performing arts colleges?

[cupcake13]

My DD has been talking to me recently about the possibility of leaving home at 16 and attending a performing arts school. I fully support her in everything that she does, but i just want to make sure she's making the right decision so i was just wondering whether anyone else has any experience with ds/dd's leaving home to attend such schools at 16. Also, what are the best performing arts colleges out there? prefferably based in london? Also what are the best and most credible courses? thankyou very much

[Luckymum]

Hiya cupcake, my dd left home at 16 to go to Italia Conti on a three year performing arts course. She is a confident person and took well to it, obviously it wasnt plain sailing as it was a big change, living away from home, making new friends, new course so everything changed at once!!
The main thing we found was to stay in touch, she came home regularly for the first few weekends and we spoke all the time on the phone. After a few weeks she was settled and now her three year course is finishing she intends to stay in London.
PM if you want anymore info cos I could go on and on here but I would say if your daughter is mature enough to branch out on her own at that age to go for it, and it sounds as if you are supportive enough for her to succeed
Oh btw it wasn't that easy for me either letting her go like that so I had to adjust as well, which took me a lot longer than dd

[GypsyMumNot!]

My eldest daughter is in Y12 at The Brit School in Croydon and is studying for the BTEC Extended National Diploma in Performing Arts (Musical Theatre) and is having a ball! She is not living away from home though - she commutes from NE London - hour and a half travelling each end of the day, but it is def worth it. She has been doing this since Y10 so I guess it must be worth the trip!This diploma seems to be the most common for 16+ and is offered at all the most well-known colleges - the beauty of the Brit is that it is free! And with all the problems with Dadas currently going on, I think this is worth taking into consideration....

However, if you want to look at some of the fee-paying colleges then there are many in and around London: Urdang, Laines, Arts Ed, Bodywork, Millennium, Bird, Performers, Conti's, Masters, Stella Mann et el. All of these colleges take students from aged 16 but all are fee- paying. You don't say where you are based, so can't say which would be nearest to you, but IMHO I would try and find one that is commutable rather than have your dd live away from home. I know it depends on the individual teenager but at 16 I'm not sure that coping with living away from home and with a full time MT course would be the best thing. Very subjective argument though I know and will be many on here who will take the other view..... It comes down to whether you think your dd could manage away from the home environment - only you can decide that.

Good luck!

[Welsh Mum]

Re keeping in touch - skype is invaluable! Its free and you can see how they are as well as hear I use it all the time to talk to my DDs in London and Madrid. They can also see our cats which they like

[cupcake13]

thankyou for the replies! both of them are very helpful also, this may be a bit naive of me, but do any of these schools offer boarding? or do they expect you to find your own? Also, welshmum, how is your daughter finding italia conti? i know it was a while ago but congrats on her getting in! she must be very talented to get into such a prestigious school!

[Welsh Mum]

Hi cupcake, my DD didn't go to Conti, she is studying at Central School of Speech and Drama. Loves it

[Luckymum]

Hi cupcake, it's my dd who went to Conti's at 16 and thankyou so much for the lovely comments

She stays at the YMCA a stones throw from Conti's as do most of the younger students there as well as students from Urdang and CSB. It's basic but I can't fault it, no travelling costs, a hot meal prepared for breakfast and tea, a cleaner comes in every day to tidy up (best she can lol ) 24 hour security, free wifi etc etc.

It was someone on this site who went to conti's who gave me loads of info so we were well briefed about what to expect and loadz of tips

Like I said she intends to stay in London now as her course is drawing to a close and she has gained so much in the three years in London and at Conti's and wouldnt change a thing.

[pixiebelle]

My DD has been accepted at Conti's, waiting news on DaDas as would only be able to go if awarded one although she loved her audition & general feel of place. Do you know if can get any help with accommodation costs ie housing benefit? I have heard they can at Laine & few others...
Fingers crossed for all awaiting DaDa news...please keep us posted

[ballet pointe]

My dd went to a college that offered dance teacher training at 16, she is now in her second year and doing a degree in Proffesional dance pratice, we look at as may web sites as possible to find courses that she was interested, for all of them you have to audition, the dance and drama site has most of them listed with links to web sites. We applied to 6 places in the end and she was excepted at 3, most of the colleges/schools do not have accomadation attached other than the boarding schools like Tring Park but all those that visited had gave us the names of hostals or letting agents. My dd is in private halls in a flat share with other dance students although she has to cook and do her own washing it is a secure building. To stay in contact she has unlimited landline calls with her phone, skype, email, and facebook.