Specialist School Thread

[happylilac]

Not very sure if it's a good idea to start such a thread. Specialist school can cause controversy, like boarding school or home education...

Well, mine has just started his this term, coming from a very ordinary primary school and a very ordinary family background. We didn't plan this, but it happened and here we are, supporting his specialist training at the tender age of 11.

Just thought it might be fun to exchange some posts with those who are in, have left, are thinking of applying or simply interested. I know very little of specialist schools in dance and music, and absolutely zero idea in other fields. I once heard of tennis specialist school. Does it really exist? What would it be like??

Just curious really.

Well, what type of specialist school is it?

There are a few of us on mumsnet with kids at vocational school. Dd strted in Year 7 and is now in the first year of Upper School doing her diploma.

W00t, schools that provide DCs specialist training in their chosen area, such as performing art, tennis, etc.

AlexanderHamilton, DS is in his first year and he is Y7. Still lots of things are unknown for us so keen to keep as many doors open as possible. Depending on how things go, we will look at 13+ or 16+. But for now, we are letting DS enjoy the opportunities he's given. Your DD sounds like doing very well. Some DCs seem to know what they want from very young age.

Would also be nice to hear from those whose DCs started at relatively older age (16+?) and perhaps share pros and cons of starting early/late. Though I know it's totally personal and each would have different view/experience.

I know what they are- I was asking which type he is at!

FWIW, we turned down DD's place at a music school, in favour of academically selective secondary, because we felt 11 was too young to decide where her life was going. She has done conservatoire junior department alongside school; with JD, school ensembles, and others, she does 12-13 hours a week of music, before adding any practice.

Oh sorry, I misunderstood. He's in music. He did JD and also is academic so I see what you mean. Also, your DD is doing a lot more than DS. He doesn't do 12-13 hours of ensembles etc. So really, specialist school isn't a must as you say, even if you are very serious. It's just a choice available for some DCs.

We concluded it's best to let him try while he was so full of passion (so he would enjoy the experience and be happier) and also young enough to have a choice later. If he decides to stay after 16 then he will probably go on to the path (or I should say, he will 'try' to go on to the path..), but until then he has a chance to change the direction, more likely before GCSEs start (13+) or after GCSEs (16+). Things are still quite fluid.

What I am also curious to know is drama. While early specialist training can be crucial to some types of dancers and instrumentalists, I cannot see much merit to start narrowed education for drama. If it was DS's choice, I would more likely to tell him to complete A-level or even a degree with lots of acting studies and activities outside school/university. Broader education and experience would add more depth to them and that would make them more attractive as an actor. But I don't know anything about drama and may be being hugely ignorant.

I meant, 'I would more likely to tell him to STAY AT MAINSTREAM EDUCATION to complete A level and a degree'. Without those capital letters, it sounded like you can't complete A level at specialist schools.. Of course they can!

Hi Lilac, I think it depends what is available locally compared to what a specialist school can offer.
DD started at vocational school for 6th form and is specialising in Drama. The quality of teaching and the breadth of study massively exceeds anything she could do locally.
Currently she is in a piece of Ancient Greek set in the modern day against the backdrop of the refugee crisis across the world. It’s very powerful and emotionally hard. There’s no way she could access that at home.
In fact locally, the youth productions are always musical theatre, a genre she enjoys but it’s not where her passion lies.

Dd is a dancer/MT performer.

When she auditined in Year 6 we decided that we would not accept a drama place for pretty much the reasons that have been stated, however we wuld consider it at 16 for her. It really does depend on so many variables.

However in year 8 we did investigate sending ds to dd's school as a drama student following an horrendous two years at an academically selective school whch ended in us being asked to remove him.

Ultimately we felt that for him he would not cope woth the distance/travel and we were very lucky to find an alternative school in a nearby area although they don't have a drama department there at all.

Many of the pre 16 drama students at dd's school were students who either had very poor local schools or who had problems (ds's old school had a problem with autistic children who displayed autistic traits). Post 16 though there is quite a mix. The drama students study towards a btec performing arts alongside 2 A levels which is pretty much what ds will probably do at our local 6th form college anyway.

Hello, errorofjudgement.

We are very fortunate with local provision of music - close to JD, fantastic council-run music hub, quality youth orchestras, concert halls, and also, as DS was supposed to start as a music scholar at a local school with a strong music dept, he would have got plenty of musical opportunities without going to the specialist school. So yes, if our local provision was very poor, our decision to send him to the specialist school may have been a lot easier, and I can see why others consider specialist school in that situation.

DD is taking 3 A levels alongside her vocational training. Her day is split, 4.5 hours academic studies in the morning, then 4.5 hours vocational each afternoon.

The success rate for getting into a drama conservatoire is around 2% (1800 applicants for 30 places) so a good back up is very necessary. And I’m pleased her school is very honest about this.

DD is very able academically, so we are pleased she’s able to focus equally on both, it seems quite bizarre that her plan B is a top uni such as Durham or Bristol.

That's a very good plan B. But does it mean she would go to a different profession if she couldn't get into a conservatoire? Or she'll study for a degree as a back-up, but continues to pursue the dream?

I don't know the success rate for a music conservatoire but I can guess it'll also be very low. Though I am not sure if that's the direction DS will choose. He doesn't know even what's coming after the end of Y7.

Overall about 1 in 4 of applicants to the music conservatoires get a place although more like 1 in 7 or 8 for RCM/RAM. Most of the children at specialist music schools will get in somewhere and often at the best ones with scholarships.

That's promising. Actually a parent told me the main concern for many at the school would be more of what kind of scholarship they would get rather than if they could get in. But then it was a word from a parent of a child who played Paganini's Caprice 24 at one digit age so probably not a good example to listen to...

Yes issue is getting a scholarship and getting into to one of the top places for their instrument/style. At ms DS’s must be at least 90% who get in somewhere. Saying that some not at required standard will have left already or decided to study something else at university and some will have just decided to pursue other options.

@happylilac - plan is for drama school, but good to have options. DD is anticipating a gap year and getting more experience.
Having just watched her perform tonight it’s very clear where her heart lies

Having just watched her perform tonight it’s very clear where her heart lies
Ah that's really lovely.

Thankyou - must be honest, feeling very proud of what they’ve done this week. I’ve posted a link on my profile page which I’ll take down in a couple of days, but I think it shows very well the quality of work at a specialist school. So if you want a peek, feel free

Had a peep. Amazing. Are those ballet dancers also drama students?? I'd been totally ignorant. So many skills to cover that would need years of training... I understand why some drama students choose to go to a specialist school. Thanks for the sharing. Really enjoyed watching.

Actually to be fair, it does say drama , but genuinely those are dance students.
Sorry if I came over as flippant!

Oh! I thought, wow those girls dance like a dance student. Ha ha. But I assume dance and singing are part of the curriculum for drama students anyway?

Yes, dance class every day and singing at least twice a week.
Many are talented dancers and singers, but want to focus on drama.

What drama style does your DS enjoy?