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Original poster

Can my home ed DC join the local primary school after-school choir?

108 replies

PerspicaciousGreen · 05/02/2023 08:19

We're thinking of having my DC join a just-for-fun choir. Our local primary school is just round the corner and has a no-audition choir for it's pupils. My thinking is that if schools can allow flexi-schooling at their discretion then in theory they could allow attendance at after-school clubs at their discretion too. It might be nice in the future if they could join a sports club too.

Has anyone else done this? Any advice on how to make the enquiry to make it most successful?

Also, we are currently unknown to the LA. Does the school have a duty to notify the LA if I pop up with my home ed children, or can I ask them not to? I'm not too bothered about it, but it seems like a PITA I'd prefer not to deal with.

OP posts:
Bleese · 05/02/2023 08:37

Fleabigg · 05/02/2023 08:27

After school clubs at my DC’s school are free, because the school subsidise them. I wouldn’t be happy if the school was paying for a load of kids who don’t even go there and whose families have no connection with the school whatsoever.

I think you’d be better off exploring non-school music and sports clubs.

Maybe the choir I run is less impressive than at other primaries, but it doesn't get a penny in funding. It's me giving up my time to take it and the building would be open anyway in terms of heating etc. I've never worked in a school with a choir any more impressive than that. To be honest, if someone brought their child specially I'd be concerned their expectations might be too high! It's very different to a professionally run club.

Paturday · 05/02/2023 08:37

It could come across as ‘our teaching is not good enough for you, so why are our clubs?’

Also there probably aren’t enough spots for pupils let alone kids from outside the school.

Hedonism · 05/02/2023 08:41

I'd say no. That's like sending your kid just for lunchtime so that they can get the free school meals.

Fleabigg · 05/02/2023 08:42

Bleese · 05/02/2023 08:37

Maybe the choir I run is less impressive than at other primaries, but it doesn't get a penny in funding. It's me giving up my time to take it and the building would be open anyway in terms of heating etc. I've never worked in a school with a choir any more impressive than that. To be honest, if someone brought their child specially I'd be concerned their expectations might be too high! It's very different to a professionally run club.

Show quote history

I’m thinking less of choir tbh and more of some of the other clubs e.g. martial arts, drama where they have specific people who come in to deliver them. You giving up your time for free is still a form of subsidising it though (and equally valuable to the school!)

00100001 · 05/02/2023 08:43

toomuchlaundry · 05/02/2023 08:36

@Riverlee I assume OP wants to use the school clubs as they are free

Cheeky nare. Opting out if a system,yet willing to exploit it?!

mumoffourminimes · 05/02/2023 08:44

Do you have a music Saturday centre near you?

If so I'd do that, the quality of the music teaching is likely to be much higher. There are some home ed kids that attend the one my kids go to.

Overthebow · 05/02/2023 08:44

i very much doubt it. Clubs usually have limited places and a waiting list, and they wouldn’t want responsibility for a non-pupil. Find an external club instead.

MelchiorsMistress · 05/02/2023 08:46

You could ask but if you were asking at my school we’d all be having a laugh at the cheek of your request and the answer would be no.

thebookeatinggirl · 05/02/2023 08:46

I would imagine that an after school choir is run voluntarily by a class teacher - no pay, just goodwill and extra workload/time to support their school's children, and under those circumstances I doubt they would want extra unknown children joining. There could also be issues with insurance.

megletthesecond · 05/02/2023 08:53

Does your county council Education dept have a music service? There might be lots of groups dotted around the county for choir / strings / wind etc.

HufflepuffRavenclaw · 05/02/2023 08:55

This is what is know as "having your cake and eating it". Opting out of formal school education as is your right, yet wanting to take advantage of after school activities which are provided for children attending the school.

Find another choir.

watsthecraic · 05/02/2023 08:59

That would be cheeky

bussteward · 05/02/2023 09:01

HufflepuffRavenclaw · 05/02/2023 08:55

This is what is know as "having your cake and eating it". Opting out of formal school education as is your right, yet wanting to take advantage of after school activities which are provided for children attending the school.

Find another choir.

This. Find another choir – or add singing to your home ed curriculum.

Fundays12 · 05/02/2023 09:02

It would depend on who runs it. My dcs schools run activities immediately after school and they are only open to school roll children. It tells you this on the booking system and is checked by staff to ensure it is a school child but there is a much later evening paid activities that are run by outside organisations. These are open to anyone locally but expensive.

Flossingisforteeth · 05/02/2023 09:04

Our school choir (TA run) has a waiting list of pupils already so an external student would not be accepted, nor would they be covered by the current insurance for the group. The latter could be resolved in theory, the former would cause mayhem.

County Music services/hubs exist to provide what you are looking for, near us there is the BYMT (Berkshire) or Hampshire County Music Service.

Some of their choirs and ensembles are run after school in local schools, if this is the case for the school choir near you then hopefully your child can join.

eish · 05/02/2023 09:05

It would be a no at my school because:

We have a strong behaviour policy that we work with the children to keep in place, your children would not have these messages as they don't attend the school
Safeguarding / policies / paperwork - children are registered with us and we have records etc, all the paperwork, consent etc
Staff who run the choir form strong relationships with the children and wouldn't have this opportunity as your children would only be there an hour a week
It is frequently over subscribed
Bit odd having a family / children perform at school events who aren't part of the school

I am sure you could find a choir not attached to a school or there are lots of performing arts groups around

WestCorkGal · 05/02/2023 09:08

Why are these children not known to the LA? If I had chosen to home school I would want to do it with all the correct protocols in place. Cannot see why any school would permit this for the reasons already mentioned. School is about more than education such as building confidence and friendship through activities. Homeschooling parents have networks between themselves to provide this for their children.

LovelyDayInnit · 05/02/2023 09:09

There are a lot of experiences and opportunities that children get through school that are difficult/impossible/expensive to provide in a home ed context (economies of scale!) It is one of the reasons why I don't home educate. But, that said, I'd still ask, they will probably say no but there's no harm in asking. Are there lots of home educators near you? Where I am, lots of them meet together to run things like choirs so that kids get the broader experiences.

FrenchandSaunders · 05/02/2023 09:09

After school clubs are one of the perks of going to school. If you opt out of that then you don’t get to go! You can’t have it both ways. Find some clubs that aren’t connected to schools.

tiredhadenough · 05/02/2023 09:09

Our after school clubs are full subscribed so I think it's unlikely

iamjustwinginglife · 05/02/2023 09:10

The thing that concerns me the most about this post, is why you'd prefer to avoid the LA knowing about your child being educated at home.

HufflepuffRavenclaw · 05/02/2023 09:10

An "after school club school choir" is a school choir. The kids who sing at the Easter service, Christmas service, school shows etc etc. You cannot seriously expect that it's "worth asking" if a child who doesn't even attend the school can join in.

RoseThornside · 05/02/2023 09:11

No, the school won't have insurance that covers your child. They won't have any medical details, emergency contacts, etc. You'll need to find a private choir. Why on earth aren't you registered as home educating with the LA? There's loads of help, groups, stuff going on that they could put you in touch with.

StillWantingADog · 05/02/2023 09:14

Almost certain they’d say no for the reasons listed above

but why wouldn’t you let your lea know your child is home educated?

qpmz · 05/02/2023 09:17

Why are you unknown to the LA? If you'd like to try the after school clubs why don't you reconsider home schooling and trial them at the school?

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