ISTD exams

Every student studying ballet, tap or modern at JC Dance Academy follows the ISTD syllabus. Once a child turns five, and Miss Jenny believes they're ready, they'll be invited to take an exam in Cecchetti ballet, ISTD tap or ISTD modern. Exams are usually held in July, here at the academy.

Exams are a good way to progress through the syllabus and build confidence, and they're Ofqual-accredited qualifications rather than internal awards. JC Dance Academy has a 100% pass rate, with a high proportion of merits and distinctions.

Nobody is entered before they're ready, and nobody has to take them at all — plenty of students dance happily without ever sitting one.

We're proud that we've taken students from age two on the Ballerina Bear programme — the Dancing Dots syllabus, designed to build ballet technique from the earliest stage — right through to advanced ISTD qualifications.