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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

At what point does it stop being 'Extra-curricular' & what does it become then?

78 replies

KatyMac · 11/07/2013 20:38

Is it vocational?

I mean DD hit that about 12 months ago; but I still don't really know what to call it. And I have those stupid conversations with people about how much she dances, & why she doesn't go to guides/youth club/parties/PE at school and yes actually she does intend to do it for a living

How do you describe your DC's activity?

ALthough today I was asked if it was fair letting her compete in Sports Day (at Dance) as she was practically professional.....so some people understand Wink

OP posts:
Original poster
KatyMac · 12/07/2013 20:37

She didn't get the once a month associate & we haven't heard about the weekly one Sad - It was last Sunday & I'm too much of a wuss to email & ask

I know, Pictures, but so many go at 18 too

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InViennaWeWerePoetry · 12/07/2013 20:58

Oh Katy, sorry to hear that :( Give them until Sunday and email on Monday if you still haven't heard anything then. On a more positive note, does she have anything else lined up for the summer/next year instead?

She'll be fine going at 16, she really will. If anything, she'll be with like-minded people who share her passion and dedication, she'll have a better support network than at school. Plus any college taking on 16 year olds will have a good pastoral care system in place.

Original poster
KatyMac · 12/07/2013 22:25

She is going to Watkins Summer School then most of Arts Ed MT - hopefully Bodyworks in the Autumn

My biggest worry is what if she doesn't get in or is my biggest worry what if she does?

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Original poster
KatyMac · 12/07/2013 22:41

We are waiting to see if her associate scheme has funding to run in Sept

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InViennaWeWerePoetry · 12/07/2013 22:45

So she's got other things lined up then, she'll be OK. It's only natural to worry, as I think I've said before my mum was a nervous wreck for weeks when I got my first job and moved out at 18, I think it's the uncertain nature of performing arts that's the trouble. If I'm perfectly honest, she's probably part of the reason I'm in the middle of a degree I'll (hopefully) never need to use. If she gets in she'll go off to college, and have a great time, and then you'll be worrying about what if she doesn't get work- sorry to have to tell you that, it never endsGrin And if she doesn't get in, she reevaluates and she tries again. I didn't get a drama place the first time I tried, I did the second time. It worked out for the best in the end.

Picturesinthefirelight · 12/07/2013 22:56

Dd really needs to work on her ballet technique over the summer. She was due to go to MIDAS but it might be cancelled which leaves us with a conundrum as everywhere else is either booked up or at the beginning of the holidays when she isn't free.

hellsbells99 · 12/07/2013 23:19

My DDs friend (16) got offered Northen Ballet and The Hammond but was reject from Tring. 16 does seem to be a common age for getting a place.

Original poster
KatyMac · 13/07/2013 16:10

Oh no Pictures - how awful

I know InVienna, I'm dreading that too

I know 16 is the age to go but I'm not sure she is good enough

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morethanpotatoprints · 13/07/2013 17:07

I think it becomes a vocation when they decide they aren't going to do anything else with their life.
I don't think it is age related at all, as some people know at an early age what they want to do.
My dd is a musician, she is only 9 but its what she does and her day revolves around this.
It isn't extra curricular anymore it is curricular to her. On the other hand she dances several times a week and has done exams and shows but knows she doesn't want to do this for a career, its fun and she enjoys it as extra curricular a hobby which she will continue until it clashes with music commitments.

Picturesinthefirelight · 13/07/2013 19:11

Instead of dd have you done your homework it's dd have you done your stretches.

Original poster
KatyMac · 14/07/2013 07:59

I'm at a different stage to you Pictures, I don't remind about anything

I guess it becomes vocational when you state the desire to do it as a career

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Original poster
KatyMac · 14/07/2013 10:55

2/3 weeks ago the Northern Line was down

DD travelled from Norwich to London - took a different route & got to class on time

The teacher & all the other students were late - all live in London

Maybe it's about motivation - btw the same thing has happened today

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Original poster
KatyMac · 14/07/2013 19:15

DD is considering not having a plan B

I'm not sure how I feel about it

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morethanpotatoprints · 14/07/2013 23:05

KatyMac.

Your dd probably can't consider a plan B and all the best Artists, Entertainers, Dancers, Musicians I know, didn't have a plan B either.
She is driven and self motivating, don't worry and let her go her way.
A plan B is a cop out, for somebody who isn't serious enough.
There is no question at all for her, she knows what she is going to do.
I say good luck to her. Grin

Original poster
KatyMac · 15/07/2013 08:49

Maybe - I'm not sure I can convince the school of that

I am such a wuss

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RussiansOnTheSpree · 15/07/2013 09:57

I know plenty of great musicians and performing arts people (some of them pretty damn famous) who have had a succession of plan Bs from their schooldays through to their professional life. Plan B doesn't have to involve not doing what you need to do, it involves different routes to where you want to be. Only an idiot doesn't have a plan B. Plan B doesn't have to involve a different profession. Katy - your DD should absolutely have several Plan Bs for different outcomes of auditions etc. even if she gets offered a place at every school she auditions for, she should still be thinking in terms of funding options, mainly circumstances etc.

cory · 15/07/2013 10:07

My dd is aiming at drama, so slightly different, but she also has a successions of Plan B's for various stages of her life, including what-if-I-don't-get-into-stage-school (take a year out and volunteer at theatre projects and do as many workshops as possible, then re-audition) and what-if-I-don't-make-it-to-professional-actress (she has decided she would rather work with anything theatrical, e.g. drama teacher/youth theatre than nothing).

My db otoh who started training as a violinist had no Plan B, nothing beyond his dreams of becoming a soloist. After a year at the conservatoire he was told that his fingers were too stiff to make a soloist career likely and that the best he could hope for was a place in an orchestra. He didn't touch a violin again for 15 years; he was totally traumatised.

He did have a good career in a non-music related field and has done fine in life, but music was ruined for him for a long, long time and his personality really changed.

RussiansOnTheSpree · 15/07/2013 10:31

Cory The actors that I know have often had to adopt plans B and C. And in some cases, they suddenly realised plan B or C was actually the way to go even when plan A hadn't fallen through. Grin This is partly because sometimes opportunity comes knocking and you can't predict when or what form it will take. And also, sadly, because sometimes shit happens, and it's external and completely out of your control.

Original poster
KatyMac · 15/07/2013 10:54

Oh she has plan Bs for when she has finished college, when she doesn't get a job, when she is too old to dance any more; it's just Sept 14 that she doesn't have a plan B for

But life can hit at any time, like for my brother - gap year, sailing to Caribbean, then to Australia for 9 months windsurfing teaching; diagnosed with cancer 4 weeks before going Sad - he is fine now btw

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DowntonTrout · 15/07/2013 11:03

Pictures can I ask where you DD will be going? Obviously you might not want to say on here, but maybe a clue? I'm wondering if it might be where DD is- I think you've said before that your DH teaches at one of them?

When DD auditioned last summer it wasn't really a plan A or plan B thing. In fact it felt so alien, so far fetched, and we didn't have a clue how to make it work that we had a huge panic when she got the place.

It wasn't that we didn't have a plan B, but nothing we looked at seemed right, I just knew that she felt "out of place" and we didn't know what to do for the best. She attended a holiday school and came out after the first day and said " I want to go to that school." I understand how you feel Katy. I think if DD hadn't got a place then we would have waited til 16 or til the point where she wasn't happy, which might only have been a year or two, who knows.

What I have noticed is that at this school, which takes from Y5, there is quite a bit of transience. Some start and hate it, some can't cope with the work load. Some only intend doing a year or two. Some find out its not for them or the school decides the child isn't right for the school. It's quite a harsh environment and I am surprised how many drop by the wayside. All I care about is DD happy? And at the moment she is.

Picturesinthefirelight · 15/07/2013 16:35

Ill PM you.

Fitting in was a big factor for us. We had actually accepted a place at an academically selective school but dd just felt at odds with everyone. She loved the academic side & the breadth of study eg philosophy but she just had a different mindset to everyone else. She went to a taster day & felt she fitted in.

Original poster
KatyMac · 16/07/2013 18:42

Just had an amazing meeting at school; they started off with them being a bit hmm about the whole thing

After I'd discussed the whole situation:

They were awestruck at DD & the amount she does (& a little concerned)
They are worried about her GCSEs (finally) & agree she is doing too many
They are worried about her auditions & the amount of time off school she will need
They understand my need to be in regular contact with the school & DD's teachers
They agree (tentatively) with my audition strategy

But they don't have any solutions - they have to think about it

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morethanpotatoprints · 16/07/2013 20:01

KatyMac.

You are lucky they are thinking about it. There are a few parents on here who have been told the head will no longer agree to time off school for auditions and concerts, shows etc. Those auditioning for panto have been told to forget it, in some instances. Some are turning to H.ed as we did last year. If they are considering it, that's grat. Grin

morethanpotatoprints · 16/07/2013 20:01

Great not grat

RussiansOnTheSpree · 16/07/2013 21:16

Dd1 has no problems getting time off school for music stuff. And she is at a very high powered school indeed. Mind you we don't take advantage, and she is highly thought of, so there is that. Dd2 will be in panto again this Xmas, as she has been for the last 3 years, no trouble at all from her school (primary). She is starting with a new flute teacher in September - the old one retired and the school were being a bit un-energetic about finding a new one, so we managed to get DD1s teacher, who teaches at her school, and also teaches at a private school very close to where we live, to take DD2 on as a private pupil (hopefully she will end up going to Dd1s school so there will be continuity). She doesn't normally teach pupils below grade 5 (dd2 has just passed grade 3) but she made an exception because of dd1. To make this possible, Dd2 will have to leave school 15 mins early on the days she has a flute lesson - the school have been fine about it (they still get a net 15 minute increase on her time in class). I had no idea how lucky we were with schools! Mind you I think it probably does help that Dd2 isn't what you would call behind in her school work. Grin

It is worrying though if there is a trend for arts stuff to be less valued. Schools. I bet those school morethan is talking about still let kids have loads of time off for sport. It's outrageous really. Studying Music in particular is proven to have a beneficial effect on all aspects of academic education. As well as the additional skills such as discipline, team work etc that it can help with. :(

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