Advice on Theatre Arts Schools

[WKMum]

Hello,

Although the transfer to secondary school is still a while off for my DD in Year 3, we are starting to explore all the various options available, so we have all the info to hand when the time comes to make the right choice.

No doubt like a million other little girls, DD does lots of after school drama, dance and music clubs, at which she seems to do reasonably well (e.g. she was recently cast in the lead role for the latest drama club production) and has expressed a keen interest in attending a theatre arts specialist school (Italia Conti, Tring Park, etc.)

She is not hugely academic (at the moment, at least) so perhaps this would be a good option for her. We are also considering non-selective indies in our area and possibly Steiner (lots of negative feedback on that one, though!). I haven't completely ruled out the GS, but am not convinced she could pass the test and, even if she did, whether this would be the place for her.

Personally, however, I am a little wary of theatre schools, since 11 years old seems to be very young to be making such a specialist choice - although I know many of them do continue to offer the usual gamut of GCSEs and A Levels alongside the theatrical subjects.

I am also concerned that she may end up feeling under a lot of pressure to achieve, or feel like a failure if she doesn't 'make it'.

Anyway, I'd absolutely love to hear from anyone who has direct experience of these sorts of schools - positive or otherwise.

We are in the South East, but might consider moving (reluctantly) if it were absolutely the right choice for her...

I'm at work at the moment but will mark this thread for later.

The website www.notapushymum.com has lots of parents on there whose children have/do attend these schools, unfortunately it has exceeded its bandwith at the moment for the month (too popular) so you can't get on.

My dd is in Year 3 at the moment too and I do think that at this age it is too young to determine whether your dd will have the aptitude for such a school.

They are VERY competitive to get into. Many of them also have academic entrance tests and they often do produce excellent academic results.

Thanks very much, IslandofSodor: I like the sound of that website and look forward to hearing more from you. I appreciate your feedback!

If you would consider moving, albeit reluctantly, why not think about an area with good non-selective state secondaries? (Or good non-selective private secondaries, if you really object to state.) It sounds like you need a good mainstream school to me rather steiner or dancing or otherwise specialist. Your daughter is very young, far too young to really predict her academic prowess or acting/singing/dancing ability, and if you want a non-pressurised environment that does not unnecessarily limit opportunities, a good comprehensive could be just the ticket.

My DC's secondary school has a performing arts specialism and gives loads of opportunity to take part dance/drama/music. As well as all the usual GCSEs and A levels it offers BTECs in Performing Arts. Some of the kids go on to specialist dance/drama/performance sixth forms so teaching must be good enough. Perhaps something like this would suit your DD?

My DD was in a play with lots of well known actors recently and I asked their advice about the bast way to get into an acting/ musical career. They all agreed that specialist schools at seconadry level are not a good idea and are not looked on favourably in the business. A better route would be a good all round school with opportunities to take part in the dramatic arts, then look at specialist courses/ colleges perhaps at 18.

Also look into the National Youth Theatre or National Youth Music Theatre for when she reaches 11. These admit DCs by audition and they put on full scale professional productions every year. Rehearsals etc take place in holidays and after school. This was recommended by the professional actors and a lot of well known names started off with them. Google them to get onto their websites.

And remember, she is only 7, it is much too early to know where her talents and interests will develop. Its important to keep her options open.

Hi Skegness, thanks for your post. I am not discounting any schools at the moment, because DD is still far too young for us to be making any final decisions in terms of her future schooling. By starting this thread, I was simply trying to find out as much as possible about all the options that are open to us. I thought some fellow Mumsnetters might have some helpful insight on theatre schools.

Webwiz: your DCs's school sounds great. Near us there is only one non-selective secondary school with an arts specialism (actually, it is art rather than drama, unfortunately), which I have looked into, but it is due to merge with a much less popular school next year, and I'm not convinced the dust will have settled by the time DD would be going there. Where are you, if you don't mind my asking. (We are in West Kent.)

Thanks for your posts, Island of Sodor: I am trying to get on notapushymum.com, but having no luck at the moment. Sad to hear that theatre schools are also academically tough to get into... Do you think the standard is 11+ level or CE?

Thanks!

I'm in Hertfordshire WKMum and its a faith school - I was just giving it as an example that some ordinary schools can offer a lot. My eldest DD was very musical so did lots of musical performance, DD2 is a dancer and so has done masses of dancing through school and DS is into drama so they have all benefited from the opportunities they've been given alongside a good academic education.

Try NAPM after 1st of the month.

If you want to be a dancer then vocational school at 11 can be a good way to go but only the elite get in. One of dd's friends is off to White Lodge in September for example.

I would agree that the part-time route alongside ordinary secondary school is good, where the specialist schools can come into their own is if a child is really a square peg in a round hole. I knew a boy who was bullied for example at his state comp then went to Cheethams for music and flourished.

The child does I would say have to be totally dedicated to go the Tring/Arts Ed/Italia route. Iw ould say for Sylvia Youngs entry at Yr 7 is not always possible. They have a limited amnount of places each year in specific year groups.

An ex student of ours is currently at Italia but he is on their degreee course. I personally don't think I would send a child at 11 but would definately consider pre-voc 16-18 courses at these schools. My dh teaches at a couple of very well known post 16 and post 18 performing arts colleges.

Not too far away from me we have the Hammond School which is both a specialist perf arts school but also an ordinary independnet school. Someone I know went there but she was on the specialist ballet route. The dance route in all these schools are highly competitive to get into some people use Tring as a fall back if they don't get Royal Ballet School or Elmhurst.

I think it is important for you to understand the entry process as it may not be what you are looking for, children have to be quite thick skinned.

They have the 1st round of auditions then you wait for recalls. Some schools may have two or three recalls plus an audition for funding if it is dance or music. (Drama places are not funded until post 16 when the DADAs kick in.)

My dd is 8 and in Year 3 and she is at an independent school. Whilst I would consider specialist schools at age 11 unless she was as exceptional as her ballet friend (and I don't thnk she is in dance her strength is drama) I think that the best route is to combine Stagecoach and ballet classes with a normal academic school where the arts are valued (and unfortuntaley the arts are not valued in some schools)

In your position though (my dd thrives on exams crossomical child) I can totally understand why you are thinking about it. Also I am a lot further North and wouldn't want dd to board

Thanks Webwiz: I wish there was a similar school in our area - sounds like the right kind of place for our DD. Do you have the GS system in Herts? It's such a nightmare in Kent - so divisive! Anyway, good luck to your DCs with their studies!

IslandofSodor: I really appreciate your detailed post, which was very helpful. Although it is early days to judge, I'm pretty sure we will not be going down the GS route with DD, which leaves us in a tight corner with schooling, as there are so few non-selectives in our area (indie or state), so I was thinking that the theatre school route might work for DD if they are not academically selective.

I have some knowledge of Tring/Elmhurst (before it moved to Birmingham), but, like your DD, ours is a drama girl rather than a dancer. I do worry a lot about those places and the pressure the kids are under. It's difficult, isn't it? On the one hand you don't want to discourage them if it's what your DCs want, but you also don't want to see them crushed or deemed a 'failure'. Why does our education system seem to be full of schools that are constantly testing and judging kids? Grrr!

I feel instinctively that the best solution for my DD would be a smallish, non-selective indie with an arts focus, but there just doesn't seem to be anything around of that ilk! Everywhere is so selective now ...

I thought Steiner might be a good solution, but have been pretty much scared off it by some of the posts I had about it in my other thread.

The whole thing is making my head spin!

Thanks for all your advice, though: I really appreciate it. I will try the website you recommend next week.

No GSs here WKMum thank goodness - just good schools for everyone.

Then you are definitely lucky Webwiz!

The whole GS system drives me nuts. To my mind, it probably works for the 15% or so of kids who are very bright, and then the rest are either coached to pass the 11+ and feel inadequate when they get there, or fail the 11+ and feel inadequate as well!

Maybe Hertfordshire is worth the trek from Kent (and further away from the MIL too!)