full time stage school…...

[sunnyweatherplease]

would you ever send your dc to full time stage school at age 9?
If so, why?

I would if its what they wanted & I could afford it & it also had a good academic reputation.

Why? Because sometimes children who are single minded about something don't fit in at ordinary schools

Dd always planned to go off at 16 or 18 but things didn't go to plan & she's gone at 11.

Yes.
Because it's the chance of a lifetime if they are accepted at audition, particularly when auditions are highly competitive at good schools (White Lodge, Laine, Doreen Bird)

My Mum went to Laine.
I stayed closer to home (Yorkshire) so didn't board.

Those are all for older children though morecrack. White Lodge take from age 11, Bird & Laines from 16.

There arnt many vocational schools that take age 9. Dds school has a prep but its non selective & there's no guarantee of a place at 11.

thanks for the replies.

Without boring people with the back story, we are seriously considering this kind of way forward. In my heart I know dd would love it, but in my head I am thinking it's WAY too young to decide on a future - difficult - career.

My jobs this week include arranging visits to 2 stage schools to see for myself what sort of an education they can offer, but it just seems too young to narrow the pathways for the future. I can't help thinking it's a silly idea at this age, but then the mainstream schools we've tried so far haven't worked for her either.

It is very young & my dd had a time between the age if 9-10 where she decided she wanted a traditional academic school/university route hence we actually mussed the original application deadlines when she was in year 6.

Personally we were not able to afford the mostly London based state schools that take younger children. The one where she goes now have done bursaries & MDS awards & we are also close enough to commute so no boarding fees.

I think you need to think about whether it actually IS "narrowing the pathways for the future" as much as you fear.

Pictures's point about the school needing to have decent academic provision comes into this. There are plenty of children who go to specialist stage, music and dance schools and then end up doing something else as a career, many of whom go to good universities to study other subjects. Some burn out. Some find they're not really good enough. Some just get a good inside look at the reality of the profession during their teens and make an informed decision that it isn't what they want.

As long as she has th opportunity to sit a decent range of GCSEs and A Levels and do well in them, I can't see it as doing her any harm. Just look at it as doing what she's passionate about now, taking it to the max and seeing where it goes.

Fast - when put like that, it makes it sound less silly.

Pictures - are you and dd both happy with the school? Does dd cope physically? When she auditioned, was she amazingly brilliant?

Yes - very happy with the school

Yes. - she has a few flexibility issues & has been advised to work on this & see a physio. The main thing is the very long days 9am-6pm mon- fri & 9.30-12.30 Saturdays plus an hour commute each way

No - but she did have a spark & a determination.

thank you pictures - that is really helpful.

I will see what I think of our two nearest schools.

Hello OP

I totally agree with Pictures My dd is 10 but with her its music.
If your dd wants to go and you can afford it, you really have to let her do it.
I'm not suggesting this is you but what I don't like are the type of parents who are doing it for themselves not the child.

I have seen this a few times and whilst the dc willingly go along with it you can see its not what they want.

Why are the mainstream options not working? Could they be made to work until age 11?

I did think about it for ds2 at 11, and had we lived near one where he could have been a day pupil I suspect he would have auditioned. We're in the sticks though & he doesn't want to board (nor could we afford it, even with a scholarship). His schools have always been very supportive about time off for performances though. I did wonder whether that would be the case now he's at secondary (especially as it's a grammar), but the head has signed 3 licence applications since September so it seems to be fine He may consider vocational school/college at 16.

I'd definitely go and see the schools in your situation & I wouldn't be put off by her only being 9 if the school seemed perfect for her.

BTW ds2's eyes were on stalks when I showed him what the timetable at full time stage school is like He seemed to think it would be a heavenly place to go to school (luckily he likes his new school as well!)

managed to get one school visit booked today anyway. Will NOT be telling dd!!!!

Basically, mainstream could work, or rather be ok, but dd is a wilful little thing, with some additional characteristics thrown in. Her two schools so far have been good schools, but she just wants to perform all the time and is very attention seeking. I am hoping that if she gets a daily dose of what she craves, she may settle down and do enough work to see her ok in life. She takes direction and advice well though, as she knows it will make her a better performer!!!

BTW, we know a bit about the 'business', and are def not pushing dd onto the stage, rather we can see that it's going to be hard to stop her. Ds wants to be a geologist, which is much more sensible!!!

I think when you visit you'll get an idea of whether it's right for her or not. Can you take the 'you need something for when you're not working' line with her. Ds2 really bought into that when his last chaperone (who was young and straight out of drama school - he adores her) sat him down and told him how tough it is and how everyone needs a back up. I had told him that myself but he listened to his chaperone (ignored me).

Would love to hear your feedback when you've been. Just in a nosey way really as I would have liked to have been able to offer ds2 the chance to audition - it just wouldn't work for us without moving which is out of the question for other reasons.

I think when you are making a life changing decision like this, don't just think about the bright side, picture yourself in the worst possible nightmare as well, let your Dc know everything about everything, talk about it at different situation, do you always get the same passion to go for it?
Then make a long list in detail, every thing you are not sure, even the smallest ,the silliest, ask them on the open day.
The specialist music school I know is doing well on academic side, in fact, pretty remarkable percentage of pupil went on not to study in music college, although, I don't doubt they will still play music. I have no idea about stage school however.
If you ticked all the boxes, there you go then!

Curious

I think you make a valid point, it is not always easy to look at these things from all angles when you have a dc like the OP.
She sounds just like mine and her post has similarities to many I have made.
At the moment whilst dd is preparing to visit music schools I'm thinking of the positives she has now and taking an "If it's not broke, don't fix it" attitude.

Morethan - if you have any questions regarding a career as a musician, please feel free to pm me.

saintly - I'm visiting in about 3 weeks as I'm really busy at the moment, so I'll report back then! I know exactly what you mean about dc listening to others but not to parents!!!

Morethan,
Sounds like you are going to visit Chetham? Good luck!

Someone has told me that vocational schools all only offer 5/6 GCSEs? Is this true?? My dd has decided this is what she is doing (although at 7 I'm not getting too hung up on it!). 5/6 makes sense with the timetabling, but as an "academically able" girl, I'd worry about her closing too many doors with that number???

chauffeur - the web sites I looked at mentioned 10 gcse. This was confirmed by the school I spoke to. I would imagine it varies from school to school. No A levels though, which is fair enough though!

I suppose the thing to be careful with (and ask when you go around) is how the changes in GCSE will affect the numbers offered. Until now I guess GCSE's could be taken as a series of modules over several years allowing you to clock up quite a few even on a restricted academic timetable (timewise). But my understanding is from the the current year 8 up it's changing to mainly exam based and taken in one sitting. I don't know the details, but I would add it to a list of questions to ask as that might affect how many GCSEs can be offered.

I'm really not a fan of GCSE's anyway (or the style of learning they encourage) but as I was trying to explain to ds2 tonight (year 7 - he has to choose his options next year which seems early to me) they are a hoop that has to be jumped through to a certain extent.

I suppose the other thing is that vocational schools probably offer a smaller choice of GCSE's in academic subjects. This may not matter at all depending on what your child would study if offered a wider range, but again I guess something to ask about, and I suspect the schools vary.

Yes - very good point about the changing gcse's. I will ask. As long as dd will be able to have the choice and option to go mainstream for A level and do something else, then I guess I'll be happy.

Dd will do 9 GCSEs I think which is the same number as she would have taken at the private selective school where she was also offered a place.

They do only offer up to two a levels though as they work towards a 3 year level 5 diploma in upper school.

I have no idea what the options for ds2 will be for 6th form. Will probably be asking lots of advice on here (have no idea how to get into acting/performance as an adult career tbh). It's come under a bit of discussion recently at home as his school, starting with this year's year 8, now want children to choose their GCSE options during year 8 (presumably to start GCSE courses in year 9) which seems very early to me. I only know about A levels and regular university, I know nothing about diplomas or drama school or entry requirements, so I guess I need to find out over the next year.

I guess when looking at schools they can tell you their students usual route.