NCO 2027 | Mumsnet

DeafLeppard · 2026-09-21T11:07:57+00:00

Out of the blue we got an acceptance email for NCO Weeks for 2027 - last year we didn't hear anything until October!! Has anyone else got an email? We've never done Weeks before - DC has never actually been away from home for that long and he'll be super nervous. Also HOW MUCH??

Fasthorses · Today 16:22

I would hope that this year people might not have to travel as far for some weekends as the midlands and south west have been split such that they are now separate weekends. Should mean people from places like southampton and Exeter and further into Cornwall don't have to travel up to Birmingham anymore!

Original poster

DeafLeppard · Today 15:48

Elonder · Today 15:35

Thanks! Do they provide lunch or are we expected to send them in with lunch and snacks? Are the timings typically 9-5:30? I expect this will all be shared in good time but just curious.

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No worries! You send them in with a packed lunch (no nuts). IIRC we dropped off around 10:30 i think? People travel quite far so earlier would be tricky for some.

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Elonder · Today 15:35

DeafLeppard · Yesterday 16:39

DS did London North last year and had a fab time. On the Saturday he chatted nonstop on the train on the way home, on Sunday he fell asleep 😁 He plays a niche instrument so it was a rare chance for him to hang out with others. There was a mix of sectionals and full rehearsals and there were some organised games at lunchtime. Some kids bring books or card games to play.

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Thanks! Do they provide lunch or are we expected to send them in with lunch and snacks? Are the timings typically 9-5:30? I expect this will all be shared in good time but just curious.

Original poster

DeafLeppard · Today 13:33

blanketsnuggler · Today 13:17

Hi everyone. I have some brass pupils get onto the Weekend course. To be honest, I've never sent pupils before and wondered if they will have to transpose / real tenor clef? Can anyone help? I want to really prep them well.

The NCO website has the requirements for each instrument and will tell you what’s required re:transposition and reading clefs. You get the music in advance so plenty of time to prep.

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blanketsnuggler · Today 13:17

Hi everyone. I have some brass pupils get onto the Weekend course. To be honest, I've never sent pupils before and wondered if they will have to transpose / real tenor clef? Can anyone help? I want to really prep them well.

Original poster

DeafLeppard · Yesterday 16:39

Elonder · Yesterday 16:08

My child received a London place (weekends), which is great. Can anyone share any tips on what the weekends are like?

DS did London North last year and had a fab time. On the Saturday he chatted nonstop on the train on the way home, on Sunday he fell asleep 😁 He plays a niche instrument so it was a rare chance for him to hang out with others. There was a mix of sectionals and full rehearsals and there were some organised games at lunchtime. Some kids bring books or card games to play.

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Elonder · Yesterday 16:08

My child received a London place (weekends), which is great. Can anyone share any tips on what the weekends are like?

chocolateisnecessary · Yesterday 15:18

No it doesn’t reach everyone. The last group managed to capture a quarter of parents in the end I think! But that was after a few years. Def not official at all.

Fasthorses · Yesterday 14:11

chocolateisnecessary · Yesterday 11:22

Hi - a couple of parents who were on the U14s with younger kids also in the U12s. Just the parents themselves.

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Presumably doesn't include anything like all parents then.... Its probably worth clarifying on these threads that this is some of the parents who've set something up themselves as its often implied its an 'official' whatsapp group and it can be a little confusing for those of us outside these social circles wondering if we've missed a communication from NCO, or something

chocolateisnecessary · Yesterday 11:22

Fasthorses · Yesterday 10:47

Who is creating the group and how do people know any other parents numbers to add? Its not like NCO shares other parents details?

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Hi - a couple of parents who were on the U14s with younger kids also in the U12s. Just the parents themselves.

Fasthorses · Yesterday 10:47

chocolateisnecessary · 24/09/2026 09:40

I have a link for the U12s? If anyone DMs can send it?

Who is creating the group and how do people know any other parents numbers to add? Its not like NCO shares other parents details?

Fasthorses · Yesterday 10:46

LovingFox · 24/09/2026 09:35

From last year's thread there will be parents WhatsApp groups. Could someone post it when there is one to join please? X

We've done NCO for years now and never been invited to join a parents group.

If im honest i think the most negative aspect about nco is that its clear lots of parents know each other (perhaps from private schools / JD's) and you can feel a bit on the edge when dropping kids off and knowing nobody at all.

Nobody from the organisation has ever mentioned a whatsapp group.

Cheeseandquince · Yesterday 08:51

Is there an U13 WhatsApp group?

Original poster

DeafLeppard · 24/09/2026 11:25

Thanks - have DMed.

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chocolateisnecessary · 24/09/2026 09:40

I have a link for the U12s? If anyone DMs can send it?

LovingFox · 24/09/2026 09:35

From last year's thread there will be parents WhatsApp groups. Could someone post it when there is one to join please? X

Cheeseandquince · 23/09/2026 22:15

Food was really good too at both Shrewsbury (particularly good) and Sherbourne.

Cheeseandquince · 23/09/2026 22:11

In U12s this year, they got their phones at about 3.30pm so could call home, message etc until going back to rehearsals c 4.30pm. To be honest mine was so busy fitting in the tuck shop and chattering with friends then that calls were usually quite brief. Then we’d get a quick goodnight call c 9.15pm before phones were taken away. It was a perfect balance of enough contact without being too much.

chocolateisnecessary · 23/09/2026 21:55

Yes, they hand them in but are given them back each day in case they want to call/text.

Original poster

DeafLeppard · 23/09/2026 21:53

Are they allowed phones on the residential weeks? DS has never been away from home for that long, and wants to know if he’ll be able to message us.

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Sylvaniankitten · 22/09/2026 10:40

To indicate whether to accept the offer will be this Friday, while the deadline to pay for the membership or applying for bursary will be before 9am Monday 5th October.

onlyhereforthencochat · 22/09/2026 10:07

DeafLeppard · 22/09/2026 09:58

The U12 deadline is Friday 9am so it's a very quick turnaround - suspect U13/U14 will be similar.

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Wait - THIS Friday? Blimey that's tight. Although I guess anyone applying for a bursary effectively gets an extension on that.

Given that my kid isn't expecting to hear his result until the end of October, I'm wondering about holding off on telling him just in case a place comes through in the meantime. I'd rather give him good news (if we are lucky enough to get it) rather than news that leaves him still in limbo!

Amanda1000000 · 22/09/2026 10:00

Ubertomusic · 21/09/2026 22:17

It depends on the instrument. When DD was 8 she was waitlisted for the weekends in London with grade 4 pieces so not everyone gets in.

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Whereas my son got on the Midlands weekend on percussion at grade 3 at age 10, after just a year of playing percussion officially (he had done piano and drums previously and was grade 5 drumkit)

Original poster

DeafLeppard · 22/09/2026 09:58

onlyhereforthencochat · 22/09/2026 09:52

Can anyone who has had an acceptance for U14 Weeks please share what their deadline is for accepting/declining the place? We are on the reserve list so i'm just trying to get a sense of the timeline. Thank you!

The U12 deadline is Friday 9am so it's a very quick turnaround - suspect U13/U14 will be similar.

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onlyhereforthencochat · 22/09/2026 09:52

Can anyone who has had an acceptance for U14 Weeks please share what their deadline is for accepting/declining the place? We are on the reserve list so i'm just trying to get a sense of the timeline. Thank you!