We have now started to receive APL application forms. We have already held two Theatre Faculty APL committee meetings and will shortly be confirming to teachers, what if anything, they are required to complete. We will also shortly be holding our first Dancesport Faculty APL committee meeting to address those applications forms from Dancesport teachers.

The department has also received many calls from teachers asking about how to complete the application form. The most common questions are as follows:

Do I have to fill it in?
The requirements for this are as follows:

1. All teachers entering students for grades/medal tests will be required to hold the new Certificate in Dance Education by September 2006. Therefore, these teachers will need to complete an APL application form. This will then be assessed by the relevant Faculty Board APL committee to ascertain what they are required to do eg. extra units/courses.

2. Non teaching members and teachers not entering students for exams do not have to complete this form. However, there will come a time when the UK Government will insist on all teachers holding a recognised qualification. It will be necessary for teachers to complete an APL application form at that time.

3. New teachers wanting to undertake the new teaching qualifications will be required to go through the APL process. This will ensure that these candidates are not repeating subjects already covered. These candidates will also be required to achieve the new qualification in each genre, in order to be eligible to enter students for exams in that genre. Please note that the Foundation in Dance Instruction and Certificate in Dance Education will come into force from 1st September 2004.

What does the word ‘institution’ mean?
This relates to where you obtained your qualifications. The word ‘institution’ is a generic term for all of the establishments where the training may have taken place.

What does the phrase ‘Awarding Body’ mean?
This relates to the organisation that may have awarded the qualification obtained. For example, a teacher may have gained a qualification from the RAD, NDTA etc

The results page doesn’t mention Dance Sport marks
We would be very grateful if Dance Sport teachers could annotate their students marks (eg. Honours) next to the Theatre faculty marks.

What level of ‘other’ qualification should I note down?
We only wish teachers to go back as far as A Levels (if applicable). I have entered candidates under another teacher’s name.

What happens to my achievements?
Please annotate this in the achievement section of the APL application form. We may have to write to the teacher in question, for confirmation.

As you may appreciate, this is a resource intensive exercise, but one that will allow us to move our teachers forward rather than have teachers cover skills they may have gained some time in the past. If you have not received an APL application form, please contact the Education and Training department.