I really would appreciate your views on this as I am a bit unsure of the best move.

I attend a junior department of a Conservatoire and applied to study there next year. I have been offered an unconditional reserve place . My teacher says that is mostly due to the fact that I just really started working hard over the two months prior to the audition and that if I had worked like that for longer I would have definitely been given a place. Before that I was focusing on my academic qualifications. According to my teacher my development area is technique and he wants me to focus on this over the next session.The audition panel, and my teacher, rate my musicianship.
I know this is what I want to do but I wonder if I may be better considering taking more time to develop my skills and musical maturity and applying next year. I don't want to get in and feel I am at such a lower standard than those accepted, but neither do I want to lose impetus.
Any advice would be gratefully received. I just turned 17 last month ....and whatever, I am prepared to work to get this .
I know that a place may not become available but I feel I need a plan in my own mind.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this. I am doing this on my mum's name as I am not a member of the forum yet!

I think a lot depends on the amount of time you feel you can give to your music from now on. You have another 10 months to go before you would start at conservatoire, so if you work really hard for that length of time, you shouldn't be too much worse than anyone else in your year. Technique is something that improves with hard work - if you don't have the musicianship, working hard won't help, but it sounds as if you do!

If, on the other hand, you feel your academic commitments will take up a lot of time this year, putting off conservatoire might be the best thing, as you are still quite young. Have you talked to your teacher about this? As you say, you may not get the place this time, in which case the decision will be made for you.

Thanks for that. Yes I have spoken to my teacher who says I am an enigma! He just does not know what I can do as I think I bowled him over when I pulled out the stops and really worked. This year I have less on academically and should be able to work. Whatever, this won't go to waste. I do however need to make sure that the quality of my practice is high - not just the quantity. Have you any ideas how I can work on my technique? I think I am an intuitive player but don't get the most I could from the piano if my technique was better. Also I am a bit scatty and don't really plan out what I want to achieve!!!
These forums are interesting and are giving me lots of ideas.
Thanks again for your advice