| International
Members
2003 saw the largest number of International Examination
entries the ISTD has ever seen. We saw more teachers
entering higher numbers of candidates, reaching
a staggering 25% growth on the previous years’
entries and several teachers who have not entered
candidates for several years returned to ISTD.
It is very encouraging reading and wonderful to
know that so many teachers are choosing to teach
our syllabi and enter their candidates for our
examinations.
As
long as the ISTD has been operating examinations
internationally, which first started in the 1960s,
teachers have enjoyed the freedom of requesting
an examination session whenever they wished throughout
the year. This procedure has worked well and teachers
outside of the UK have been appreciative of the
flexible service on offer. Over the years, dedicated
ISTD teachers have taught their candidates well
and they themselves have gone on to enter candidates
for ISTD examinations. The number of teachers
entering for ISTD examinations continues to rise
around the globe.
Wherever
possible this flexible policy will be maintained.
However, in August I shall be approaching Theatre
teachers in some European countries in order to
establish fixed-period examination sessions for
2005. European countries affected will only be
those without an ISTD-appointed Organiser. Countries
with an ISTD-appointed Organiser have been taking
examinations within designated examination sessions
for a considerable period of time and the process
continues to work well.
As
there are now so many Theatre teachers requesting
examinations within European countries we shall
group teachers together and offer dates for their
examinations at the most convenient time or times
of year. This will mean that teachers within these
countries will be aware of their examination period
for each faculty several months in advance and
can prepare their candidates fully.
We
feel this is the only way to cope with the demand
from so many teachers and to avoid some of the
problems caused when confirmation of the examiner
is delayed. The delay is simply caused by the
sheer mass of individual examination sessions
requested by teachers around the world. The individual
Theatre Faculties have assessed teachers’
needs and will be recruiting more examiners to
cope with the demand.
Claire
Skelton
Head of International Examinations
Theatre
Faculties only
Associate and Associate Diploma
As I am sure many teachers are aware, these two
Professional teaching examinations will cease
to be issued throughout Europe asfrom 31st August
2004. The Associate examination will be replaced
by the Foundation in
Dance Instruction and the Certificate in Dance
Education will replace the Associate Diploma examination.
Any
teacher wishing to enter students for examinations
in the future should contact the Education and
Training Department at ISTD Headquarters for an
Accredited Prior Learning (APL) form. Forms can
be obtained by emailing Beth Duffield on bduffield@istd.org;
similarly, if any dance school requires information
on how to become an Approved Dance Centre so they
can offer the new Professional qualifications,
they can also obtain information packs from Beth
Duffield.
The
ISTD is naturally receiving an increased demand
for the Associate and Associate Diploma examinations
in Europe and we are working hard at ensuring
that all candidates are able to take these examinations
before their expiry on 31st August 2004. Not all
examiners are able to conduct these high level
examinations and as examiners are in demand we
ask teachers to be as flexible as possible with
their examination dates.
Please
note: The Associate and Associate Diploma will
still be active in all countries outside of Europe.
The Foundation in Dance Instruction and Certificate
in Dance Education will not be introduced for
the foreseeable future.
Candidates
wishing to take the examination should complete
an application form and return it to their organiser
when requesting their examinations. Forms can
be obtained from your organiser or by emailing
Tracey Eames on internationalassistant@istd.org.
Guidelines are also available from ISTD Headquarters.
PIN
numbers
Teachers should be aware that all candidates taking
examinations in 2004 require a new PIN number.
This procedure came into effect on 1st January
2004 and many teachers have yet to register their
candidates. All teachers must register their candidates
with ISTD Headquarters prior to their examination
session and Candidate Registration Booklets are
available from your organiser or by emailing Tracey
Eames on internationalassistant@istd.org
where an electronic copy can be obtained, completed
and returned easily to Tracey.
Please
note: There is no need for teachers to wait until
they have their examination dates confirmed or
are ready to submit their timetable. Candidate
Registration can be completed at any time and
it is advisable for teachers to submit their information
so they have the PIN numbers to hand when they
complete their timetable.
The
information required to obtain PIN numbers for
candidates is; first name, family name, date of
birth (day/month/year) and ethnic origin. Any
data supplied regarding ethnic origin is used
for statistical purposes only, to ensure the ISTD
are offering equal service to all ethnic backgrounds.
Codes have been provided to state ethnic origin
and the code of ‘98’ can be given
if the parent or pupil prefers not to disclose
this information.
Old
PIN numbers
Teachers should all be aware that Candidate PIN
numbers issued in 2003 or before, are no longer
in use. Teachers will still need to register their
candidates by the process listed above in order
to receive their Candidate PIN number which will
be used in 2004 and in the future.
Changes
to Grade syllabi across all Theatre Faculties
Teachers should already be aware that the graded
examination system has been reviewed due to re-accreditation
of the ISTD graded work to the QCA and there are
several changes within the South Asian, Cecchetti
Ballet, Classical Greek, Imperial Ballet, Modern
Theatre, National and Tap Dance Faculties.
Changes
became effective on 1st January 2004 and affected
all countries worldwide. Additional dances have
been included in some Faculty grades, the name
of some examinations have changed and some Faculties
have introduced entirely new graded syllabi. Timings
for graded examinations have also changed and
therefore prior to completing a timetable teachers
should obtain a new Faculty timesheet.
These
can be obtained from Tracey Eames on the main
ISTD number or by emailing internationalassistant@istd.org.
For further information on the changes teachers
can either contact the International Examinations
Department or consult your Faculty.
Syllabus Outlines
The latest syllabus outlines can be obtained by
contacting the International Examinations Department
and all teachers are strongly urged to do so.
Changes to Vocational syllabi from September
2004
Re-accreditation for Theatre Vocational syllabi
will take place in September 2004. The ISTD have
therefore taken this opportunity to make revisions
to meet the new criteria and various changes to
syllabi will take place. The individual Theatre
Faculties will be providing further information
on this.
New Vocational Report forms from September
2004
New Vocational report forms will be introduced
worldwide from 1st September 2004 in accordance
with the alterations to the various syllabi and
to incorporate a new marking system.
New
process for delivery of report forms
With changes to some Vocational syllabi and marking
systems, we feel it is also the most suitable
time to make adjustments to the report form process.
From 1st September 2004, teachers worldwide will
no longer be required to prepare report forms
for examiners.
Following
examination sessions report forms will come back
to ISTD Headquarters for checking by the Customer
Service and Quality Assurance Department before
being mailed directly back to teachers. Certificates
will continue to follow in due course.
We
appreciate that this may cause a slight delay
and are working on procedures so the delay is
kept to a minimum. No results will be given to
teachers prior to the examiners departure under
any circumstances.
Further
information will be available in the next edition.
However, Organisers will also have information
on this procedure if you wish to contact them.
Membership
Some teachers are still outstanding with their
membership subscription
for 2004. If any teacher is unsure as to whether
their membership subscription is outstanding please
contact the Membership Department on membership@istd.org.
International
Department staffing update
You will notice that the staffing within the International
Examinations Department has altered. Laura Colling
is no longer working within the department as
Clerical Assistant and is now working within the
Customer Services and Quality Assurance Department.
April da Silva Santos joined the ISTD in April
and is responsible for the Candidate Registration
process and Timetable issue.
We
also have another vacancy within the department
and we hope this position will be filled shortly.
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