Ballet examinations
for ages 7-18 and adults
taught live on Zoom, available internationally
taught live on Zoom, available internationally
At the Janet Lomas School of Dancing, we work hard to provide opportunities for our students that are the same as they would experience at a face-to-face ballet school. We firmly believe that students should not be limited by geographical location or the options available locally to them.
At our school, ballet examinations can be taken by any student, aged 7+ through to adults, with recorded, online and in-person assessment options available.
At our school, ballet examinations can be taken by any student, aged 7+ through to adults, with recorded, online and in-person assessment options available.
Why take ballet examinations?
Taking examinations act as a structured and clearly-defined assessment of the standard of a dancer. Ballet examinations reward hard work, boost confidence and assess a child’s progress as part of their dance classes.
Examinations also provides lifelong skills: the confidence to enter a job interview, the importance of presenting yourself in a polite, respectful manner and learning the value of hard work and dedication (especially in preparation to achieve a goal – for example, preparing for school academic examinations).
Examinations also provides lifelong skills: the confidence to enter a job interview, the importance of presenting yourself in a polite, respectful manner and learning the value of hard work and dedication (especially in preparation to achieve a goal – for example, preparing for school academic examinations).
How do students learn the examination work?
Students who wish to enter examinations, learn all of their set exercises via private tuition. By training in private tuition, this gives the dancer the opportunity to refine their work in a class focused solely on them and structured around their needs. Students can then progress through examinations at their own pace, not needing to wait until the whole class is ready to take an exam (as can often be standard practice at a dance school). Our tutors for private tuition are fully qualified, not just to their basic Level 4 teaching qualification level, but hold their Licentiate certificate (Level 6), and Diploma in Dance Pedagogy (Level 6), DBS check and safeguarding.
Our students can take ballet examinations via two pathway options:
Pathway 1: Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD)
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Examinations can be taken through the internationally-recognised examination board, the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) in Imperial Classical Ballet.
All Graded and Vocational graded examinations receive credits and are recognised on the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). For certain graded and vocational examinations, students can receive UCAS points which can be used in applications for university (regardless of the subject chosen). The number of UCAS points received directly correlates to the standard achieved in the examination (i.e. pass, merit, distinction). |
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ISTD examinations progressively build in terms of knowledge and difficulty. This also ensures that steps and techniques learnt at a lower level are carried through and act as a preparation for more complex movements and combinations of steps in later years.
Examination options:
1. In-person examination
Travel to an examination centre. The examination will take place live in front of a qualified ISTD examiner.
2. Remote examination
Hire a local hall/gym space to record and submit a recorded video examination to the ISTD headquarters for the video to be marked by a qualified ISTD examiner.
Results:
Students receive a number mark (out of 100) and certificate, but no written feedback
1. In-person examination
Travel to an examination centre. The examination will take place live in front of a qualified ISTD examiner.
2. Remote examination
Hire a local hall/gym space to record and submit a recorded video examination to the ISTD headquarters for the video to be marked by a qualified ISTD examiner.
Results:
Students receive a number mark (out of 100) and certificate, but no written feedback
Pathway 2: JR Classical Examinations
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JR Classical is a leading curriculum and training provider for those wanting to enhance their technique and knowledge of ballet. JR Classical level exams are the perfect way to boost confidence and gain experience of examinations. It is a structured, holistic syllabus, and designed with safe dance practice in mind.
JR Classical examinations progressively build in terms of knowledge and difficulty. This also ensures that steps and techniques learnt at a lower level are carried through and act as a preparation for more complex movements and combinations of steps in later years. |
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Examination options:
1. In-person examination
Travel to an examination centre. The examination will take place live in front of a qualified JR Classical examiner.
2. Remote examination
Hire a local hall/gym space to record and submit a recorded video examination for the video to be marked by a qualified JR Classical examiner.
3. Zoom live examination
The examination will take place in front of a qualified JR Classical examiner, live on Zoom.
Results:
Students receive a number mark (out of 100), a personal written report and a certificate
1. In-person examination
Travel to an examination centre. The examination will take place live in front of a qualified JR Classical examiner.
2. Remote examination
Hire a local hall/gym space to record and submit a recorded video examination for the video to be marked by a qualified JR Classical examiner.
3. Zoom live examination
The examination will take place in front of a qualified JR Classical examiner, live on Zoom.
Results:
Students receive a number mark (out of 100), a personal written report and a certificate
Want to know more?
Examination FAQs
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How do I know which pathway option is best for my child?
Our teachers will recommend which pathway is best for your child. Some of our students study both pathways in order to receive the benefits of all syllabus options. How is the examination syllabus learnt? All our students who take examinations student this option via private coaching. We are proud to partner with JR Classical for our online examinations and training. When do I know when my child is ready to take an exam? Unlike many dance schools, as the work is learnt in private classes, as soon as your child is ready to take an examination, they can be entered for the examination so they can progress onto the next grade. The final decision for a child's readiness to take an examination lies with the teacher. What happens in an examination? Students are examined by highly-trained and qualified examiners. Students learn set exercises and a dance. For certain examinations, non-syllabus elements are also required to be shown (these are set by the examination board to be taught on the day within the exam time) Can anyone take examinations? Priority training for examinations is given to students enrolled in our school and receiving tuition in our online group ballet classes. |
One of our successful Level 4 JR Classical examination students (Pass with Distinction) after her examination,
with our private examination coaching tutor, Miss Jacqui |
“I have been so impressed with Janet Lomas School of Dancing where my daughter attends and loves it. The quality of teaching is exceptional and the teacher, Miss Johanna is passionate, caring and very supportive. She really pay attention to each child individually and make sure you get the attention you need. My daughter joined the school when she was 7 with no experience of ballet, with the encouragement and teaching she received she is already studying in Grade 3 in short of 2 years’ time and her loves to ballet has grown stronger and stronger! Would highly recommend Janet Lomas School of Dancing" |
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In our school's history, we have a 100% success rate in children's RAD, ISTD and NATD ballet examinations, with 98% of students gaining a Distinction mark (80/100 marks and above) from Pre-Primary through to Advanced 2 2. |
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