WhatsThePointe Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 Does anyone know how the schools that offer MDS places are regulated? Specifically what I mean is, if the government are paying huge proportions of the fees via the MDS scheme, is there a department/person/governing body actually checking that this money is well spent, and the schools are offering the exceptional training they are claiming to offer? Essentially, if you felt this wasn't the case, and that complaints/concerns were not addressed by the school, who could you approach next? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 Hi Whatsthepointe, Interesting question! If you look on the MDS page of gov.uk, there are no central contact details, you’re directed to each school on the scheme. So I suppose, depending on what your precise issue is - and assuming you’ve already followed the school’s complaints procedures (including writing to the Board of Governors), the next logical step would perhaps be the Department of Education’s complaints team? https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school/private-schools The ISI might have some advice too, if they inspect the school in question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farawaydancer Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 2 hours ago, WhatsThePointe said: Does anyone know how the schools that offer MDS places are regulated? Specifically what I mean is, if the government are paying huge proportions of the fees via the MDS scheme, is there a department/person/governing body actually checking that this money is well spent, and the schools are offering the exceptional training they are claiming to offer? Essentially, if you felt this wasn't the case, and that complaints/concerns were not addressed by the school, who could you approach next? No one. I’ve asked one of the principals of one of the schools this question, and whilst there are inspections etc, there is no one to complain to about the actual mds provision, although the outcomes from the mds are monitored by the DfE in a general sense. I think the schools have to report how many students in receipt of mds go on to upper schools for instance. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peony Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 Tring, Hammond and elmhurst all seem to be inspected by ofstead, so presumably a complaint could be made to them as well as DfE it appears that Royal Ballet used to be inspected by ofstead but switched to ISI. The last Ofstead report for them makes interesting reading! not sure how much scrutiny the dance training gets by these inspections as it’s obviously very specialised. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotadanceMa Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 It’s an excellent question. There is no one independent of the vocational training from what I could find that oversees the MDS students funding. It feels to me quite an arbitrary process as well once in. Tring assess MDS students annually, I don’t yet know if this is an independent assessment; because it should be in my opinion. I will find out in time no doubt. It niggles away at me. And ‘no’ the ISI do not offer any advice, I know I asked it has nothing to do with them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotadanceMa Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 1 minute ago, Peony said: Tring, Hammond and elmhurst all seem to be inspected by ofstead, so presumably a complaint could be made to them as well as DfE it appears that Royal Ballet used to be inspected by ofstead but switched to ISI. The last Ofstead report for them makes interesting reading! not sure how much scrutiny the dance training gets by these inspections as it’s obviously very specialised. In answer to your musing. ISI pay very little attention to the vocational side of things, it is primarily an education focused assessment. Feedback from my teen in training. Unless ISI are made up of specialist dance inspectors how would they know what they were inspecting?? My child’s school made sure the students knew in advance that inspectors were watching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peony Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 I guess there could be some independent assessment by non-specialists e.g. grades obtained in syllabus exams/ success at summer school entry/ scholarships/ prizes won, acceptance into competitive entry competitions eg PDL, students accepted for sixth forms and which ones, number passing schools own assessments, number of injuries. When you look at the assesment of academics by ofstead it’s not hugely comprehensive either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotadanceMa Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 11 minutes ago, Peony said: When you look at the assesment of academics by ofstead it’s not hugely comprehensive either. I suppose the point is though that at least academics is inspected, monitored, has a system of attainment that is identifiable and measurable. There is a recognised system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballet-mum-8017553946284 Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 Department for Education’s contact details: https://form.education.gov.uk/service/Contact_the_Department_for_Education 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewel Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 Ofsted inspect the boarding provision. ISI inspect the education. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peony Posted February 1, 2022 Share Posted February 1, 2022 27 minutes ago, Jewel said: Ofsted inspect the boarding provision. ISI inspect the education. The ofstead reports of the 3 schools available on line are the standard ones done in all schools. The RBS one is described as an ‘emergency’ inspection in response to concerns and is for boarding only. interestingly the standard Ofstead visits were for 16 plus provisions and the schools use ISI for secondary age. They’re not just for the education provision though, they look similar to ofstead with safeguarding and compliance etc. They do also mention the ballet classes and an assesment of attainment. Possibly not in as in depth way as desired but they’ve made recommendations about teaching methods and given info about attainment assessments etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewel Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 Well I can't speak for Tring but I know that Hammond is inspected by ISI, not OFSTED. OFSTED do however, inspect all Post 16 DaDa provision (they have to get at least a Good to retain Dada funding, but as the OP referenced MDS I didn't include that. Hammond's last OFSTED report was 2015 & was for the post 16 Trinity Diploma DaDA funded courses only. The last ISI report on the whole school education and boarding was last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunrise81 Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 I'm sure Elmhurst are also ISI rather than OFSTED as they are expecting an inspection any time soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancefanatic Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 (edited) 55 minutes ago, sunrise81 said: I'm sure Elmhurst are also ISI rather than OFSTED as they are expecting an inspection any time soon. Elmhurst have both with their last Ofsted report dated 2015. I think they had an ISI inspection at around the same time from memory... See https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/38/50032 Edited February 2, 2022 by dancefanatic adding link to Ofsted report 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewel Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 40 minutes ago, dancefanatic said: Elmhurst have both with their last Ofsted report dated 2015. I think they had an ISI inspection at around the same time from memory... See https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/38/50032 The OFSTED report is specifically for the post 16 course as that is DaDa funded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunrise81 Posted February 2, 2022 Share Posted February 2, 2022 I know they are specifically expecting ISI at Elm any time soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
along for the ride mum Posted March 22, 2023 Share Posted March 22, 2023 @DanceDaddy fyi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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