How are the ISTD teaching qualifications changing?

The ISTD is currently working towards accreditation of its teaching qualifications. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) carry out accreditation for such qualifications.

The aim is for the ISTD to enhance its professional teaching qualifications in line with the requirements from QCA. Ultimately it is the British Government's aim to ensure appropriately qualified teachers across all sectors. The structure of the new qualifications means that candidates can gain basic teaching skills from any QCA approved dance awarding bodies, but add the specific dance genre in which they want to concentrate, also from another awarding body. This means that the new qualifications are very flexible for candidates. The new qualifications will apply to both Dance Sport and Theatre Faculties.

We are also ensuring that the valuable skills learnt at Student Teacher/ Associate/Associate Diploma level are not wasted. These important skills will provide candidates with exemptions from many units of the new qualifications.

Back to top

International Students

Candidates within the UK and Europe (those countries currently delivering ISTD examinations) will progress from the existing teaching qualifications to the new within the same timescale. For those candidates outside of Europe, the existing teaching qualifications will continue for the foreseeable future. However, the ISTD does fully intend to introduce the new teaching qualifications to the rest of the world.

QCA accreditation for the new teaching qualifications should provide added credibility with overseas Governments.

Back to top

What happens to my existing ISTD qualifications?

Teachers will not 'lose' their existing qualification. The ISTD wants to ensure that it retains the vast experience and range of skills held by current teachers. This is why QCA approval is being sought. We want to include you rather than exclude you.

The ISTD will use teachers' prior qualifications and experience to provide new and existing teachers with exemptions towards the new qualifications. Find out more about Accredited Prior Learning

Back to top

How will my prior qualifications and experience be used?

The Education & Training Department will be carrying out an exercise to ascertain this detail from teachers. We want to build a full picture of teachers past experience and qualifications including those not necessarily gained with the ISTD. Once we have this information we will assess this detail against the requirements for the new teaching qualifications. This will be carried out in conjunction with the respective Faculties. If there are areas that teachers have not covered, then they will be required to undertake the relevant unit(s) from the new teaching qualifications.

From the 1st September 2004, you will be given two years in which to complete the required unit(s). During this time, teachers will still be able to enter students for ISTD exams.

Back to top

How will this information be collected?

You can download an application form here>> We would ask you to complete this and return it to the Education & Training Department as soon as you can. As mentioned previously, this information will be assessed and a letter will be forwarded to the teacher confirming either that no further units are required or explaining which further unit(s) is required to be completed.

Back to top

What is the timescale?

The new qualifications will be available from 1st January 2004. They will run concurrently with the existing qualifications until 31st August 2004. The Associate/Associate Diploma qualifications will cease from this date.

Back to top

Qualifications - what's involved?

They are the Foundation in Dance Instruction, being submitted at Level 3 of the National Qualifications Framework and Certificate in Dance Education, being submitted at Level 4 of the National Qualifications Framework.

The qualification breakdown is as follows:

Foundation in Dance Instruction (Level 3)

Teaching Skills
• Observation and Practice of Learning Techniques (Unit 1)
This unit is assessed via evidence of observations, feedback and confirmation of satisfactory assessment by an assigned tutor. The candidate is required to observe class instruction, with a view to identifying:

• The level and structure of the class
• Methods used to instruct the class and to pace activities
• Motivational techniques used
• Student reaction and progression
• Methods of correction employed

The candidate will:
• Discuss class content and teaching methods used with the tutor and peer group
• Discuss and practise learning techniques with the tutor and peer group

Teaching Theory
• Promotion of Health & Safety (Unit 2)
• Life Stage Development & Learning in Dance (Unit 3)
These two units are assessed via worksheets or assignments prepared and marked by external providers. These can be accessed via any QCA approved awarding body.

Dance Practice
An ISTD examiner assesses units 4 & 5 at one time in the form of an oral/practical examination, similar to the current Associate exam.

• Dance Practice within a Chosen Dance Genre (Unit 4)
The candidate studies:
• A specific dance syllabus of the Grade examinations in an ISTD dance genre
• The application of theory, technique, presentation and musicality within the syllabus
• The arrangement of simple sequences of movement
• The structure of the body and limitations on body movement to comply with the principles of safe dance practice
• Key stages in the physical and cognitive development in relation to the dance technique

• Relationship between Music and Dance (Unit 5)
The candidate studies the:
• Music content of the set exercises and free movement vocabulary in the Graded examinations in Dance syllabus up to and including Grade 5
• Theory and value of musical time signatures
• Differences between counts and bars of music
• Application of counting, tonal quality and rhythmical phrasing
• Use of musical introduction
• Use of time signatures/rhythms in relationship to the teaching of individual steps/movements
• Application and understanding of speed, pace mood and rhythm to enhance and support dance teaching
• Relevance of the above when associated with choreography
• Application of basic choreographed movements/short dances

• Background to a Chosen Dance Genre (Unit 6)
This unit is assessed in the form of an assignment. The candidate is required to select a person, company, aspect of style or historical period relating to the chosen dance genre. They are then required to identify and evaluate a range of reference materials relating to the chosen topic.

The Teaching Skills and Teaching Theory module are common to all dance genres and once attained do not have to be retaken when qualifying in another genre. The Dance Practice module is specific to each dance genre and the candidate may, therefore, choose to take this module more than once to pursue the study of different dance genres.

Entry requirements
Foundation in Dance Instruction (Level 3)
In order to enter the Foundation in Dance Instruction, the candidates must be a minimum of 17 years of age, have attained an Intermediate certificate of a QCA-approved dance awarding body in the chosen genre.

Certificate in Dance Education (Level 4)

Teaching Skills
Units 1, 2 and 3 are delivered in a cross-modular approach due to the inter-relationship of the subject matter. The candidate is observed, within one year, teaching at a minimum of two different grades for a minimum of 10 hours prior to the final teaching assessment (carried out by an ISTD assessor). It is not essential that the teaching practice is confined solely to one dance genre.

• Planning Techniques (Unit 1)
The candidate studies current practice in dance education and learns how to evaluate, produce and manage lesson plans/schemes of work relating to their personal teaching practice.

• Teaching & Learning (Unit 2)
The candidate:
• Is allocated an ISTD-accredited school to undertake the required number of hours of supervised teaching practice. This will be at two separate designated Grades from Primary to Grade 5 and monitored by an ISTD-recognised tutor.
• Teaches a series of lessons (10 hours min) divided between the two designated Grades.
• Prepares individual and appropriate lesson plans as a teaching aid for the required/requested teaching activity.

• Assessment (Unit 3)
The candidate formulates effective formative and summative assessments in the support of teaching and learning methods.

Teaching Theory
• Promotion of Health & Safety (Unit 4)
• Life Stage Development & Learning in Dance (Unit 5)
These units are delivered and assessed by external providers. These can be accessed via any QCA approved awarding body.

Dance Practice
An ISTD examiner assesses units 6 & 7 at one time in the form of an oral/practical examination, similar to the current Associate exam.

• Dance Practice within a Chosen Dance Genre (Unit 6)
The candidate studies a wide range of resources that develop and enhance personal learning, communication and delivery skills with a view to demonstrating, analysing and teaching a range of technical movements within a specific dance genre in a musical and artistic context. These skills include:

• The technical specifications of a chosen dance genre up to and including Grade 6, Intermediate Foundation (for some dance genres) and Intermediate
• Instructional technique
• Observation of the physical and cognitive development of students
• Demonstration of musical awareness.

• Relationship between Music and Dance (Unit 7)
The candidate is provided with a greater awareness of the value, function and relationship of music and dance and the opportunity to study and undertake personal choreography.

The candidate:
• Studies the use of music in relationship to the chosen dance genre
• Devises dance sequences in a specific genre
• Undertakes the choreography of a solo at Intermediate level
• Increases and develops personal musicality

• Background to a Chosen Dance Genre (Unit 8)
The candidate is required to:
• Select a person, company, aspect of style or historical period relating to the chosen dance genre. Candidates may either select the same topic chosen at the Foundation level or a different topic.

Candidates are then required to:
• Write 2000 to 2500 words to evaluate the impact of the chosen aspect on the historical development of the genre. The assignment is submitted to HQ and marked accordingly.

Entry requirements
Certificate in Dance Education (Level 4)
In order to enter the Certificate in Dance Education, the candidate is required to have attained the Foundation in Dance Instruction (if sufficient levels of credit cannot be established) and an Advanced 1 certificate of a QCA-approved dance awarding body in the chosen genre.

Back to top

Where will I be able to study the new qualifications?

All candidates for these qualifications must be registered through ISTD approved dance centres. These approved centres will consist of vocational colleges, and independent schools.

Each centre will have to go through an approval process, which includes inspection, to be able to deliver the new qualifications. If satisfactory, they will be approved for 3 years. Centres will undergo re-approval after three years. Assessment of the teaching and oral/practical units will be by registered tutors in and through approved centres only, in order to ensure standardisation of assessments and facilities for candidates. These tutors will also have to undergo an approval process, to ensure the correct skill set.

Find out how to become an Approved Dance Centre>>
Find out what centres have already been approved>>

Back to top

How much will it cost?

The new qualifications have been costed on a unit-by-unit basis. This is to ensure that candidates will only have to pay for those units required to be completed, given their prior qualifications and experience, once assessed.

Back to top

Further Information

We hope this has answered some of your queries regarding the new teaching qualifications. If you have any questions related to this article, please send an email to the Head of Education and Training. As the project develops, there will be further information posted onto the website on a regular basis, so watch out for this.

Back to top