Boys not allowed at school ballet class

[chocolateisnecessary]

So - a mum at the school has started a ballet class after school for reception and won't admit boys.
She keeps giving different reasons - it's art not sport, boys don't stick with it, they need to be trained differently etc.
The teachers take the girls to the hall at the end of the day before pick up so he's very aware he's not going. Basically, he's in floods each week.
I spoke to the head who said it's a hire and not school policy so there's nothing she can do.
I think that's wrong, that there should be an equal ops policy that they push through with hires.
Does anyone have any knowledge on this before I go see her again?

@outandin ...planning on being lovely and not going in all guns blazing. I agree with whippet tho, I think on some stuff it's

@outandin okay to risk the label or nothing would ever change. (Phone going crazy - sorry!)

Some boys enjoy twirling and pretending to be princes. Equally a girl in dds class chose tobe a soldier in ballet class when they were little.

Billy Elliot
that's all

Absolutely fight it, how dare she exclude him just because he's a boy and so what if he wants to join because all his friends are there? If the girls wanted to join because of that reason they'd be welcomed with open arms!

I had the same fight to be able to play on the football team when I was at school, I was better than all the boys but still our sexist arse of a headteacher thought it was improper for a girl to be on the football team. My mum backed me 100% and eventually they changed the rules, I didn't feel like i could get my own way whenever I wanted I felt like I had made a small victory for girls in our school and I felt supported by my parents with something I felt strongly about, it didn't matter about the outside teams I was allowed to join.

I really do agree that OP is PC in this matter. But I really wonder if pursuing it worth it? Yes, I get that you want to teach your child to stand up to right and wrong. But worst case scenario, the mum decide to quit teaching at school, school wouldn't be happy for losing income, other parents wouldn't be happy that they lost their dds' ballet class.

Does your ds only want to go because his friends are going? That's not really a good enough reason if so.

What?? At age 4/5, children often choose what clubs they want to attend based on what their friends are choosing. For that matter, they still are doing that years later!

I would be fuming and would take it all the way.... sexist awful discrimination

Absolutely!

Boys in dancing classes, let alone ballet, are like hen's teeth.

Normally teachers grab 'em with both hands and work like hell to keep them. It's not like ballet is a cushy number - they work very hard and have be very, very fit.

And even if he did decide he wanted to drop our=t - do all of the girls stay? Do they @rse!

And the school should have an equal opps policy for all children, for everything. They have a wider responsibility to teach children that they can explore all sports and activites regardless of being a boy or girl, black or white etc I do no see that a 4 year old boy who wants to dance is so different to a girl who wants to. Same as girls are just as good at footy and rugby at that age

I hire facilities from a local authority and I have signed a contract to the effect I will abide by their equal ops policies etc. so the head's excuse is rubbish.
I think its brilliant your son wants to learn ballet. Just watched West Side Story (again!) and the dancing is so wonderful - athletic, balletic and expressive. Bet Matt Whitlock has had ballet lessons!

So strange were discussing this a program has just come on channel 4 about boys dancing!!

Ooh, will check out! @DPotter I'd be amazed if not! That hire info is useful. I'd assumed schools had to do it as standard.

I'd suspect if it's a mum running it that it may be a tad amateurish? A professional dance teacher would always welcome boys and encourage them to dance as ballet is not just for girls. I'd follow up and check out local dance classes where there are other boys - older ones to have as role models as well as boys his age in his class.

Also there are a few ballet things on the BBC at the mo on i-player if he's keen on watching ballet - cbeebies has the Hare and tortoise on, plus there are several other documentaries which maybe he might want to see bits of - Margot Fonteyn, Darcey Bussell, The nutcracker, Ballet Boyz etc.

Chilly -
"a girl's only space? Pity it's so pink and fluffy hmm"

What does that mean? What's pink and fluffy?

The odd thing is she's a choreographer and a former dancer. Not sure she's following any syllabus though.

Just because you've done something yourself, it doesn't mean you are automatically any good at teaching other people to do it.

is she actually a qualfied ballet teacher? that would also be a huge red flag if not and needs her CRC check etc

V good points. I don't think any info on her credentials has been forthcoming other than a quick 'yes yes yes ' to one mum on a CRB check query.

The school really need to check that. Unqualified people should not be running sports lessons or dance lessons in schools. Never mind charging for it. Otherwise it could become a dangerous free for all

She is being ridiculous. Firstly, it's not a private club. That only applies to members only institutions and the kids don't apply as members. Secondly, single sex is only justifiable when there is evidence of disproportionate participation e.g. A boys only ballet class would be fine but not the other way round. I wouldn't worry about falling out with the school, you can be polite and firm.

chocolate I'm with you on wanting equal opportunities for your son, but the more information you give about the set-up of the classes and teaching qualifications (or lack of) of this parent would have massively put me off by now.

If DS was that keen, I think I'd have explored a properly qualified, affiliated teacher and classes for him. Maybe google now and start ringing round in the New Year?

I think it's quite common to have non qualified people taking after school clubs though. Some of the mums at our school do netball, Zumba, crafts without qualifications, I think a community would suffer if it didn't work that way. But that said, yes this woman sounds rubbish and maybe a proper teacher would be better.

A bit of netball with older children may be ok and crafts with is one thing as low risk. However ALL guidelines are to NOT have unqualified people teaching kids stuff. Even in football and rugby they should be qualified coaches with safeguarding training as well as basic training on age appropriate sessions and things not to do with very young children. If the parent coach with a certain group in a club isn't there should be a certain number available who are on hand. Oh and First Aid also in case some thing happens. I've read before that ballet is one of those sports that should only be taught in certain ways with young children.
Our school would not permit it without all this in place.
Adult stuff is different as adults can make own choices.

I'd have a chat with the governors re their liabilities and insurance if she is not suitably qualified