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ISTD Teaching
Qualifications
The ISTD
is currently working towards QCA accreditation of its teaching qualifications.
It has been
recognised that, whilst the current Associate and Associate Diploma are
of considerable worth, there are still many improvements that could be
made to these examinations. In order to meet the government's criteria
on the knowledge, skills and understanding that teachers in all sectors
should possess, the awarding bodies in the dance world have come together
to revise the existing structure.
Within a
commonly agreed template, the ISTD can add its own unique identity including
the many dance genres in which we specialise. This will enable teachers
to cross-pollinate qualifications in the sense that they could gain basic
teaching skills from any of the dance awarding bodies, but add the specific
genre in which they want to specialise from another awarding body of their
choice. This will open up a whole range of opportunities, which we hope
teachers will find not only a flexible, but also an exciting development.
Concurrently
with our negotiations with the QCA, which we hope will be concluded during
2003, the ISTD is working in partnership with Middlesex University on the
development of a Certificate in Education. Many of you will already be
aware that if you wish to teach dance within the vocational colleges in
particular, you are required to also gain a Certificate in Education, but
you may have found this to have only limited relevance to your actual dance
teaching activity.
The ISTD
is particularly excited that we may, in future, be able to offer a Certificate
in Education of our own, through Middlesex University, which is specifically
tailored to meet the needs of the dance teaching environment. The ISTD
is committed to ensuring that all these developments can take place at
the earliest possible opportunity. We, therefore, hope to pilot some of
the modules of the new qualifications over this academic year, within a
few vocational colleges. We will continue to maintain the existing arrangements
for the Associate and Associate Diploma until July 2003, after which time
it is hoped that the new qualifications can be more formally established.
Clearly,
many teachers will have already taken the existing qualifications or are
working towards these at present. I am sure you will be keen to find out
how these developments will affect you and the ISTD has this matter as
one of its top priorities. We will, of course, be offering some degree
of accredited prior learning for the work you have already undertaken,
although this is as yet to be formulated. It is possible that there may
be a limited amount of extra learning that you will need to undertake in
order to bring your qualifications up to the standard of the Certificate
in Education. We are not in a position to quantify this precisely at the
moment but considerable efforts are being made in the coming days and weeks
to resolve this issue.
Further announcements
will be made as soon as possible as we fully understand the importance
of keeping you up-to-date with this exciting, and now fast-moving, project.
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Cathy
Browne
Head of UK Examinations & Membership Service
Email: admin@istd.org |
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