Birmingham Rockschool

Aug 27th, 2022

Jun 27th, 2022

Varying quality of teaching. Unscrupulous owners - Avoid!! My teenage daughter had drum lessons here for a significant period of time and the experience has been very up and down. We persevered as one of the tutors appeared well qualified and likeable, however over time there were numerous occasions when the tutor would change without any warning, or where lessons were cancelled due to the tutor being unavailable. The quality of these tutors really varied, several times my daughter would be faced with a new teacher who knew nothing about her ability and seemed unsure of what they were doing. It would make her feel uncomfortable and like the lesson had been a (rather expensive) waste of time. Whenever lessons were cancelled the owner would state that lessons are banked and can be used during catch up sessions on a later date. This left us with a high amount of banked time. When Covid 19 hit, the school understandably had to close in line with government restrictions. Initially, the owners informed us that the missed lessons would be banked for use post-lockdown. As the lockdowns and restrictions were so prolonged the owners emailed giving us a choice of either switching to online lessons, or continuing to bank sessions for future use. My daughter has never liked the idea of virtual lessons so refused this in favour of just catching up after lockdown. With no other option, and not wanting to lose her space at the school I therefore continued to pay over 80 per month to the school. Now restrictions have finally lifted, my daughter returned to lessons and I was told I dont need to pay again until the months and months of banked lessons are used. Unfortunately, as so many parents will understand, my daughter has now grown out of the lessons. And trying to drag a 16 year old to lessons they no longer enjoy or find useful is near impossible. Im hundreds of pounds out of pocket and, despite the school stating they only ever ask for a months payment in advance, am being told my money is lost as they dont offer refunds. I was given no option to pause payments over the extensive lockdown period, and whilst I understand losing the months notice period of payments, feel that holding on to the additional hundreds of pounds of my money for absolutely nothing in return is incredibly unfair. They have since offered me gift vouchers but again this is of no use to me and my family. Im genuinely appalled that they feel no shame in taking so much from us. The months notice period they have in place as policy should be more than enough to get a new student in so they dont lose out. In short, Id advise that this school is probably more suited to younger children and adults, I think for teens it is probably a little cringe as my daughter would say. Playing jam sessions with middle aged karaoke style singers would fill my teen with dread! Ability/progress isnt something that seems to be measured or even considered at the school. It seems to be a bit of a get together, more for fun than learning I would say. After my experience I really wouldnt recommend the school to anyone. But if youre planning have lessons with them I would advise that you insist on being informed in advance when they will be switching tutors, and dont ever allow these banked sessions to build up!! As if god forbid your circumstances change, youll very soon see they only care about taking your money and not about your/your childs experience or learning.
Oct 6th, 2021

Have been a student for 2 and a half years, cannot recommend highly enough
Oct 28th, 2017

May 9th, 2017