What about cancelling or missing some of the course?

Once a choir member has booked a course, they are expected to attend the full course. In exceptional circumstances, it may be agreed that members can leave the course for up to one day – please note this cannot be the first or last day.

To request to leave temporarily during a course, a choir members’ adult should fill out a ‘Leave of Absence’ request form which should be emailed to [email protected] as soon as possible.

Download 'Leave of Absence' request form

Our course fee refund policy

If a choir member is no longer able to attend a course for any reason and needs to cancel their course booking, we can sometimes offer a refund. If you cancel your course booking…

• … before course booking closes, all course fees minus a £50 admin fee will be refunded.
• … up to two weeks before the start of the course, 50% of the course fees, minus a £50 admin fee, will be refunded.
• … within the two weeks of the start of the course, it is not possible to refund any fees.

To cancel your course booking, email [email protected] and the Course Manager (if known) as soon as possible with the reason for your cancellation. We encourage families to get insurance – as you would for any other trip - to cover your choir members’ course fees and travel expenses. This protects you if your singer is ill suddenly and not able to attend the course.

If National Youth Choir cancels a course for whatever reason, we will give you a full refund.

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What do we expect from members on courses?

On courses, choir members are expected to behave respectfully towards other members, staff and property. We ask that choir members follow a set of rules to keep everyone safe. Any member who does not follow the course rules may be asked to leave the course or – in serious cases – be asked to leave National Youth Choir.

Please make sure that any choir members are aware of these rules before they arrive on their first course. You can find our full set of policies on our Policies & Codes of Conduct page

Course rules for members

• Drinking alcohol (or having alcohol with you) is not allowed
• Taking illegal drugs (or having illegal drugs with you) is not allowed
• Smoking or vaping (or having cigarettes or a vape with you) is not allowed
• Any form of bullying behaviour is not allowed – this includes any behaviour intended to hurt, injure, threaten, frighten or make fun of others
• Choir members are not allowed to leave the course site during a course unless:
  • There is a medical emergency and/or they are accompanied by a member of staff
  • They are a member of National Youth Choir (15-18 Years), and they have signed out and back in again during a long break as instructed by course staff.

Any choir member who seriously breaks these rules immediately before, during or after a course may be asked to leave the course or leave National Youth Choir completely.

Read the full behaviour policy

Mobile phones and other electronic devices

We have a mobile phones policy to help choir members make the most of course activities. The policy around mobile phones depends on the age of the singer.

• For NYC (9-15 Years) - we strongly recommend that singers in this age range do not bring smartphones on their courses. 'Brick phones' with limited features can be a good option for keeping in touch. Singers will only be allowed access to their phones during certain times of day, during their free time. For younger singers (Years 5-6 in England & Wales, P5-P6 in Scotland or P6-P7 in Northern Ireland), mobile phones must be left in the boarding house and handed in to the Head of House to be kept securely locked away when not in use. For older singers (Years 7-10 in England & Wales, P7-S3 in Scotland or Year 8-11 in Northern Ireland), mobile phones must be left in the boarding house and switched off overnight after lights-out.
• For NYC (15-18 Years) - singers always have access to their mobile phone. It should be kept securely in their bag, and should not be used during rehearsals, group activities or in the dining hall.

If a choir member is getting distracted or is disrupting the experience of other members with their device, it may be taken away from them temporarily on the course. Choir members will always be able to contact their adults at specific times (usually before breakfast) either using their own device or the course mobile.

Read the full mobile phone policy

Using social media

We have a social media policy for choir members to help keep singers and staff safe. The policy encourages choir members to:

• Act kindly and respectfully on social media
• Keep their social media accounts private and not share any personal information on public channels
• Think carefully before taking photos or videos on courses. Photos and videos should only be taken in a public place (not bedrooms or bathrooms) and should only feature choir members or staff who are happy to be photographed or recorded.
• Avoid contacting National Youth Choir members of staff online

Read the full social media policy