Picturesinthefirelight Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 The question of how many MDS each school has comes up year after year & no one seems to know the answer. The govenment website archive which talks about the history of the MDS scheme has broken links when you try to click on the facts & figures bit. It's pretty certain that all RBS places are MDS funded & most of Elmhurst but how many for Hammond & Tring? Has anyone thought of submitting a FOI request for the information. Not to the individual schools who are not public bodies so don't come under FOI but to the government dept that gives the funding? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancermum Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Saw on the upper school thread that 3 MDS awards might be available (Tring students that have just been accepted into RBS upper school)... so wanted to wish good luck to anyone on the reserve list. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lema Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Oh wow!! Not going to mention that to dd but nice to know there are going to be 3 very happy people out there when they get an unexpected offer!! Fingers crossed for everyone on the reserve list x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haggis Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Just to say that it would take a while for the awards to be there. The dancers will need to decide if they are going to stay or leave and they don't have to give more than a term's notice. I have left the choice up to my son and told him to not react speedily, to give the pros and cons a lot of thought. Tring has been his home for years and his friends are there...and clearly the training is very good. RBS is a tantalising offer but I want him to have thought it all through. The difference in academics too. Plus some of the children, not my ds, may still be auditioning for other schools. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hfbrew Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Just to say that it would take a while for the awards to be there. The dancers will need to decide if they are going to stay or leave and they don't have to give more than a term's notice. I have left the choice up to my son and told him to not react speedily, to give the pros and cons a lot of thought. Tring has been his home for years and his friends are there...and clearly the training is very good. RBS is a tantalising offer but I want him to have thought it all through. The difference in academics too. Plus some of the children, not my ds, may still be auditioning for other schools. Very wise Haggis! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waitingmum Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I spoke to someone who rang Tring to find out why they had been offered a day rate MDS when they had applied for a boarding MDS. They were told all boarding places had been taken by paying applicants after the first round of auditions so the MDS money could only apply to day pupils. Might explain why everyone has been put on the reserve list! If this is really the case then I am so glad now I didn't waste our time going to the funding auditions. Do wish things were more transparent. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piccolo Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Well I never! Money certainly talks! But for how long? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 That seems mad and very bad planning! Surely they should keep back the number of beds corresponding to the number of MDS awards they have? Afterall aren't the most talented applicants the ones they invite to funding? Obviously I know there will be some who are among the most talented but don't qualify for MDS, but surely not a whole years worth? Or am I naive?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 I would be inclined to take any information with a pinch of salt unless you have heard it from the school itself. That information may be correct but equally it may not. It does seem strange to me that they would only be able to offer an MDS to a day student. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waitingmum Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 My friend heard this direct from the school! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lildancer96 Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 That sounds very strange and perhaps those on the list should speak to the school themselves. It does happen with dada places on 6th form but obviously these students are old enough to live independently in Tring, however those on mds would obviously need boarding unless they lived locally. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Maybe I am a cynic but I would need to hear this information for myself from the school. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billyelliott Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Find that very hard to believe ! Seems completely illogical - I would definitely speak direct to someone at the school if I were affected - sounds like a case of chineese whispers ....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Autumn days Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) I spoke to someone who rang Tring to find out why they had been offered a day rate MDS when they had applied for a boarding MDS. They were told all boarding places had been taken by paying applicants after the first round of auditions so the MDS money could only apply to day pupils. Might explain why everyone has been put on the reserve list! If this is really the case then I am so glad now I didn't waste our time going to the funding auditions. Do wish things were more transparent.Presumably this child was offered a place after the first audition and also invited to the funding final. Was she offered a day place or a boarding place? And when you say that the MDS money could only apply to day pupils, do you mean that there a only day places left for those awarded funding or that, for sme reason, hey can only offer MDS to day pupils? I, too, find it very hard to elieve that those clearly considered the most talented have been disadvantaged in this way!! Edited March 20, 2015 by mum in a spin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waitingmum Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 That is correct mum in a spin. Returned for funding audition after being offered a boarding place after the first audition.But following the funding audition was offered a day funded only place which is why his parents rang. I obviously have not spoken to the school myself but have no reason to doubt them, especially as their ds has been offered a place elsewhere which they are going to take up. The school apparently just said that unfortunately all the boarding places had been taken up by pupils that could afford to pay so that the MDS funding that they had couldn't be used for boarding places, therefore they would allocate to day places instead. I can understand why the school would do this to ensure all their places are filled as early as possible. I guess some years this may not happen. Just know that my friend would not have taken her ds up if she had known this before, although I guess this means that Tring then have a reserve list if any child drops out before September. c Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Do you have the option to accept a place offered at first audition but say it's on condition of getting funding? Would that guarantee a bed? Or is there a hefty deposit that prevents people doing this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow04 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) The deposit is £2500 if you want to accept the place after the first audition! This is the reason we waited before accepting because although we can afford full fees (albeit we will struggle) I would rather wait to see if she was offered funding places elsewhere. I have also heard most of the boarding places were full after the first set of auditions which is why a lot if children who auditioned later on (Jan, Feb) would have less chance to get in :-( Edited March 20, 2015 by Willow04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieW Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 If this is true (and I'm not doubting you) it's quite shocking and shortsighted IMHO. Those who the school consider to be the most talented/suitable losing out to those who can pay more. Not impressed! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Thank you Willow04 very useful information. My DD will be auditioning for 6th form in two years time so have asked related questions on US thread. Will be good to be prepared!!???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I'm not impressed either JulieW! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancedizzy Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Having had 2 children at Tring one on MDS and another on DaDA totalling 6 years personal experience of the dance course, sadly I can well believe that they will take full fee paying students over more talented students needing MDS funding. Very much a rich mans playground. I also have personal experience of RBS, which is operated very very differently their priority being talent. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Oh dear! We won't fit in then, my car is always the shabbiest in the car park! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quest Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Reading the above with disappointment, having been impressed with the school at auditions I feel quite disgusted with this news. I understand that the school has to create income to ensure their continued success, but surely they should 'reserve' sufficient boarding spaces for the amount of MDS awards available, to ensure that those talented, but not lucky enough to have the backing of rich parents still have the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Not fair at all! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaybackSapphire Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 ???? I am very saddened by this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petalviolet Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 In that case there shouldn't be a single child on the Tring funding reserve list that should be allowed to think- even for a moment- that they received that No because of anything they did wrong or that they weren't good enough. I hope they hold their heads up high and realise they are incredibly talented and very special and my heart goes out to them and their families. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Tring has by far the lowest number of pupils on MDS, according the Department of Education's guide to the MDS (published 2013) with only 17% of pupils on the scheme. The RBS has 83%, Elmhurst has 80% and Hammond 60%. It's the lowest out of all the specialist dance and music schools. http://www.isc.co.uk/Resources/Independent%20Schools%20Council/Documents/Find%20a%20School/access-to-excellence-the-dfes-m-and-d-schools.pdf 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancing2003 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Unfortunately we went through the same last year and felt very disappointed with Tring and another school but please do not give up hope. My dd was very lucky to gain an MDS at the Hammond and is loving it! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) I think when looking at the numbers of MDS also, you perhaps have to remember with Tring, if students can keep the MDS into 6th form then their MDS students are spread across years 7-11 + 3 years of 6th form. I know RBS does too - but they probably also have the highest number of overseas students in 6th form so it may offset it. I don't know about Elmhurst but Hammond MDS are for years 7-11 only. So it may well be for Tring that we are talking about very few MDS places available and some of them may well have been offered boarding if it was 'most boarding places for those who could afford to pay'. Demand obviously truly outweighs availability. All those that have been offered places and who have gone to funding recalls, regardless of outcome, have done very well though and shown a lot of talent/potential so parents should feel very proud. Edited to add - it does make me wonder if Trings lower number is a reflection of their selection process though - with high deposits and those who can afford to pay securing places early. I'm sure I saw a report on the old balletco forum about numbers of MDS at each of the schools and Hammond only had about 5 more at that point (going back 7 or 8 years) - if they don't use/offer all the MDS awards does it have a knock on effect for the following years? Edited March 20, 2015 by 2dancersmum 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tulip Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Knowing that them beds would have been taken by MDS students say five beds, would it not make sense to reserve them beds for them students. Tring would have still got the money either way. To pay that amount of money to secure a place in the hope that you may get a MDS is a huge ask, especially if you don't get that money back if you don't take the place. Does this situation happen at other schools ie you've got an MDS but not a bed, at the beginning of auditions. Very difficult situation to be in and may hopefully get resolved somehow. Fingers crossed for them all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingForJoy Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Please note that nearly all of Upper Tring 6th Formers do not stay on-site. Some are in a flat at the bottom of Mansion Drive. Boys in one house and girls in another house about 3/4 mile from the Mansion. Plus all 3rd formers are in there own flats dotted around Tring. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 (edited) I'm not sure that it does happen at other schools. RBS has I believe 12 girl & 12 boy beds each year. I've not heard that at any other schools mds non boarding places not being offered, only if it's a late applicant or similar. At Hammond I'm fairly sure that enough beds are held back to accommodate MDS dancers. Last year to accommodate other students wanting beds they re-jigged the boarding accommodation with regards to where they housed the boys & girls. I'm also fairly sure that the deposit required to secure a place is much lower. Edited March 20, 2015 by Picturesinthefirelight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow04 Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 I just feel it's important to stress here that ANYONE who is offered a place at Tring or indeed any of these schools have done extremely well. Even those with parents who can pay the full fees still had to get through an audition to be offered a place, so they still deserve to be there and hundreds apply from all across the world! It's just very sad and wrong that some children who have undeniable talent don't get the chance to follow their dream simply because their parents can't afford it. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pas de Quatre Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Told DD about this discussion and she made that point that an MDS award covers both training fees and boarding costs while a DADA only covers training fees. So if MDS awards are only available for day pupils, as the boarding spaces have already been allocated to those who will pay out of their own pocket, does this have any overall financial impact, either on the number of MDS awarded, or on the total amount of fees the school receives? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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