This is a corner for parents everywhere - past present and prospective.
Do you have any views, memories or advice to share
Any questions to ask?
What does Stagecoach mean to your child?
How do you think that Stagecoach has made a difference to your child?
Why did you send your child in the first place?
Would you have liked to attend Stagecoach when you were young?
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Also prepared for our information packs
It is always of interest to know what other people think of something which is a new concept to yourself. Our parents and students have kindly sent comments to us across many years about what Stagecoach has meant to them. You can see these on our website http://www.darlingtonandyarm.co.uk/ in the CATEGORIES box under `testimonials`. But here are a few recent ones for now:-
Parents have asked me about Stagecoach and I said that Stagecoach is the best thing we have ever done and it has given M….. the confidence she has today. (Mrs Pa… Darlington)
All in all, Stagecoach has played a vital role in helping A…. achieve her dream of training at a top London drama school, in the hope of one day realising her dream of performing in the West End. Mrs R (Yarm)
It is impossible to put into words how much my years at Stagecoach have shaped me and changed me for the better. I have never had a dull moment …and I have had some of the best moments in my life Matthew L (Yarm)
Stagecoach has been my life. Forget school. I wanted to go to Stagecoach! I have made friends for life. The manners and confidence made me the person I am today. Hayley M (Yarm and Darlington)
I can`t really remember anything that I`ve enjoyed and looked forward to so much, for so long. Nick B (Yarm)
Stagecoach is a safe, nurturing environment and I can`t think of a child who wouldn`t benefit from this. Mrs B (Darlington)
A…. has come on so much since starting Stagecoach, he’s a different boy! I think Stagecoach is the best thing that I have ever done for both of my children. Mrs J (Yarm)
C…… is so loving his time at Stagecoach and thinks all your teachers are excellent. We continue to be really impressed with the whole set-up. Mrs W (Yarm)
Stagecoach is a very happy place which is the most important thing, but all the children are very committed, something you have instilled in them. Mrs Pe.. (Darlington)
Children really do benefit enormously from attending Stagecoach & they have so much fun. Mrs Br… (Darlington)
M…. has made some good friends at Stagecoach and can’t wait to get there each week. She goes in with a grin and comes out with an even bigger one! Mrs D (Darlington)
I have been preparing a testimonial sheet to go into my information packs and thought that I should upload it to the website for existing students and their parents to see. Here is the side that deals with inspection reports.
One of my Stagecoach schools is inspected, at random, each term. The Inspection Team is independent of Stagecoach and is therefore impartial. The inspector`s arrival is unannounced and therefore provides the most reliable kind of feedback because we cannot put on a “show for the inspectors”. What they see is a normal week in action. Many of the inspectors that we see, are Ofsted inspectors during the week, so they know what they are looking for. I have been very proud of how positive has been their reactions to Our Yarm and Darlington schools.
I was particularly flattered when Jean Harding, the lead inspector of the Inspection Service, said that she had been reading a succession of excellent reports from my schools for years and had to come and see our Yarm AM school, in action, for herself. At the end of the morning, she was very enthusiastic in her appraisal of what she had seen. I quote from her report on the Yarm Early Stages class:-
“A delightful class. Students learn well and behave well as a result of the very good teaching. The principal, teacher and helper work very well together, as a result the children enjoy their practice for the show.”
Of the Yarm AM Main school she chose to call the teaching “Outstanding” and said that “the inculcation of creativity is a strength of this school. The teaching is organised and creative. Students respond accordingly and acquire not only very good skills but a `feel` for performance.”
In her summary, she said “This is a super school. Students display a wide range of well-developed integrated skills and also have great fun. They are very well behaved because they are so focussed. Fabulous range of genre. Students LOVE coming.”
This was a particularly pleasing report because Jean is such a senior inspector, with many years of experience to call upon.
Other Inspection Comments on all schools in recent years have included:-
I was impressed by the professionalism of the principal and teachers and the high standard of skills of the students.” V.Munnich 21.01.10 (Darlington Thursday school)
A confident, lively atmosphere is very apparent in this school, where creativity and the involvement of all students is so well encouraged, especially for the shy students. All the staff are very well-prepared and professional M Walker 15.10.11 (Darlington Saturday PM school)
This is a highly effective school, particularly in respect of generating energy and enthusiasm amongst the students. There is a genuine sense of good humour, collaboration and confidence. G Watson 04.03.11 (Darlington Friday School)
Very experienced staff and principal, who demonstrate strong expertise in their specialisms. All sessions enjoy a sense of fun, albeit underlined with good learning opportunities. Dynamic approach to teaching, with adventurous projects being developed. A well-managed school. G Rolfe 09.10.10 (Darlington Saturday AM school)
An exciting, lively school, well-managed. The students show obvious interest and enjoyment. Very good discipline. M Walker 30.05.10 (Sunday Yarm PM school)
A well-considered and organised class, where students are cared for and feel secure. Staff work enthusiastically and present a range of suitable tasks that are both demanding and enjoyable. G Rolfe 09.10.10 (Darlington Early Stages)
My American online friend who keeps me abreast of what Jamie Bell is doing, sent me an e mail a couple of weeks ago to say that Jamie had mentioned me on Facebook. As I don`t have a Facebook account, I couldn`t check it out so Ted gave me the wording. It was “I wouldn`t have a career without Trudy Hindmarsh. Love and support to her and all who attend Stagecoach!” How lovely is that. Thank you very much Jamie.
The pirate party show was fantastic and Madison really enjoyed it all.
Parents have asked me about Stagecoach and I said that Stagecoach is the best thing we have ever done and it has given Madison the
confidence she has today.
Mrs P (Darlington)
We have finally got confirmation of the times that we need the parents to return to watch the shows that we are staging for the PAA exams this week.
IN MOST CASES, (SEE BELOW FOR EXACT INSTRUCTIONS) PARENTS NEED TO DROP THEIR CHILDREN AT THE NORMAL START TIMES FOR THEIR CHILD`S SCHOOL. THEY THEN NEED TO RETURN A FULL HOUR LATER TO FORM AN AUDIENCE WITH THE EXAMINER.
Parents will be able to leave with their children as soon as their group has been examined, although we hope that the majority will stay, with their children in the audience to support the Stage 3`s.
This is because in the Darlington Friday, both Darlington Saturday and both Yarm Sunday schools, the Stage 1 and 2 groups will open our performance in succession and then the 2 examiners will take a group each away to run the DISCUSSION and EMOTION parts of the exam. There will be an INTERVAL for the audience during this time and then when the examiners return with their groups, both will watch the Stage 3 group and then one examiner will take the group for the theory sections.
In the joint exam session for the Darlington Wednesday and Darlington Thursday school (together with one Further Stages group) the arrangements are these:-
WEDNESDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS NEED TO BE THERE FOR 5.00pm, dressed in costume and ready to go. The Stage 2 group will open the session and the stage 3`s will follow and then both groups will go off with a different examiner for their theory sections. In this interval, the Wednesday parents will retire to a waiting area which has housed the Thursday parents since they dropped off their children. The Further Stages and Thursday parents come in and take their seats for the second half, whilst the Wednesday parents wait for their children to finish.
Wednesday students and their parents are welcome to stay and support the Further Stages and Thursday school in their performances but should allow their parents to have the seats with the best views.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING AND VALUABLE FOR STAGE 3 STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR TO WATCH THE FURTHER STAGES PERFORMANCE, IN CASE THEY SHOULD WISH TO GRADUATE TO THIS GROUP WHEN THEY REACH 15 YEARS OLD.
SO FOR CLARITY:-
Darlington Wednesday STUDENTS arrive 5.00pm
PARENTS arrive 5.30pm
Darlington Thursday STUDENTS arrive 5.30pm
PARENTS arrive 6.00pm
Chicago Further Stages STUDENTS arrive 5.30pm
PARENTS arrive 6.00pm
Darlington Friday school STUDENTS arrive at 4.30pm
PARENTS ARRIVE at 5.30pm
Darlington Satur AM school STUDENTS arrive at 10.00am
PARENTS arrive at 11.00am
Darlington Satur PM school STUDENTS arrive at 2.30pm
PARENTS arrive at 3.30pm
Yarm Sunday AM school STUDENTS arrive at 10.00am
PARENTS arrive at 11.00am
Yarm Sunday PM school STUDENTS arrive at 2.30pm
PARENTS arrive at 3.30pm
DON`T FORGET TO SEND YOUR CHILD IN COSTUME, READY TO START UPON ARRIVAL, AND WITH ANY PROPS THAT THEY NEED
YOU MUST NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF AN AUDIENCE TO INFLUENCE THE CAST AND THE EXAMINER. THEREFORE IF YOU APPLAUD LOUDLY AND LAUGH AT ANYTHING THAT EVER RESEMBLED A JOKE THEN ITS LIFTS THE STUDENTS SPIRITS AND MAKES THEM LIFT THEIR PERFORMANCE, AS A RESULT. SO PLEASE TAKE YOUR ROLE SERIOUSLY.
In the INTERVAL there will be no refreshments on sale because the staff and students are all involved with the exams but you can bring your own refreshments.