to turn off posting). This is information only. Hit like and get this shared! https://www.itv.com/news/2020-08-27/how-our-investigation-into-a-prestigious-ballet-school-led-to-its-closure 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canary Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 ONCNP thank you i didnt know how to post the results Shocking 900 ballet trained dancers surveyed i believe , absolutely shocking 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornishprincess Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 taxi4ballet: Yes. At 16 young people need a greater level of pastoral care and as you say the places in my experience which offer a degree do not seem to take this into account. I was appalled on the audition circuit when my dd who would only just have turned 16 was expected to be as mature and accountable as an 18/19 year old...coming from a small town and going to a large city, I was not happy when the principal of one school said that they took no responsibility for the pastoral care of their students once off the school property. The school had no dedicated accommodation or facilities other than beautiful studios. She went elsewhere 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornishprincess Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 The 'elsewhere' proved to be a nightmare.....which is another story. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glissade Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 On 27/08/2020 at 20:56, pointetheway said: Latest news on how itv investigation led to the closure of a well known vocational ballet school. This is an essential read. if anyone has further information about this school or any other schools please check my posts for contact details or message me directly. Together we are making positive changes for safer dance. No comments here please (moderators you may wish to turn off posting). This is information only. Hit like and get this shared! https://www.itv.com/news/2020-08-27/how-our-investigation-into-a-prestigious-ballet-school-led-to-its-closure Thanks for the link. Shared 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletbean Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 On 27/08/2020 at 21:29, cornishprincess said: taxi4ballet: Yes. At 16 young people need a greater level of pastoral care and as you say the places in my experience which offer a degree do not seem to take this into account. I was appalled on the audition circuit when my dd who would only just have turned 16 was expected to be as mature and accountable as an 18/19 year old...coming from a small town and going to a large city, I was not happy when the principal of one school said that they took no responsibility for the pastoral care of their students once off the school property. The school had no dedicated accommodation or facilities other than beautiful studios. She went elsewhere We too may have experienced the same school. My DD would have only turned 16, just 8 weeks before the start of term. The person in question brushed off our concerns stating ‘well if they were in a ballet company it’s the norm’. Eeerr, that may well be the case but girls & boys do not join a ballet company just after their 16th birthday. They require a safe and nurturing environment to allow them to mature both physically and mentally to prepare them for what the future holds. We went elsewhere. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farawaydancer Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 29 minutes ago, balletbean said: We too may have experienced the same school. My DD would have only turned 16, just 8 weeks before the start of term. The person in question brushed off our concerns stating ‘well if they were in a ballet company it’s the norm’. Eeerr, that may well be the case but girls & boys do not join a ballet company just after their 16th birthday. They require a safe and nurturing environment to allow them to mature both physically and mentally to prepare them for what the future holds. We went elsewhere. I had that said to me about my 12 year old!! Thankfully the member of senior management who was also at the meeting stepped in before I could, reprimanded the teacher and pointed out we were talking about a child! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millicent Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 This definitely seems to have parallels with the abuse of gymnasts highlighted in "Athlete A". What I find most shocking is that in both situations it was almost an open secret, yet the (alleged) abusers carried on getting away with it for years and years. Infuriating and sad... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointetheway Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 Sadly many become aware of the culture of these schools too late and often after harm has been done. That said, there are some excellent schools and teachers out there, but in the current climate it’s difficult to know which are which. There is no transparency. Everything is constantly kept so secret, even on forums such as this we are all too aware of the limitations. But we don’t have to sit back and take it. If you want to help you can message me or follow me on twitter. Sharing information is so important when making decisions that impact our children. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nama Posted August 31, 2020 Share Posted August 31, 2020 On 28/08/2020 at 06:29, cornishprincess said: taxi4ballet: Yes. At 16 young people need a greater level of pastoral care and as you say the places in my experience which offer a degree do not seem to take this into account. I was appalled on the audition circuit when my dd who would only just have turned 16 was expected to be as mature and accountable as an 18/19 year old...coming from a small town and going to a large city, I was not happy when the principal of one school said that they took no responsibility for the pastoral care of their students once off the school property. The school had no dedicated accommodation or facilities other than beautiful studios. She went elsewhere From the experience of my dd it is also a question of the level of pastoral care provided by the schools attached housing set up as well. The whole concept of pastoral care across the school needs attention. The idea a school can say we have done enough for the students - or that they had more attention than any other etc - fails to recognise that all students have different pastoral and mental health issues at different times. The system needs to be flexible and accommodating. A duty of care is a human issue and a moral one too. The schools inspectorate needs to look further and question more widely. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest oncnp Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 Some good news for once...according to The Stage "The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland has stepped in to help students of the now-closed Ballet West continue their training by opening up last-minute audition places. Young dancers who were studying at Ballet West have already been auditioned by the Glasgow conservatoire, which plans to offer them places for the coming academic year." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 1 hour ago, oncnp said: Some good news for once...according to The Stage "The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland has stepped in to help students of the now-closed Ballet West continue their training by opening up last-minute audition places. Young dancers who were studying at Ballet West have already been auditioned by the Glasgow conservatoire, which plans to offer them places for the coming academic year." Elmhurst has also been offering last minute places for anyone as some students cannot, for whatever reason, take up their places. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystaltips Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 On behalf of my dd, I would like to express my huge gratitude to Bath Spa University for ensuring that she was awarded her degree in classical ballet following the closure of BW. The certificate arrived today. Wishing happy landings to all the other students. 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glowlight Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 @Crystaltips - congratulations to your dd on gaining her degree. And to all the other graduates from BW too. I wish them all the best in their future careers. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystaltips Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 ITV news has reported in the last hour that a 38 year old man has been arrested and charged with sexual offences. He will appear in Oban Crown court at a later date. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Macmillan Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 Indeed so, and the man in question has also been named by ITV as Mr Jonathan Barton, the former Vice Principal at Ballet West. Until the trial has been held and a verdict reached, it would be inappropriate to have further discussion here. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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