Has anyone been to (or had children at) a Stagecoach performing arts school?

Question

The reason i ask is because i want to send my daughter there but i have been sent a prospectus and the fees are like £315 per term!!! Eeek! I am on a low income and this seems a lot to me for 90 minuites a week...which is all the 3-6 year old recieve, or even 3 hours per week...which is what the 7 and ups recieve. Also, it seems strange that they don't reward the kids talent...the prospectus says they reward the kids efforts ONCE a year!?! To me this seems like a way for them to cut costs and nothing more, i mean children's efforts should be rewarded everytime they do something important, such as a production...if not just with a certificate, don't you think? Then there is the reward you get if you attend for 10 years? 10 YEARS??? Jesus! It should be at least given once a year. Also, it's not clear if the younger kids classes are cheaper because they recieve less tuition as i only have 1 set of prices which is for 6 years up, but the booklet says that 6 years is still the junior stage?

Answer 1

If i were you i wouldn't send you child there because often when they go there they get s****. and think they are better than they are. There are plenty of good independent stage schools in most areas that are cheaper but often better as it is not full of children who think they are better than they are.

Answer 2

Stagecoach has no quality control.

It's a franchise, so it's completely random luck what you'll get - the one I went to was mediocre. It's not worth the money as training, just as specialised babysitting, really. They don't actually produce shows - certainly at the one I went to, all term you would work towards showing your parents... what you did all term. Hmm. Not really worth it, unless the branch you're thinking of sending your kid to has really good contacts with other performing opportunities.

Answer 3

I went to Stagecoach a few years ago and can honestly say it was a complete waste of my parents money. I later got into drama school and can say that it was definately not down to Stagecoach. If you would like your child to sing/dance/act I would advise that you stay away from 'stage schools' as such and get them to work their way through their dance grades separately. This is what will really count when auditioning. I would then pay for a separate drama class and singing lessons. If you look in the right places this will probably work out the same price. As another poster said they are a franchise and are ran as a business rather than a 'school'. Also, the classes are big and not split into ability which could either be too hard for your child or not push them enough. The classes really shouldn't be split into age. If a 'stageschool' is really what you want then I would advise the saturday schools for schools accredited by the NCDt as these often have professionals teaching them and gets thier face seen around the school.

Please don't waste your money! Hope this helps!

Answer 4

I have a friend whos daughter went to our local stage coach school, she took her out after couple of terms as she felt it was a waste of money.  I suppose it depends on what you want for your child, if you really want them to be on tv it is supposed to be one of the places to go.  At the end of the day there are cheaper dance schools/drama clubs out there but your child may not get the opportunities stagecoach offer.