NotaPushyMum.Com

Thanks, pg, for that very helpful post. It's so hard to know how best we can help our DCs when there are choices to make and so many ways to spend money. My hunch has always been that stage school isn't necessary (and we couldn't afford it anyway), but it's good to know you - with your far greater experience - are of the same view.

You cant buy talent, some kids just got what it takes and they just need the lucky break.

Dance students obviously do need the dance training and often apply at 16 for specialist training, especially for the ballet schools. For more general dance courses (ie including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary etc) students apply from 16+ but it is absolutely fine to stay in regular school and do A levels whilst continuing the dance training evenings and weekends. I think the decision to apply at 16 or 18 is often determined however by the availability of local training at a high enough level. Pre-16 there are only 4 ballet schools which are approved for MDS funding scheme (means tested scheme to allow talented students to attend) - Royal Ballet School, Elmhurst, The Hammond and Tring. All 4 do post 16 training with A levels available and MDS or DADA funded places for some but not all. The vast majority of dance students going into vocational dance training at 16/18 have gone to state schools and trained in local dance schools or done btechs at 6th form colleges.

The MDSes can also be accessed through the CAT schemes
http://www.nationaldancecats.co.uk/

bruno2 wrote:You can buy talent, some kids just got what it takes and they just need the lucky break.

Do you mean you CAN'T buy talent? Very few can afford those huge fees but they are able to succeed anyway. We could never in a million years afford those costs! And what if you have more than one child who wants to go??

I agree with pg. It is definitely possible to succeed in musical theatre without going away at 16. Pure dance courses/careers is different, but for MT post 18 study is fine as long as you do other stuff such as singing/dance classes and youth theatre all g the way.

I absolutely agree its not necessary to go away at 16 but it does depend on circumstances.

We'd have been happy dd staying at he regular school doings gcse & a levels alongside he dance school but she is very academic & her school encourages extra curricular at a high level (they only enter students for 9 gcse so timetable manageable

For a child who isn't academic, hasn't got a local college who can provide a decent btech or us at a school that expects children to do goodness knows how many gcse going earlier can seem the only option

In the end we've taken the decision to send dd off at 11 because quite frankly she didn't fit in at school, was constantly teased & overlooked for anything.

Thanks Welshmum ha ha I meant to she "you cant buy talent", but good training will certainly improve their talent , they dont have to go away at 16 to get this training.