BisforBallet Posted November 22, 2023 Share Posted November 22, 2023 @AllAboutTheJourney We lasted only Yr 7 for that reason. The long weekends, boredom added to home sickness. 3 weeks to Exeat was hard going. The school itself is good, I had no complaints otherwise and we haven’t ruled out going back when older. I’d be interested to hear what other vocational schools do at weekends from others who are there? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margarite Posted November 22, 2023 Share Posted November 22, 2023 1 hour ago, BisforBallet said: @AllAboutTheJourney We lasted only Yr 7 for that reason. The long weekends, boredom added to home sickness. 3 weeks to Exeat was hard going. The school itself is good, I had no complaints otherwise and we haven’t ruled out going back when older. I’d be interested to hear what other vocational schools do at weekends from others who are there? My DD attended Hammond Lower school from year 7 and really enjoyed weekends. The benefit of having the boarding houses within walking distance of Chester city centre was great - with shops, cafes and the lovely surroundings within easy reach. HPs escorted younger years and year 9 and upwards could go by themselves when they wanted. There was also swimming, cinema trips plus outings to the beach. Things weren’t so great during the Covid years, but picked up again and they have activities and trips every weekend. Hammond also has Saturday school until 12.30’ so there isn’t much time to get bored. I also think because students live away from the school site, weekends feel different and more of a change than if they were still seeing classrooms and studios during their downtime! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farawaydancer Posted November 22, 2023 Share Posted November 22, 2023 3 minutes ago, margarite said: My DD attended Hammond Lower school from year 7 and really enjoyed weekends. The benefit of having the boarding houses within walking distance of Chester city centre was great - with shops, cafes and the lovely surroundings within easy reach. HPs escorted younger years and year 9 and upwards could go by themselves when they wanted. There was also swimming, cinema trips plus outings to the beach. Things weren’t so great during the Covid years, but picked up again and they have activities and trips every weekend. Hammond also has Saturday school until 12.30’ so there isn’t much time to get bored. I also think because students live away from the school site, weekends feel different and more of a change than if they were still seeing classrooms and studios during their downtime! Agree with all of this. It’s a very different (more positive) experience than the ‘self-contained’ school sites. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raquelle Posted November 22, 2023 Share Posted November 22, 2023 Elmhurst do RAD Saturday mornings, then it's normally park and aldi! They organise some in house activities usually, e.g. elmhurst has got talent, making pizzas, film night, quizzes etc then often do trips on Sundays (not every sunday). Trips include small trips such as cinema, bowling etc or bigger trips such as the Wave water park. They always do christmas shopping at Merry Hill! etc. Some people come home on weekends, some stay till leave out so there are always people around. My daughter comes home two weekends out of three, unless there are trips or activities she wants to do then sometimes she stays extra! Feel free to pm me if any questions x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballet_dancer2020 Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 Could anyone tell me whether Tring allow boarders to go home every weekend if they want? We live fairly close (although not close enough to consider being a day student) and I was wondering if we could potentially pick up Fri evening and drop off Monday morning each week. I am planning to go to their open day in Jan so can ask then but just wondering if anyone might know....thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoDancers Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 9 hours ago, Ballet_dancer2020 said: Could anyone tell me whether Tring allow boarders to go home every weekend if they want? We live fairly close (although not close enough to consider being a day student) and I was wondering if we could potentially pick up Fri evening and drop off Monday morning each week. I am planning to go to their open day in Jan so can ask then but just wondering if anyone might know....thank you! Yes they can go home at the weekends. Year 9 upwards do have RAD and ISTD lessons (then Y10/11 also add in Cecchetti lessons) at the weekends though. These lessons aren’t compulsory though I don’t think. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballet_dancer2020 Posted November 25, 2023 Share Posted November 25, 2023 15 hours ago, TwoDancers said: Yes they can go home at the weekends. Year 9 upwards do have RAD and ISTD lessons (then Y10/11 also add in Cecchetti lessons) at the weekends though. These lessons aren’t compulsory though I don’t think. Thank you @TwoDancers, really helpful 😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewel Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 On 30/09/2023 at 19:30, Peanut68 said: Oh I’m sorry to hear this & am not really up to date on staff etc there…. In my experience day pupils at almost all vocational schools seem to take additional outside classes/coaching & can put themselves at an advantage (though risk burn out IMO too). When you say returned to old boarding houses, surely not to Hampton Lodge? Last time I happened to be near Chester I did a nostalgia drive-by & was saddened (though not surprised) to see it empty & up for sale. But what was so sad was how decrepit it was…. Empty buildings deteriorate so quickly. But -tbh - it was not really fit for purpose in this day & age…. The most recent extensions were the proverbial ‘icing on dog mess’ providing more beds to share pretty dire dining & relax facilities etc. It needed vacating, pulling down all the modern bits & doing a sympathetic to its original period architecture & features - a restoration to preserve the history of the school too with its dance studio! To then be perhaps a study centre for the school or upper school accommodation in a few created flats…. But of course that would require money a school could not justify… Clovelly was legions better but still pretty dire…. But both had their highs & lows of memories & will provide former boarders with great stories to tell their grandkids!! The lovely carol service you remember so fondly, now only the degree (not diploma) students take part. The turnover of staff has been quite extraordinary (teaching and pastoral staff) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 (edited) I recently heard that they are back using Hampton Lodge after a full renovation & all new furnishings…. Kind of pleased that the legacy of the original school building does live on! I had wondered if covenants/trusts would actually make it very hard to sell…. Pleased in a way it’s still part of Hammond! I do hope staff changes etc are not negative & do hope the Carols in Cathedral return for all… was the highlight of year & one to take a grandparent too! (Book Xmas lunch beforehand in the cathedral restaurant - really good! ) Edited November 27, 2023 by Peanut68 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllAboutTheJourney Posted November 28, 2023 Share Posted November 28, 2023 (edited) White Lodge sounds quite similar to Elmhurst in terms of what is available at the weekends - classes on a Saturday morning (after Christmas for the y7) and then a walk out to the local shops on a Saturday afternoon, swimming at some point and generally a trip on the Sunday. Trips are sometimes local things like an activity in Richmond or a museum/cinema/Christmas market a bit further afield - that kind of thing. Occasionally there are bigger trips to places like Thorpe Park or Harry Potter World. On the odd weekend that there is no trip, there is an activity organised in the school but most weekends they get out to the local shops and then also out again on the Sunday. That’s y7/8 though - I believe there is more freedom to come and go as you please at the weekends in Senior House (which makes sense). Edited November 28, 2023 by AllAboutTheJourney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllAboutTheJourney Posted November 28, 2023 Share Posted November 28, 2023 Also RBS prelim results seem to be coming out v quickly - we heard today from an audition at the end of last week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LyndseyJ Posted November 29, 2023 Share Posted November 29, 2023 On 22/11/2023 at 20:25, margarite said: My DD attended Hammond Lower school from year 7 and really enjoyed weekends. The benefit of having the boarding houses within walking distance of Chester city centre was great - with shops, cafes and the lovely surroundings within easy reach. HPs escorted younger years and year 9 and upwards could go by themselves when they wanted. There was also swimming, cinema trips plus outings to the beach. Things weren’t so great during the Covid years, but picked up again and they have activities and trips every weekend. Hammond also has Saturday school until 12.30’ so there isn’t much time to get bored. I also think because students live away from the school site, weekends feel different and more of a change than if they were still seeing classrooms and studios during their downtime! a quick question, do all the pupils at the Hammond have Saturday classes? My DD have just applied and got our audition in Jan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farawaydancer Posted November 29, 2023 Share Posted November 29, 2023 1 hour ago, LyndseyJ said: a quick question, do all the pupils at the Hammond have Saturday classes? My DD have just applied and got our audition in Jan. Yes they do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LyndseyJ Posted November 29, 2023 Share Posted November 29, 2023 18 hours ago, Farawaydancer said: Yes they do. ok that's good to know just in case, as we would like to bring her home some weekends. L x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beanerina Posted December 22, 2023 Share Posted December 22, 2023 On 21/11/2023 at 12:52, mumtotwoballerinas said: I certainly recommend moorland my DD is in year 9 having moved from Hammond and the difference in her is amazing she is so happy. Academics, vocational training and boarding all great This is very interesting. Would you mind if I PM you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balleteveryday Posted January 1 Share Posted January 1 I’ve just been told by someone ‘in the know’ (I.e they have considerable professional experience in the ballet world and I have no reason not to respect this), that the 3 years of training guaranteed by WL from Y7-9 is not actually guaranteed and that they do still assess out within this period if they don’t think you’re going to make it. This person apparently knows from insider knowledge from those who work there. Is this true or out-dated info? I appreciate that they do assessments each year but are they assessed out if they don’t achieve sufficiently between Y7-9? I was under the impression the rules had changed from the 21/22 academic year and that 3 years were guaranteed. I’m REALLY hoping we’re not having the wool pulled over our eyes as parents and actually there’s some small print that’s being glossed over at the application stage that we’re blind to. Please can someone confirm/reassure? I don’t want this to be another hidden scandal - or at least if it is, what’s the threshold so we can be aware of it?! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiaramum Posted January 4 Share Posted January 4 Yesterdays news may well bring some much needed change into the world of RBS - Always ALWAYS have a plan B though. Do not expect a guaranteed pass into the next year/next programme. Reports will come and be scrutinised but they don't mean a lot. Expect the unexpected BUT enjoy the ride. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LyndseyJ Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 another quick question please How long after the audition do we find out the results? for Tring and Hammond. Also how do we find out about funding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now