Vocational School anyone?

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pilchard
Posts: 34
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:55 pm

Vocational School anyone?

Post by pilchard »

Hi

DS is going into Yr 6 next month and on top of the 11+ to be taken in November, he's talented enough to be auditioning for vocational schools. Anyone else out there about to go through a manic year, or is it just us? At least he only has the one 11+ exam session (plus a mock session a few weeks before the real one). Any wise words from other parents whose children are now at a great school and really happy and settled? Best of luck to any other children attempting to get into vocational boarding schools at 11. My DS boarding at 11 :shock: :shock: I don't know what to do for the best, but will let the audition results speak for themselves and if necessary panic then. :wink:
Amber
Posts: 8058
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:59 am

Re: Vocational School anyone?

Post by Amber »

Excuse my complete ignorance, but what exactly is a vocational school? Are we talking drama/music?
sherry_d
Posts: 2083
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:38 pm
Location: Maidstone

Re: Vocational School anyone?

Post by sherry_d »

I am guessing there are specialist music or sports schools like Millfied???

My DD my be off to board too if she gets in the school of our dreams. She needs to pass the scholarship otherwise we wont afford it. :(

Is the boarding you are looking at within reasonable distance from where you live? The school we are looking at provides a preview weekend in Oct so my DD will have a taster session. She fell head over heals with the school so did we so I am so sure she will be OK. You've to be fairly confident and comfortable that its the right school for your child to have a piece of mind. Boarding doesnt really freak me in the slightest :roll: . I boarded and all my siblings boarded abroad so did DH and we all had a fantastic time even though the school were VERY strictly run by nuns and the food rubbish.

If your DS passes the audition he will be fine and boarding will give him a chance to persue his passion more. :D
Impossible is Nothing.
solimum
Posts: 1420
Joined: Wed May 09, 2007 3:09 pm
Location: Solihull, West Midlands

Re: Vocational School anyone?

Post by solimum »

sherry_d wrote:She fell head over heels
I guess it's a gymnastics specialist school then! :D
sherry_d
Posts: 2083
Joined: Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:38 pm
Location: Maidstone

Re: Vocational School anyone?

Post by sherry_d »

I am sure they will let her happily do gymnastics. :wink:
Impossible is Nothing.
Tolstoy
Posts: 2755
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:25 pm

Re: Vocational School anyone?

Post by Tolstoy »

The thought of boarding scares me. even DH who was a boarder himself and has no regrets about his decision would prefer our children not to. However DS3 does ballet and we may have to consider it for him if he has a future with it. Thankfully though not for some time yet.

It does put decision of whether to sit 11+ or not into perspective though. Seems rather minor I'm comparison but poss that is just me.
Milla
Posts: 2556
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2008 2:25 pm

Re: Vocational School anyone?

Post by Milla »

my husband was sent to board from 8 and it's scarred him for life. I know each to his own, differing reasons etc but without a need at the level of a gun at my head I'd no more contemplate it than I would buying another dog (ho). Again, I'm "lucky" not to have geniuses so haven't had to consider it.
Did we ever find out more specifically what the OP meant by "vocational schools"??
hermanmunster
Posts: 12817
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
Location: The Seaside

Re: Vocational School anyone?

Post by hermanmunster »

only things I can think of these days are drama or music or ballet..
Snowdrops
Posts: 4667
Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2007 5:20 pm

Re: Vocational School anyone?

Post by Snowdrops »

From UK Student Life:

Vocational schools teach practical, job-related subjects. The most common exam-based qualifications are BTEC (Business & Technology Education Council) exams organised by EdExcel (http://www.edexcel.org.uk): BTEC First Diploma (level 2), BTEC National (level 3), HNCs (BTEC Higher National Certificates, level 4) which usually take 1 year to complete, and HNDs (BTEC Higher National Diplomas) which usually take 2 years to complete, or VCEs (Vocational Certificates of Education, either Vocational AS Levels or Vocational A Levels).

Modern Apprenticeships are a mixture of work-based training and education. There are two types: FMAs (Foundation Modern Apprenticeship, which last at least 1 year) and AMAs (Advanced Modern Apprenticeships, which last at least 2 years). NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications) or the Scottish equivalents SVQs (Scottish Vocational Qualifications) are qualifications which can be obtained while working (see: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/nvq).

For more general information about vocational education and training in the UK, see: http://www.britishcouncil.org/education/vet.
There is a UK qualifications database at the website of the UK National Reference Point for Vocational Qualifications: http://www.uknrp.org.uk.
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hermanmunster
Posts: 12817
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:51 am
Location: The Seaside

Re: Vocational School anyone?

Post by hermanmunster »

mmm - they seem to be related to an older age group than 11 plus.. ???
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