To think that dance and drama aren't the same thing

[OddBoots]

The dept for education is doing all sorts of tinkering in various areas, much of it quietly and if I were cynical I'd think that was intentional so we don't notice.

One of these changes is to the 'discount codes' for GCSEs, these codes are the codes given to qualifications for performance tabling so that you can't take, say English in 3 different exam boards and count them all.

It has now been decided that Dance and Drama will have the same code so any school offering the chance to students to do both will only be able to count one of them even if the students do really well in both.

I'm a science kind of woman, I'm a biochemistry undergrad who did neither dance or drama at GCSE but even I can see this is wrong. Creativity and expression are hugely valuable for a civilised society and we would be so much poorer without them.

I'm not sure there is much we can do, Gove and his mates seem deaf to most objections but I do think this is an absolute disgrace.

That's really interesting, cory. I think it is just one of those things we've come to take for granted. Young people have a reputation of just grunting while looking at a screen but when I've had chance to chat to some away from the mobile phones etc they can be very engaging. I was in a waiting room with four teen girls and their discussion about local colleges and their good and bad points showed real awareness as they debated with each other in a carefully thought out and expressed way.

As you say babanouche, I think there are very few jobs where you wouldn't have to attend meetings and/or work with the public.

I remember watching this TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson, I had home educated for a while because it suited my ds better at the time so I was already familiar with the idea of schools narrowing down a child's focus but he makes the point so much more clearly than I ever could.

On a personal note my ds came home from school yesterday saying that he has been allowed to select GCSE Dance over non-exam PE which was a pleasant surprise.

OddBoots, I find that TED talk so inspirational. Thanks for sharing it.

TBH if anyone was serious about dance, taking a GCSE would be the last qualification they would take. It means nothing to vocational dance school 16+, it means nothing to employers both within the dance industry or out of the industry.

Total waste of time IMO.

I do understand what you mean rottontomatoes but I do think the subject stands up on its own merit particularly for those who either aren't serious about dance but like having it as an expressive tool and for those whose families couldn't afford or wouldn't support dance outside of school.

I'm not sure anything that could encourage a person to enjoy a way to move and be active and to deepen their understanding of what their body can do would be a waste of time.

And actually, when it comes to leaving school and getting professional training, a school qualification could sway it if the colleges are having to decide between two equally talented performers.

rottentomatoes, a dance school wouldn't be interested in GCSE qualifications in dance, but it might just demonstrate that extra bit of interest when applying to a stage school

When making decisions on candidates entry into dance and stage schools they would never take GCSE dance into account they will just go on talent and potential ability. If they were choosing between two similar standard candidates they would use other criteria such as looks before they considered GCSE. Sad but true, IMO.

Also, entry to proper drama schools such as RADA, LAMDA would be far more likely to take someone with excellent English grades and good academic qualifications over GCSE drama any day I would have thought.

I agree to do dance as enjoyment is great but I think to take it as a GCSE is a total waste of time. Even from a health and fitness point of view it comes bottom of the pile when compared to other school sports.

Basically dance is either a hobby, in which case it should not be taken as a GCSE or it's a potential career. In which case proper respected exams should be taken which are varied but not GCSE.