Which schools offer GCSE Dance?

[Threecouldbefour]

Hi,

We are considering a move next year as where we live is just not ticking the boxes. Our oldest daughter is starting Dance GCSE (about to enter year 9) - she really loves dance and I'm desperate for her to be able to continue this if we move. She will also be taking Drama which seems widely available elsewhere.

We were initially looking around the Cheltenham area but I can't see Dance GCSE offered anywhere around there unless I'm missing something. Find this surprising as it seems an arts focussed area.

So - looking further afield - do you know of any schools offering Dance GCSE? We probably need to be within 1.5 hour train journey of London for my husband's work (he will largely be working from home.)

Thank you.

I think in reality we would be moving at end of Year 9 so for start of Year 10. It's a good point about the 2/3 year courses.

Many schools that offer dance are not doing so next year due to COVID restrictions

@Clive222

Many schools that offer dance are not doing so next year due to COVID restrictions

And many more may restrict options even further after that due to budgets. Some schools just can't afford to run a gcse for 10-15 students.

I would suggest if you move looking into things that aren't gcse dance. So dance school and exams. Competitions where she will be able to show achievement and even maybe lamda or something modules.

Are you looking at private or state? I know of a private school in SW London that does dance GCSE.

Thamesmead School in Shepperton offer it. In fact they offer various challenges to get in if you are out of usual catchment and dance is one of the challenges so they take it seriously. Bit far from Cheltenham though.

You can take Dance and Drama (timetable allows for both) at my DC's school ... but they start GCSE courses in Year 9, and I would imagine the chance of all your daughter's current exam boards and options aligning with theirs for a move at the start of Year 10, would be extremely small. If she likes dance, I would have thought she would be better pursuing it in a specialise dance studio. And, I guess you're aware as your daughter is starting the GCSE, but there is a lot more to GCSE Dance than just dancing! Will she also enjoy the non-practical bits as much?

My DD is a professional dancer and did not take GSCE dance, although her school (inner city comprehensive) offered it. You don’t need it for any sort of career in dance. She thought it was the “wrong” sort of dance for her and wouldn’t be well taught. Also, there might be a danger of other pupils who see it as an easy subject spoiling it - there’s a group element of the course. But if your DD wants to take it because she’s keen, that’s another matter altogether. She should go for it if you can find a school. A dance school would be a better option, I think. You’re more likely to get pupils who are genuinely keen.

@RedskyAtnight

You can take Dance and Drama (timetable allows for both) at my DC's school ... but they start GCSE courses in Year 9, and I would imagine the chance of all your daughter's current exam boards and options aligning with theirs for a move at the start of Year 10, would be extremely small. If she likes dance, I would have thought she would be better pursuing it in a specialise dance studio. And, I guess you're aware as your daughter is starting the GCSE, but there is a lot more to GCSE Dance than just dancing! Will she also enjoy the non-practical bits as much?

I think she will enjoy the theory aspect of Dance more than any other subject. I can't of course say with certainty that she will love it as much as the practical elements - I suspect more children opting to take dance do so more for the practical than the theory. But I'm sure she will give it her best shot and be invested in it.

She can take both Dance and Drama. That's not a problem. It's a school known for its performing arts - hence every student takes dance in years 7/8.

I realise the chances are small for getting everything aligned but I'm asking to gauge what's out there. Of course we will pursue it outside school if that's the best option.

Peterborough schools, such as Queen Katherine do GCSE and Alevel/BTEc dance. Some nice villages surrounding the city..

@daisypond

My DD is a professional dancer and did not take GSCE dance, although her school (inner city comprehensive) offered it. You don’t need it for any sort of career in dance. She thought it was the “wrong” sort of dance for her and wouldn’t be well taught. Also, there might be a danger of other pupils who see it as an easy subject spoiling it - there’s a group element of the course. But if your DD wants to take it because she’s keen, that’s another matter altogether. She should go for it if you can find a school. A dance school would be a better option, I think. You’re more likely to get pupils who are genuinely keen.

That's really interesting, thank you for sharing that. May I ask what path your daughter took post GCSE please? Did she go to university to study dance?

Is Hertfordshire any good? I used to know someone with a child at Sele school, which offers dance at GCSE and A level.

@HighRopes

Are you looking at private or state? I know of a private school in SW London that does dance GCSE.

Probably state - although depends of cost of housing in that area.

Sandringham School in St Albans. I think other schools (Beaumont, STAGS) might offer dance, too. Very popular (and expensive) commuter town.

All schools in St Albans are usually oversubscribed, it will be tricky to get in!

@PenOrPencil

Sandringham School in St Albans. I think other schools (Beaumont, STAGS) might offer dance, too. Very popular (and expensive) commuter town.

All schools in St Albans are usually oversubscribed, it will be tricky to get in!

We looked at St Albans before moving down here. It wasn't for us. But thank you anyway.

Langley park school for girls do dance gcse, Beckenham (SE London/Kent borders)

The school also send a number of kids on to the BRIT school every year if that’s the way your Dd wants to go

Thanks @nancy75

If I'm being realistic, I don't think we would chose somewhere so close to London. Where we are now is a bit of a commuter town and I find it a tad soulless as that seems to be the best thing about it. I'm probably not making much sense!

@Threecouldbefour
No, my DD did not go to university to study dance. She did A levels (all academic ones), trained in dance locally and then went straight into employment as a ballet dancer. She doesn’t have any dance exams at all. It’s all in the audition. There are some conservatoires or specialist colleges that offer degrees or diplomas in dance. These will be better than a standard university dance degree if she wants to perform.

I meant to add, that is not a common or typical pathway, but it can be done. More typically, you need to look at the specialist post-16 vocational upper school/college options for performing arts/dance/musical theatre. A Btec at your local sixth form college is never going to cut it.

All our local schools that did offer Dance have now pulled it thanks to the government pushing science etc.

I am in Newbury which as previously mentioned not just Park House, but every senior school serving Newbury and Thatcham offers Dance GCSE.
But my daughter just finished GCSE dance which did enjoy and has a place at performing arts (MT) sixth and it was ballet training that is essential for those auditions followed by Jazz. GCSE dance is contemporary that is not assessed at audition. Despite having had dance lessons at school since reception it took a year of really hard work to get ballet to the level required.

Bristol Grammar does

@daisypond

I meant to add, that is not a common or typical pathway, but it can be done. More typically, you need to look at the specialist post-16 vocational upper school/college options for performing arts/dance/musical theatre. A Btec at your local sixth form college is never going to cut it.

My daughter is currently taking this route. She is about to go into her 3rd year of a Level 6 Trinity Diploma in Dance/Musical Theatre at a specialist vocational school. She started aged 16 but some start at 18 after taking A levels.

She did not do GCSE dance.

I think Glenthorne in Sutton has been mentioned. It’s a national teaching school with a performing arts pathway/scholarship.

If living in outer London with easy access to everything that London has to offer as well as the countryside and the coast, what is it that you’re looking for in a new area?