Guidance

GCSE subject-level conditions and requirements for dance (2022)

Published 11 November 2021

This guidance was withdrawn on 9 July 2024

These documents are no longer in use, as they applied only to assessments delivered in 2022.

Applies to England

Introduction

About this document

This document is part of a suite of documents which sets out the regulatory requirements for awarding organisations offering GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) in 2022.

We have developed these requirements with the intention that GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) should provide:

• evidence of students’ achievements against demanding and fulfilling content
• a strong foundation for further academic and vocational study and for employment
• a basis for schools and colleges to be held accountable for the performance of all of their students, if required

Requirements set out in this document

This document sets out the GCSE Subject Level Conditions for Dance (2022). These conditions will come into effect at 09:30 on 12 November 2021 for all GCSE qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) in Dance for Learners completing the qualification in 2022, except where the General Qualifications Alternative Awarding Framework applies.

It also sets out our requirements in relation to:

• interpretation of the content document - an awarding organisation must comply with these requirements under Condition GCSE(Dance)1.1(c)
• assessment objectives - awarding organisations must comply with these requirements under Condition GCSE(Dance)1.2
• assessment - awarding organisations must comply with these requirements under Condition GCSE(Dance)2.3

With respect to all GCSE Qualifications (graded from 9 to 1) in Dance in 2022, awarding organisations must also comply with:

• our General Conditions of Recognition, which apply to all awarding organisations and qualifications
• our GCSE Qualification Level Conditions
• all relevant Regulatory Documents

With respect to GCSE qualifications in Dance taken by Learners completing the qualification in 2023 and after, an awarding organisation must continue to comply with the GCSE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for Dance

Subject Level Conditions

GCSE Subject Level Conditions for Dance

Condition GCSE(Dance) 1: Compliance with content requirements

GCSE(Dance)1.1

In respect of each GCSE Qualification in Dance which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must -

1. (a) comply with the requirements relating to that qualification set out in the document published by the Secretary of State entitled ‘Dance GCSE subject content’, document reference DFE-00702-2014,
2. (b) have regard to any recommendations or guidelines relating to that qualification set out in that document, and
3. (c) interpret that document in accordance with any requirements, and having regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

GCSE(Dance)1.2

In respect of each GCSE Qualification in Dance which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must comply with any requirements, and have regard to any guidance, relating to the objectives to be met by any assessment for that qualification which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

Condition GCSE(Dance) 2: Assessment

GCSE(Dance)2.1

Condition GCSE4.1 does not apply to any GCSE Qualification in Dance which an awarding organisation makes available or proposes to make available.

GCSE(Dance)2.2

In respect of the total marks available for a GCSE Qualification in Dance which it makes available, an awarding organisation must ensure that -

1. (a) 40 per cent of those marks are made available through Assessments by Examination, and
2. (b) 60 per cent of those marks are made available through assessments set by the awarding organisation that are not Assessments by Examination.

GCSE(Dance)2.3

An awarding organisation must ensure that in respect of each assessment for a GCSE Qualification in Dance which it makes available which is not an Assessment by Examination it complies with any requirements, and has regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

Subject content requirements

Requirements in relation to subject content for GCSE Qualifications in Dance

The subject content for GCSE Qualifications (graded 9 to 1) in Dance is set out in the Department for Education’s Dance GCSE subject content, document reference DFE-00702-2014 (the ‘Content Document’).

Condition GCSE(Dance)1.1(c) requires awarding organisations to interpret the Content Document in line with any requirements, and having regard to any guidance, published by Ofqual.

We set out our requirements for the purposes of Condition GCSE(Dance)1.1(c) below.

Group work

An awarding organisation must interpret the Content Document as if it contains no requirement for a Learner to -

1. (a) perform as part of a group, or
2. (b) demonstrate knowledge or understanding of sensitivity or physical relationship to other dancers where not performing as part of a group.

Assessment objectives

Assessment objectives - GCSE Qualifications in Dance

Condition GCSE(Dance)1.2 allows us to specify requirements relating to the objectives to be met by any assessment for all GCSE Qualifications in Dance.

The assessment objectives set out below constitute requirements for the purposes of Condition GCSE(Dance)1.2. Awarding organisations must comply with these requirements in relation to all GCSE Qualifications in Dance they make available or propose to make available.

Assessment objective	Description	Weighting
AO1	Perform dance, reflecting choreographic intention through physical, technical and expressive skills	30%
AO2	Create dance, including movement material and aural setting, to communicate choreographic intention	30%
AO3	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of choreographic processes and performing skills	15%
AO4	Critically appreciate own works and professional works, through making analytical, interpretative and evaluative judgements	25%

Assessment requirements

Requirements in relation to assessments for GCSE Qualifications in Dance

Condition GCSE(Dance)2.3 allows us to specify requirements and guidance in relation to assessments which are not Assessments by Examination for GCSE Qualifications in Dance.

We set out our requirements for the purposes of Condition GCSE(Dance)2.3 below.

Forms of non-examination assessment

Condition GCSE(Dance)2.2(b) states that an awarding organisation must ensure that of the total marks available for a GCSE Qualification in Dance, 60 per cent of those marks shall be made available through assessments set by the awarding organisation which are not Assessments by Examination.

In respect of that 60 per cent, an awarding organisation must ensure that -

1. (a) 30 per cent of the total marks available for the qualification are made available through a task which assesses a Learner’s knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to performance (the ‘Performance Assessment’), and
2. (b) 30 per cent of the total marks available for the qualification are made available through a task which assesses a Learner’s knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to choreography (the ‘Choreography Assessment’).

The Performance Assessment

An awarding organisation must ensure that each Performance Assessment is designed and set to -

1. (a) require each Learner to perform one or more dances, with a combined duration of at least -
   1. (i) one minute and 30 seconds if all solo performances, or
   2. (ii) two minutes if including performance as part of a group,
2. (b) be taken under conditions specified by the awarding organisation, including, in particular, conditions which ensure that the evidence generated by each Learner can be Authenticated, and
3. (c) assess assessment objective AO1 in its entirety.

In respect of each Performance Assessment, an awarding organisation must ensure that the Centre which delivered the assessment provides the awarding organisation with a complete and unedited audiovisual recording of the evidence generated in that assessment. That recording must be made from the perspective of the audience.

The Choreography Assessment

An awarding organisation must ensure that each Choreography Assessment is designed and set to -

1. (a) require each Learner to choreograph either a complete solo dance of at least one minute and 30 seconds in duration or a complete group dance of at least two minutes in duration,
2. (b) require each Learner to explain his or her choreographic intent with respect to his or her dance and how that choreographic intent was developed,
3. (c) be taken under conditions specified by the awarding organisation, including, in particular, conditions which ensure that the evidence generated by each Learner can be Authenticated, and
4. (d) assess assessment objective AO2 in its entirety.

An awarding organisation must not communicate the task that it has set for the Choreography Assessment to Centres before 1 September in the academic year in which the assessment is to be taken.

In respect of each Choreography Assessment, an awarding organisation must ensure that the Centre which delivered the assessment provides the awarding organisation with either -

1. (a) a complete and unedited audiovisual recording of the dance choreographed by the Learner, made from the perspective of the audience, or
2. (b) alternative evidence to illustrate the intended final dance choreographed by the Learner, his or her choreographic intent and how that was developed. Such evidence may include -
   1. (i) audio-visual recordings of complete performance,
   2. (ii) audio-visual recordings of physical demonstration(s) of key motifs with explanation of how they inform the final piece,
   3. (iii) original and non-original photographs, images, drawings or sketches with annotations to illustrate intentions,
   4. (iv) written accounts, or
   5. (v) a video diary.

A Learner does not have to perform the dance which he or she has choreographed.

Marking of assessments

Evidence generated by a Learner in an assessment for a GCSE Qualification in Dance which is not an Assessment by Examination may be marked -

1. (a) by the awarding organisation or a person connected to the awarding organisation,
2. (b) by a Centre, or
3. (c) through a combination of (a) and (b).

In any event, the awarding organisation must demonstrate to Ofqual’s satisfaction in its assessment strategy that -

1. (a) it has taken all reasonable steps to identify the risk of any Adverse Effect which may result from its approach to marking the assessments (and to moderation where appropriate), and
2. (b) where such a risk is identified, it has taken all reasonable steps to prevent that Adverse Effect or, where it cannot be prevented, to mitigate that Adverse Effect.