Do state school children ever join independent school clubs (after school)?

[thedolly]

I'm thinking particularly about orchestra. The local state primary doesn't have one but the prep school does.

Does anyone have an experience of this happening?

Not sure about insurance - but have you tried another nearby state school for orchestra. We have one and strings group and the older kids also join the secondary school orchestra on saturday. There are lots of other strings groups around here as well. I don't think it is unusual. Have you googled childrens orchestra and the name of your nearest city/town.

I have already arranged for her to play netball at a nearby primary school but there doesn't seem to be any orchestras around. There will hopefully be one when she moves up to middle school next year.

It was so much easier when it was all under one roof .

I am pretty sure there would be an outcry in most schools.

Just thinking about my own situation, both DSs go to Prep and wonder what would happen if we withdrew them but asked if we could send them back for after school rugby (both are team members), orchestra (DS2)is a good musician, and singing (both have lovely voices and the school is short of boy singers).

Truth be told, there is a local rugby club does Saturday morning coachng clubs, there is an excellent junior orceshtra and choir in the town. I think you should look locally not try to kepp DD still attached to her old school by proxy. She will just end up feeling uncomfortable.

I was wrong then thedolly. Suffolk is much less snooty than Surrey & I reckon you'll be unluck to have a problem with parental outcry. It's going to be more a matter of the head of the orchestra & the headmasters take on it I should think. I can't really see insurance being an issue - children from other schools come & participate in sport & other joint activities often enough that I'm sure it would be covered.

It does have advantages. She will probably end up with many more friends.

You could be right ABetaDad. We also have hockey/netball/tennis clubs locally as well as swimming and theatre clubs. It's just the orchestra that is presenting problems.

She plays Suzuki violin and has group lessons some weekends but she loves playing in an orchestra as it helps with her reading and she gets to hear the other instruments.

Asking to join 3 after school clubs may just be RTAOOI .

snorkie - I thought that about sports fixtures etc but I wasn't sure whether or not it was their own school that had the insurance IYKWIM.

Why do you think she will end up feeling uncomfortable ABetaDad? Do you mean because she doesn't belong anymore? If she did end up feeling uncomfortable I am sure she would be under no obligation to continue.

Yes I think she would end up feeling she does not belong. School activites are kind of social situation and it is inevitable that other children will ask her why she does not come to school anymore, there will be things at school that other children are talking about that she is no longer part of, maybe even other parents will say (bad) things to their children that they will then repeat to her.

There is only one other girl from her year in the orchestra.

She is also aware of the reasons that she is moving school and that there is nothing to be ashamed of.

What bad things might the other children say to her? Maybe I should offer to pay.

I could try out my idea on some of the parents while we are still there and monitor their reactions. What should I be looking for? Raised eyebrows, one raised eyebrow?

Also ABetaDad, do these parents of whom you speak object to children with bursaries/scholarships?

Other parents wil say nothing to your face but wil say things behnd your back.

No other parents do not object to bursaries as they are formalised and an agree part of the fee structure. What you are asing for is very unusual and teh school may even find al sorts of other people start asking frm oteh rlocal Primary schools or even the school where DD is.

What would the school say - no to others but OK for your DD?

Try the county music service? ours provides tuition and afterschool and weekend tuition, wind bands, strings, orchestras the lot.

I'm in a town, not deepest Suffolk, mind.

ABetaDad - should I be glad that I am leaving such a place?

I nearly had to leave private school when my parents business was on the edge of bankruptcy. I felt very ashamed. I stayed but my parents could barely afford it. I had no nice clotehs, no pocket money, nothing. Other children made nasty comments.

In addition, I do think other parents will feel you are getitng something they are paying for. In the current climate people will feel that is unfair. I just think you should look at alternatives in your area for the sake of DD.

Suffolk Music Service has an excellent reputation actually. They have satellite orchestras across the county for the younger lower grades and County-wide orchestras (Suffolk Youth Orchestra & Suffolk Young Strings) for when they get a bit better. It would definitely be worth looking into.

I'm quite shocked by posters thinking there would be an 'outcry' or nasty comments from other parents. If someone had to leave DDs school but came back to participate in the orchestra I'd be delighted to see them. Why would anyone object? Its not like theres a real marginal cost in an extra child in the orchestra.

I think there must be some strange people around.

If the afterschool club was something for which there was a charge then of course you'd pay that anyway.

Don't see the problem.

You're right snorkie, the opportunities are great once she hits 11 but she's only 8 atm. I know they do a great holiday orchestra in Cambridge that she can take part in, so there's always that.

Thank you for sharing your story ABetaDad. I am surprised it didn't put you off choosing private for your children.

I guess it depends on whether the orchestra is selective or whether any pupil can participate. Certainly if your dd was taking a place which would otherwise be held by a current feepaying pupil then I would expect at least those parents to grumble at bit.

Ds2 returns to his old prep school for swimming lessons (which we pay for) and occasionally for the afterschool club. This is on the understanding that if places were oversubscribed current pupils would have priority, and certainly the swimming is open to all siblings on this basis. He does still get quite a lot of attention appearing in a different school uniform so you need to be sure that your dd would be happy with that. She will be asked by everyone as to why she left.

As far as I know LadyMuck the orchestra is not selective. You seem to have a good arrangement in place, how was it set up (if you don't mind me asking)?

bumping (to see if anyone else holds ABetaDad's reservations)

Why don't you try and keep her there with a busary ? I don't pay full fee's for my children. I do also agree that your either in or your out it's not fair on the child to be at one school but involved in anothers activities, I think you have to embrace the state school or keep her where she is.

I have 3 DCs so the whole thing is just too expensive.

I am fully intent on embracing the state school MMM and our local one is lovely. The Head's thing is art so there will be plenty of fantastic opportunities there (DD loves art).

I suppose she could just forget about orchestra for a while. It just seems a shame as she's really enjoying it and is making a positive contribution.

I am still undecided so any other ideas/advice/stories to tell would be much appreciated .

I have more than you but am not paying for all of them, in these tough times I found the schools were worried about gaps and numbers falling so would rather have bums on seats, they still have to pay the staff the same whether there's 2 in the class or 20.
I'd say we're getting at least 50% off in total. In primary.

thedolly - I'm sure the head would love you to set up an orchestra, particularly if s/heis into the arts. How many instrument players are there in the school? Is this feasible?

trickerg - there are zero instrument players in the school