ISTD vs RAD ballet exams

ISTD (the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) and RAD (the Royal Academy of Dance) are the two most widely used ballet examination boards for children in the UK. Both are long-established and both are Ofqual-recognised, so an exam from either carries a genuine, accredited qualification — neither is "better" in any general sense, and plenty of excellent dancers have come through each.

It matters less which board a school uses than how well it teaches it. At JC Dance Academy we teach the ISTD syllabus, using the Cecchetti method for ballet, plus ISTD tap and modern. Examinations are Ofqual-accredited, entirely optional, and JC Dance Academy has a 100% pass rate. More about our ISTD exams.

If you're choosing a school based on exam board, the honest answer is to choose the school first — the teaching, the atmosphere and whether your child is happy there matter far more than which syllabus is on the wall.