GCSE and A Level Dance Ofqual consultation for examinations in 2021
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GCSE and A Level Dance Ofqual consultation for examinations in 2021 Ofqual have opened their consultation on the proposed changes to GCSE and A Level exams in 2021. We are very pleased that, as the Subject Association for dance in schools, we have been heavily engaged in discussions with Ofqual to ensure the unique requirements of dance as a practical, academic and creative subject are considered and recognised in their proposals. We understand that any changes will provide a challenge for teachers, but believe that the proposed adaptations are, on the whole, appropriate and necessary given the current circumstances. We are extremely pleased that the balance of performance, choreography and appreciation has been retained. Read Ofqual’s consultation document here. Please note Ofqual must ensure they have parity across all subjects, especially those within creative arts and this may influence the choice in not reducing written exams and choice of evidence. It is also worth noting that the consultation is proposing rules that Ofqual plan to set for the exam boards. As there is only one exam board for GCSE/A Level dance the rules will apply only to AQA. This means when the results come from the consultation, AQA will then have the guidelines on what they can set as assessments for 2021. We encourage dance teachers to respond to Ofqual’s current consultation on the proposed changes to the assessment of GCSE, AS and A level dance in 2021. If you feel a proposed change wouldn’t work for you as a teacher, or for your students, then please state why in the comments document and offer possible alternatives. You don’t need to answer every question. Ofqual will read every comment in detail. The deadline is Thursday 16 July. We have created this guide to help break down the suggestions for the examinations. Please see below for a breakdown of proposed changes to assessments from Ofqual.
GSCE
Component 1: Performance and choreography
Original Performance assessment tasks:
• Solo performance of two set phrases (approximately 1 minute in duration).
• Duet/trio performance (3 minutes to a maximum of 5 minutes).
Proposed changes:
• The set phrases and duo/trio assessment can be kept as they are OR combined
together as one performance assessment. If combined, the assessment of the set
phrases and duo/trio together must cover ALL the skills as covered in the Knowledge,
understanding and skills for performance part of the GCSE. If the set phrase and duo/
trio phrase were combined into one dance this will help students reach their full potential
by reducing the number of dances needed to be assessed as well as helping to reduce
the workload for both teachers and students. Combining the set phrase with duo/trio
performance means all skills can be assessed in one dance. This will enable students to
focus on demonstrating their performance skills in one dance instead spreading their
focus and time working on two dances.
• Reduce timings to at least 1.5 minutes (if all solo performance) or 2 minutes (if including
performance as part of a group). Reduced timings could take pressure off students and
teachers after losing rehearsal and teaching time during lockdown.
• No requirement to perform as part of a group for performance assessment (changing
duo/trio task to a solo). Solo only performances should, collectively, be designed to
address the full range of content expectations with the exception of ‘sensitivity/ physical
relationship to other dancers’. This solo option will help students in schools who may not
have access to a studio space (due to social distancing restrictions of the school) and
take away pressures of needing socially distanced choreography.
• For the Performance Assessment, requirement to submit complete and unedited audio-
visual recording of the performed dances from the perspective of the audience. This will
help take pressure off teachers who have commented in the past the worry and stress of
filming and editing to specific regulations.
Original Choreography assessment tasks:
• Respond creatively to an externally set stimulus. Solo (2 to 2 ½ minutes) or Group
choreography for 2 to 5 dancers (3 to 3 ½ minutes)
Proposed changes:
• Reduce requirement to complete a Choreography Assessment to either a complete solo
dance of at least 1.5 minutes in duration or a complete group dance of at least 2 minutes
in duration, in response to an exam board set brief. The reduction in timings would
help reduce pressure on teaching time and reduce time needed in a studio together to
rehearse.
• For the Choreography Assessment, either a finished performance of the choreography
OR alternative choreography portfolio can be used as evidence. We would hope that a
portfolio could be an option to allow students to present their choreographic intention
clearly if they are unable to present a finished piece, for example due to some teachers
losing their dance studio space when returning to school in September. Students without
studios or those still in remote learning could therefore present their choreographic
intention through a portfolio.
• Components could be marked by the teacher and moderated by the exam board OR
marked directly by the exam board.
Component 2: Dance appreciation
No changes
• There are no changes to the written exam component to match the quality of assessment
amongst other GCSE qualifications. Many GCSE subjects see no reduction in examined
content and of course Dance has to be treated equally. A suggested response to the
consultation is to request a reduction in the number of anthology pieces needing to be
studied. An implication of this, however, would be that the exam questions would have to
be left ‘open’ to allow students to select which of the anthology pieces they wish to write
about. It is felt that this often leads to confusion on how the question is answered by the
student and can disadvantage some students
Image Credit: Brian Slater PhotographyAS Level
Component 1: Performance and choreography
Original:
• Choreography and performance of a solo. Each student must perform their own
choreographed solo dance in a live performance setting. The dance must be a minimum
of 2 minutes and a maximum of 3 minutes in duration.
• Performance in a duet/trio. Students must be able to perform in a duet/trio for a minimum
of 2 minutes in a live performance setting. The maximum duration of the complete dance
must be no longer than 3 minutes.
Proposed changes:
• Reduce requirement to complete a Performance Assessment to a solo dance that the
student has choreographed of between 1.5 to 3 minutes in duration. The lowering of the
minimum time requirement will take away the pressure on both teachers and students
who have missed time away from dance training. We are pleased, however, that the
maximum timings have been kept the same to ensure students are not restricted and
have scope for full exploration of their choreographic idea.
• The performance in a task (usually a duet/trio dance may be performed as a solo of
between 1.5 and 3 minutes or can remain as a duet/trio of2 to 3 minutes in response to
an exam board set task. Due to social distancing it is positive that students and teachers
have the option to change the duo/trio to a solo. This takes pressure off choreographing a
socially distanced dance and reduces possible time spent together in a studio.
• For the Performance Assessment, requirement to submit complete and unedited audio-
visual recording of the performed dances from the perspective of the audience. The
possibility of having the performance examined via video would reduce outside visitors
in the school, which is recommended as part of a return to school plan. We appreciate,
however, that live performance is often preferred over recordings in order to allow
students to reach the full potential and that the requirement for teachers to record
assessments may increase their workload.
Choreography
• Reduce requirement to complete a Choreography Assessment to a solo dance of
between 1.5 to 3 minutes in duration, in response to an exam board set task. This should
reduce pressures on teaching time and to accommodate potential on-going public health
restrictions. For the programme note there could be an option to present the programme
note in the usual written form OR as a portfolio of evidence. The option to present the
programme note through a different method other than a written document, could allow
students to fully explain their intentions in a more time-efficient way.Component 2: Critical Engagement
No changes
• No change within the written exam of 2 hours to match the quality of assessment
amongst other AS qualifications. Many AS subjects see no reduction in examined content
and of course Dance must be treated with parity.
A Level
Component 1: Performance and choreography
Original:
• Solo performance linked to a specified practitioner within an area of study. Minimum of 2
minutes and maximum of 3 minutes in a live performance setting.
• Performance in a quartet in any dance style relevant to the defined genres for a minimum
of 3 minutes and a maximum of 4 minutes in a live performance setting.
Proposed changes:
• Reduce requirement to complete a Performance Assessment to a solo dance of between
1.5 to 3 minutes in duration. This will help reduce pressures on teaching time and
amount needed to rehearse together to accommodate potential on-going public health
restrictions.
• Second dance that may be performed as a solo of 1.5 – 4 minutes or as a group of up to
4 dancers of 2 to 4 minutes in response to an exam board set task. This will again help
reduce pressures on teaching time and minimise the potential for students to need to
share a studio.
• For the Performance Assessment, a requirement to submit complete and unedited audio-
visual recording of the performed dances from the perspective of the audience. The
possibility of having the performance examined via video would reduce outside visitors
in school, which is recommended as part of a return to school plan. We appreciate,
however, that live performance is often preferred over recordings in order to allow
students to reach the full potential and that the requirement for teachers to record
assessments may increase their workload.Choreography
• Group choreography. Students must create an original piece of group choreography,
which lasts for 3 to 4 minutes, for 3, 4 or 5 dancers, in response to an externally set task.
Proposed changes:
• Reduce requirement to complete a Choreography Assessment to a group dance for 2
to 5 dancers of between 2 to 4 minutes in duration, in response to an exam board set
task. This will help reduce pressures on teaching time and amount needed to rehearse
together to accommodate potential on-going public health restrictions. Please note that
there is no proposal for this group choreography to be adapted to a solo, as is the case for
AS and GCSE. This is to ensure there is progression from GCSE and AS to A Level.
• For the Choreography Assessment, Ofqual are suggesting that either a finished
performance of the choreography OR an alternative portfolio can be used as evidence.
We would hope that a portfolio could be an option to present evidence of students’
choreographic skill in the case that their final product can not be realized, due to factors
such as loss of dance studio space when returning back to school in September. This
would also help the students who do not have the capacity to do group work to present
a group choreography. Students without studios or those still in remote learning can
present their choreographic skills and ideas through a portfolio which demonstrates what
their final dance would have looked like had they been able to realise it.
• For the Performance Assessment, requirement to submit complete and unedited audio-
visual recording of the performed dances from the perspective of the audience. The
possibility of having the performance examined via video would reduce outside visitors
in school, which is recommended as part of a return to school plan. We appreciate,
however, that live performance is often preferred over recordings in order to allow
students to reach the full potential and that the requirement for teachers to record
assessments may increase their workload.
Component 2: Critical Engagement
No changes
• There are no proposed changes to the written exam component. This is to reflect the
quality of assessment amongst other A Level qualifications. Many A Level subjects see no
reduction in examined content and Dance must of course be treated with parity. We hope
that the impact of the CV-19 pandemic on students’ capacity to study remotely is taken
into consideration, across all A Levels. A particular impact on A Level Dance is the limited
availability of dance content that students need to be familiar with.Respond to the consultation and make your comments by 16th July here. One Dance UK is the sector support organisation leading the way to a stronger, more vibrant and diverse dance sector. It is also the leading Subject Association for dance. If you have any enquieries please contact: Info@onedanceuk.org You can visit out website here.
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