Information for Approved Dance Centres and Schools Interested in Becoming Approved

All candidates who embark on the ISTD teaching qualifications, the Foundation in Dance Instruction (FDI) and Certificate in Dance Education (CDE), must do so through an Approved Dance Centre (ADC).

Approved Dance Centres consist of vocational colleges and independent schools which have undergone an approval process, including inspection, to ensure they meet the ISTD and QCA standards. These include:

• the ability to provide an appropriate educational experience for students registered for ISTD teaching qualifications

• suitably qualified and experienced teaching staff

• appropriate physical facilities i.e. studio size, flooring, lighting

• staff training procedures for assessment

• appropriate mechanisms of governance and administrative procedures

• effective quality assurance

• robust health and safety complaints and appeals mechanisms

Once granted, approval lasts for three years at which point Centres undergo a re-approval process.

Candidates’ teaching is assessed through the Approved Dance Centre by a tutor who is registered within that centre. This ensures standardisation of assessments and facilities for candidates.

These registered tutors have also undergone an approval process to ensure they have the right skills, qualifications and experience and then attend specialised Tutor Training arranged by ISTD HQ focused specifically on the ISTD teaching qualifications and the generic skills required of teachers across all sectors.

For further information please select a topic below;

Why do Centres need to be approved?

The purpose of the approval process is to assess the quality of the venue and the teaching standards within a potential Centre as well as ensuring standardisation of assessments and facilities for candidates undertaking ISTD teaching qualifications


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Who can apply?

Any Centre who meets the assessment criteria as laid out in the ADC Application pack can apply to become an Approved Dance Centre. Applications are accepted from Centres of any size at any time.

Please note: Centres apply for approval to teach particular genres, and in order to gain approval, must have a tutor in place already qualified to Licentiate level in the genre, with experience of teaching professional candidates.

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How can I become an Approved Dance Centre?

If your Centre wishes to tutor teachers through the ISTD, please download the following documents which contain details of the approval process, the requirements, the inspection visit and an application form.

To do this you will require the software Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is entirely free and can be downloaded simply and quickly by clicking on the icon below and following the instructions. Once you have installed it, or if you already have Acrobat Reader, simply click on the links below to start downloading.

ISTD Dance Centre - Application form

ISTD Approved Tutor Application form

The Approval Procedures for ISTD Dance Centres

Alternatively please contact the Education and Training Department and we will be happy to send a pack to you.

Once you have completed the application form please send this to Education & Training ensuring all of the following are included in your application:

We recognise that not all schools or teachers will have this documentation in place before they apply and therefore we have included examples of these documents within the ADC Application pack which can be used as a guideline.

If you have any problems when filling in the application paperwork or any questions, please contact the Education & Training Department for further assistance.

Centres apply for approval to teach particular genres, and in order to gain approval, must have a tutor in place already qualified to Licentiate level in the genre, with experience of teaching professional candidates.

When providing feedback on the overall process Heather Burns, Programme Co-ordinator at Preston College said;

'It helps to bring uniformity across all establishments offering the new qualifications, which in turn must raise standards…Approval will help raise the profile and status of the College when marketing our course. Parents are keen to see how student progress is monitored, and if they see proper systems in place with the awarding body, as is the case with other educational qualifications, they are more confident in the delivery of the syllabus and in the students achieving their goals'.

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What happens once I have applied?

Once your application has been received a letter of receipt will be sent to you.

The Education & Training Department will then check your application to ensure all the necessary paperwork has been enclosed and will then passed this to the Customer Service and Quality Assurance Department of the ISTD for review.

If everything is in order, the Education & Training Department will arrange an inspection visit for your centre. This visit will last a maximum of one working day for UK Centres and should be held at the Centre wishing to become approved.


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Why is there an Inspection Visit ?

The inspection visit is to confirm the physical facilities information noted on the original application form and is also a good opportunity to discuss the structure and content of the qualifications. If there are areas for concern, these can be discussed and assistance provided where applicable.


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What happens after my Centre’s inspection?

Following the visit a feedback report will be provided to the Centre by the Customer Service and Quality Assurance Department. The report will state whether or not the Centre has been approved and/or if any specific conditions are attached to that approval. The report will also indicate, if relevant, what may need to be done to become fully approved and the timescale for this.

Once approval is granted the Education & Training Department will issue the Centre with an Approved Dance Centre certificate.

The Centre now needs to send tutors who will be training candidates on Module 1 to Module 1 training at both FDI and CDE level. This course runs over two days and covers the generic teaching skills required of a teacher. Once training has been completed tutors are issued with their Approved Tutor Number and Centres are then able to register candidates for both the FDI and CDE qualifications in the approved genre.

ISTD HQ also offers training for all the other FDI and CDE units except Dance Practice which is offered via the Faculties. Although we would highly recommend that tutors attend these additional courses, it is not compulsory for them to do so.

For an up to date list of Tutor Training dates please click here

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