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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

NCO 2018

991 replies

stringchild · 23/08/2017 19:07

The new annual thread for those interested and/or auditioning! Ask questions, update your news - lots of nco parents on board and those hoping to be :)

OP posts:
Minimusiciansmama · 13/12/2017 20:58

Well done all those getting yes emails today! Xxx

WindMum · 13/12/2017 21:32

Josamac- my DD had the same feeling about the residential the first time she went (U10s) - she was only 9 and at the end of Year 4 (we applied without her expecting to get in!) - BUT we had no wobble at all once she was there. Social staff are amazing at looking after them. Made friends instantly with a girl in her dorm and they've been buddies since - texting and writing to each other as well as seeing one another at regionals. We travel 2 hours in each direction to regionals but it's worth it.

Bit of advice - make sure your DD has a mobile phone (and a booster charger pack) for the residential some kids didn't take one the first year and were not able to contact home. Phone use is restricted which is great as they can't keep calling home, they hand them in at tea time and get them back during recreation time the following afternoon - so have them for a couple of hours. We got one very hurried phone call a day the first year as she was having so much fun and usually the call was made in the queue for the tuck shop!

Josamac · 13/12/2017 21:49

Thank you. I’ll tell her that WindMum. She has a school residential before then so I suspect will be fine once she’s realised how fun that is.
It’s so close to the end of term that she’s a bit overwhelmed by everything and in disbelief. We too applied just for audition practice and have basically ignored her teachers opinion that she had a chance!

Really appreciate your advice. Thank you

TrumpetVoluntary · 13/12/2017 22:10

Josamac - thanks. I told DD that there was another girl in U10s who was nervous about the residential so she was keen to know what instrument she played and seemed reassured to know that others were feeling the same!
She has been away with school and brownies and normally loves it - I think her concern is simply that she doesn’t know people so hopefully regionals will help with that.
Thanks WindMum - useful info. She doesn’t have a phone yet so we will have to think about that.
Incidentally, I tried to sign her up for regionals and it said I would get an acknowledgment email within a couple of hours. I haven’t received an acknowledgment and wondered if others had? I don’t want to contact NCO at the moment as they must be busy getting final results out.

folkmamma · 13/12/2017 22:21

trumpet we got our confirmation almost instantly, but I think that could have been because she was in the same orchestra last year and it's our nearest one... I think someone else got.* Message saying they'd confirm in January?*? Not sure...

TrumpetVoluntary · 13/12/2017 22:30

Thanks. I am not sure the form worked so tried again and the acknowledgement was immediate. They did say would confirm allocation in January though.

Icouldbeknitting · 13/12/2017 22:31

Littleladsdad DS did NCBBGB twice and went back again as a mentor. I remember the letter came out the Wednesday before the end of term so it's not long now to wait.

WindMum · 13/12/2017 22:48

Dates for London Juniors/Seniors are slightly incorrect - 19th April isn't a Sunday! Presuming this is 22nd???
Sunday 4th February – St Paul’s School, Barnes
Sunday 18th March – St Paul’s School, Barnes
Sunday 19th April – St Paul’s School, Barnes

Our email also said confirm in January - hope we get London Juniors as she's been going there for 2 years now and has lots of friends.

Minimusiciansmama · 14/12/2017 04:12

Windmum where are you seeing the dates? I haven't found them! X

WindMum · 14/12/2017 06:47

Mini - when you click the link to accept regionals the dates for the first 3 rehearsals for all orchestras are listed.

Trumpetboysmum · 14/12/2017 07:07

So will today be the day ...... fingers crossed for ministring, Rara and minidouble plus mini kutik ( if I've been following this properly ) and anyone else I've missed off Smile

Doubleup · 14/12/2017 07:17

Thanks Trumpet! Good luck to mimiTrumpet and to all on your list too - and anyone else still waiting.

Paulweller11 · 14/12/2017 07:37

Good luck for all those waiting today xx

Trumpetboysmum · 14/12/2017 07:53

Thank you paulSmile

Musicdoc · 14/12/2017 08:06

Thank you paulweller1 and very well done to your two!!
Here's to (hopefully) a final day of constantly refreshing emails for the last few of us.

Musicdoc · 14/12/2017 08:08

Trumpetboysmum I guess you are waiting for U13s as our boys were in u12s together last year? I haven't heard of any no's/associates from U13s yet so wondering if none of them are out yet 🤔🙄

bassclef · 14/12/2017 08:16

Fingers crossed for those still waiting!

Radiodependent · 14/12/2017 08:19

Windmum I also noticed the weird date thing for London Juniors, hopefully they will correct soon. Good luck to everyone waiting today :)

Trumpetboysmum · 14/12/2017 08:47

Musicdoc ds has heard of 2 under 13 nos but I think they are all fed up with waiting. I'm going into work now hoping for news - any news will do at 2 when I can next check

TrumpetVoluntary · 14/12/2017 08:53

Fingers crossed for speedy and positive news for everyone still waiting.

Josamac · 14/12/2017 09:03

Good luck to those waiting today. Have just signed up for regionals. Long journeys once a month it is.....

Floottoot · 14/12/2017 09:20

I hope everyone is put out of their misery today, with good news all round.
Someone has commented on NCO's FB post yesterday that they feel it's premature to have posted about nationals and regionals while people are still waiting to hear - seems there are a lot of children in limbo still.

SunsetBoulevard · 14/12/2017 09:26

Good luck to everyone still waiting. I keep checking back here hoping that others have had good news. I really hope that NCO can come up with a better way to release results in the future. A log in portal maybe would be better so that the kids (and parents!) aren't left hanging around for days not knowing.

Wafflenose · 14/12/2017 09:29

I hope everyone gets good news later.

I am actually now happy to wait longer for Rara's result, to give Goo a chanice to recover and prepare herself for any possible outcome.

Kutik73 · 14/12/2017 09:34

I really don't know why people complain so much about the way NCO is handling this. I think they are doing all their best... Some anxieties are added because we share our thoughts on the thread, it's nothing to do with NCO. And we like sharing our thoughts on the thread that's why we are all here.