You are here:

Student course guide

The Royal Academy of Dance offers a wide range of courses, classes and workshops for young people

Diversity & equality

We pride ourselves on our commitment to diversity, and take steps at all times and with respect to all functions, policies and procedures to ensure that no learner is discriminated against on grounds of race, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation or for any other reason. This includes ensuring that no unnecessary barriers are present which deny access to candidates who could otherwise enter for examinationsand achieve credit and/or qualifications.

Reasonable Adjustments

The term ‘disabled’, for the purposes of the Academy’s examinations, encompasses any physical, mental, learning or behavioural impairment (permanent or temporary) which is likely to affect the candidate’s ability to perform well in the examination. A ‘condition’ which is normally temporary may still be such that it is appropriate for the Academy to be made aware of it in advance of the examination.

Katie and Amelia at their Grade 1 presentation

Classical Ballet, by its very nature, is a precise physical art concerned with shape, line, co-ordination, musical and performance qualities. It is within these parameters that the Academy welcomes candidates with disabilities/conditions for Graded/Vocational Graded examinations.

As a result, candidates who have a permanent/temporary disability/condition who are entered for examinations may need special arrangements/aids to enable them to perform to the best of their ability. In these cases, the Academy will make reasonable adjustments if necessary. It is emphasised that all candidates will be assessed against the same criteria and no concession will be made in order to safeguard the integrity of the award.

Applications should be made by the closing date for examination entry, to enable the Academy to make any special arrangements that may be necessary to ensure that the candidate’s particular requirements are met.

For further information on how to apply please see the Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration policy.

Reasonable Adjustments Notification application form

Special Considerations

Special consideration is a post examination adjustment to the mark of an assessment for a candidate who was prepared for and present at an examination but who may have been disadvantaged by adverse circumstances that have arisen immediately prior to or at the time of an examination.

A decision to award special consideration will be based on a number of factors, which may vary from candidate to candidate and from one examination to another. These factors may include the severity of the circumstances and the date of the examination in relation to the circumstances. Each case is assessed and the outcome determined on an individual basis. The maximum allowance given will be 5 marks of the total raw marks available.

Applications for Special Consideration should be made within five working days of the examination.

For further information on how to apply please see the Reasonable Adjustments and Special Consideration policy.

Special Consideration application form

PDF File Reasonable Adjustments and Special Considerations Policy and Procedures (38 KB)