Will my child take an exam?

Easier said than done, but try not to look sideways at who is and isn’t taking their exam and believe it is a reflection on your child’s dancing abilities and skills. I promise you it is not - exams aren’t just about steps—they’re about readiness, confidence, and growth. We look beyond technical skill to consider a student’s dedication, maturity, and ability to embrace those particular challenges. For us, exams are a celebration of progress, not a source of pressure so deciding who this will suit takes careful consideration. Here are some of the areas we look at:

Attendance and punctuality One you can control! Missing classes means missing syllabus content, making it harder to prepare for exams.

Effort, focus and discipline shown in class  If your child finds it hard to focus in other areas of their education, it is often echoed in their dance class. While dance helps develop concentration, some students may need more time to reach exam readiness. It doesn’t mean they are not good at dancing.

Individual personality Exams can boost confidence for some, but others might feel pressured. We balance each child’s needs to keep dance fun and rewarding.

Rules and regulations The ISTD examining board set minimum age requirements for some grades, limiting exam eligibility based on age. The youngest students can take an exam is 6 years old.

The Grade There are differences between dance genres and skill levels. Primary Ballet has a high expectation from the examiner and is significantly more challenging than Primary Modern. Therefore, your child might be ready for the Modern exam but not their Ballet.

Class frequency One weekly class may not provide enough time to master the syllabus. Additional classes can help accelerate progress. A great idea is to ‘level up’ and take two classes a week in the same subject, one at the correct level and one at the next level up. This is how we see the most accelerated progress. 

Balancing performances and exams Shows and performances can delay exam preparations for a term but this usually affects the group as a whole.

Syllabus differences We follow a structured and rigorous syllabus from the prestigious Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD) which have lengthy requirements, unlike other societies with simpler tests or medals. Therefore, if friends at other schools are taking regular exams it is likely to be a very different quality of syllabus. Did you know the higher grades with ITSD contribute to UCAS points!

Trust in your teachers We ensure children meet grade requirements and feel confident before exams, making the experience positive and avoiding setbacks to their confidence.

For non-exam students Children not taking exams still participate fully in class, progress with peers, and receive certificates alongside friends. They stay in the same class, with their same friends and move up to the next grade with the rest of the class when their friends do. 

Exams encourage focus, practice, and resilience, qualities that are useful far beyond the studio. We want every dancer to feel proud of their journey, knowing they’ve worked hard to get to this point.