School support with extra-curricular interests / talents

[folkmamma]

Hoping for some examples of adaptions / compromises your DC's secondary schools have made to support them with their vocations/talents - eg elite sports training, music, theatre work etc.

My DD is a musician and actress. She has a busy panto season ahead as well as keeping up with her training at JD in London. Trying to negotiate some concessions on homework and additional time for practice within the school day. Would be really helpful to have some examples of precedent!!

TIA :-)

I am not sure whatever concession a particular school may allow could be used as precedent at another school.

DD's school offers no leeway - she plays a sport at GB level and manages national team training, club training and a full homework schedule from her top state school. They have allowed authorised absence when occasionally she has had to travel internationally for matches but they do like to crow about her achievements (none of which she does at school) in the school newsletter.

Are you sure you'd want her to not do homework or catch up on school work? It could put her in a difficult position come GCSE time and limit her options.

At school, I did stuff that meant I was away for several weeks every year (and lots of time devoted in the week too). I always studied and took my textbooks along when I was away not jeopardise my education.

Surely practise should be done in her own time. Her education should be prioritised as highly as her music and acting. My child has a particular talent but I wouldn't dream of sacrificing his education for it.

How old is she? Unless it is a vocational school practice fits around the school day. I have known time off to be allowed for matinees and exams.

DD has girls in her form and year group who play sport on national level plus a friend who is a child actress.

They do get authorised absences but they are required to study their academic work alongside their commitments.

If the actress is away for filming they have a tutor with them who helps and kind of “home educate” them during breaks.

Have you thought about a private theatre/performing arts school instead of normal secondary? These ones do teach differently and training is done during the day so home time is for home work. This is what parents to a girl in DD’s primary school did.

FWIW I'm not suggesting her education is compromised, or that she doesn't do homework etc. Just asking if anyone has experience of working with a school to facilitate fitting everything in.

Home Ed and specialist school while a better option for her are not financially viable.

FWIW I'm not suggesting her education is compromised, or that she doesn't do homework etc. Just asking if anyone has experience of working with a school to facilitate fitting everything in.

Home Ed and specialist school while a better option for her are not financially viable.

Our neighbour's son plays a country level and has to do all homework. He gets authorised absence for international matches.

I know someone's child who is in a west end show who has a later start some days when she's up late, but that's in primary school. I think it's unlikely that a secondary school would do it though as it's optional activity and they'd worry about setting a precedent.

I'm having trouble at the moment getting DS1's surgery and recovery date down as an authorised absence.

The schools priority is her education and the education of every other child in school, it's really not in the schools interests to fit in random pupils outside interests. It's the role of the parent to fit that around school. Getting authorised absence for funerals etc is proving difficult for many people so they are unlikely to be accommodating to what you are asking.

🤣🤣🤣 loving all the judgy...

DD does musical theatre during a show week, school, allows homework extensions to the next week, we scale back all other classes during that week so that her only commitments are school and the show.

My DDs private secondary school allowed DC to be away for acting commitments. One was in East Enders. So negotiate but she can still do homework. Move to a stage school?

Yeh, we've considered a couple of stage schools and music schools. The trouble is, to choose one would mean forgoing the other and she's not ready to do that (not sure she ever will be!). Her ambition is to be an actor/musician and to play in a pit. So we will keep prioritising both as much as we can. Which is why it's so hard to juggle everything!

I know not everyone will agree, but academics can come later if needs be. She's a clever kid (trajectory is 8/9's across the board) but I don't want her pushed into confirming 'just in case' her dreams don't work out....

Confirming = conforming!

I have a dd who is working at British Junior level in her sport - her comp school allows her every Friday off from 11am to attend daytime training and she is allowed extensions to homework if she has been competing at the weekend etc. Time allowed off for completions as well. Can't fault them for their support over the last 3 years since dd started with them.

Dd2 is a performer - year 6 at present and the secondary she is going to (same one as dd1) have already said they will support her having time off for performances - she has a job starting in March which will run until October which means she will pretty much miss the first month of year 7. All the school have asked is that she is there for the 2 induction days at the start of term and after that come back to school when her contract is finished.

There are schools out there that do support extra curricular commitments but they seem to be few and far between

Hi OP, yes some judgy pp!

What year is your DD in? One thing I would suggest is that it would be better (easier for the school etc) if you had ideas of how the school might accomodate your daughter, rather than putting it all in their lap, iykwim. I think if you're proactive, but respectful of the school's needs, then it has a far better chance of working. For example, does she have any "free periods", break-time or lunch? Can she have a space in which to practise for this time? Is the school fully aware of your daughter's outside commitments - for instance do they know her practice schedule?

I think if you have some ideas and you go to them and tell them that you need their support and advice about balancing her education (which you must emphasise how much you value!) and her "other educational" activiities. The sensational Sheku Kanneh-Mason went to a state school, while going to the Royal Academy on Saturday (commuting in from Nottingham on the day). His school recognised the value of having a committed, hard-working and accomplished musician, rather than see it as a nuisance. Hopefully, your school could do the same.

My DC are both vocational dance students and attend specialist schools precisely so they don’t have this juggling act. Primary school were always very pleased to accommodate anything relating to dance and performing. Their friends who now go to regular secondary schools have similar arrangements so it is perfectly possible, and not unusual, to arrange early finishes, less music/PE, homework dispensations etc.

Thanks guys, this gives me hope!

We have a meeting with the Head planned, and the reason for my post was to get a feel for what other schools have allowed as part of that conversation where I set out what we would like.

They know she goes to JD, but they've not had any previous kids do this and so I don't think they fully understand a) how selective / what an achievement this is or b) the level of hard work involved for her. They obvs know she's very good (although no Sheku 😆) and practices 'a lot' and they've had to sign off on her performance license for the upcoming panto. But no, I don't think they do understand her (or our) level of commitment and ambition. It's not just a hobby or a bit of fun...

I believe she is on their G&T register and they've started GCSE music 2 years early with her. I'm hoping we just need to get around the table and that they will be supportive in developing a plan. Just want to be fore-armed!

@cingolimama she's Y8

Don't have any advice except awe for you all- we can't seem to get our Y7 DD to keep a hobby for longer than 6 months. What is JD if you don't mind me asking?

JD=Junior Department at one of the music colleges 😃

I taught a lad who was on the books of a local ish pro football club and he used to go there for a day every fortnight I think. He was marked as educated off site so the school was clearly on board with it.

It didn't do his educational journey any good at all op, I doubt if he did very well in his GCSEs (didn't take my subject). But he wasn't the most academic tbh. No idea btw if he's taken his career further but that's another discussion.

Could you negotiate her not doing Art say, opt her out of RE and collective worship and not doing class music lessons? How much sport and PE is there, would she be let off any? Is there somewhere she can go at lunchtime to do homework? Also if she is bright and she will be there for GCSE can you lay the ground for her only doing 8 GCSE if she does a good selection of academic subjects?

I used to know children heavily involved in football who during years 10 and 11 did two fewer GCSE courses than usual, to allow time for training sessions and professional development. This meant they left school early one day a week, and went in late another day.

All were signed to premier league/similar level clubs, and were playing international level football for their age group. Many went on to play for the senior England team too and a few are still household names even though they retired a while back.