Royal Academy of Dance examinations
“Congratulations to you too for the successful completion of the exams and the achievement of all the girls. Every girl who arrived today, came in with a smile and excited confidence to be there today & to do their best for you. It looked like a positive experience for everyone involved.”
Rain & Lucky ballet classes follow the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus. The RAD is the world’s leading organisation in classical ballet education - a global organisation involving approximately 14,000 members across 83 countries. Most of our teachers, including Miss Rain, studied RAD from the age of five all the way up to graduation to become professional dancers.
Whatever you child's goals in dance, adding the RAD syllabus to our program means we are able to really help students to take their dance education to a new level. Working towards exams is fun, challenging and gently develops self-discipline, work ethic and a sense of pride, achievement and responsibility - of course, always in an inspiring and nurturing way, in line with the values of our school.
For best results, students wishing to undertake RAD exams are required to do at least two weekly ballet classes, including an “RAD exam” class, taught by our specialist RAD examiner/teacher. This really fast-tracks a student's progression and ensures they are prepared at exam time. We know you will love seeing the results in your child.
Examinations take place in the second half of the year at dates set by the RAD.
“We have really enjoyed watching our daughter’s progress in the RAD program. She has loved the opportunity to challenge herself and has been highly engaged by the increased focus on technique and opportunities to try new aspects of ballet such as character dance. ”
“The RAD program is delivered with passion and care for all dancers to feel and achieve success. I am grateful to have found such a loving environment for my daughter to follow her own passion. She just completed her first RAD exams with the support of her amazing teachers, whose passion is to see my daughter confident, happy and trying her best. ”
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any prerequisites?
Yes. In order to sit exams, students must take at least two weekly ballet classes, including one of the ‘RAD Exam’ classes.
Who teaches the RAD exam classes?
We are incredibly fortunate to have Miss Rachael from the UK head our RAD program. Not only is she a registered RAD teacher, she is also an RAD examiner, which means she regularly flies around the world examining at other schools. Miss Rachael is highly experienced in teaching this syllabus and preparing students for exams. This is a huge bonus that not many ballet schools have.
Is it compulsory to sit exams?
No. The experience of taking two weekly classes which includes structured exam preparation is hugely beneficial for children regardless of whether or not they sit the exam. We know you will love seeing the results in your child.
Where are the exams held?
At our school, with an external examiner visiting. This means that children do not have to deal with going to a new, unfamiliar space on exam day.
When are the exams?
During Term 3. The dates are set by the Royal Academy and we will provide them to parents as soon as we get them. There is no flexibility in exam dates/times, and they may occur during school hours.
What sort of commitment is required?
It’s important that all students feel happy and confident going into exams. In order to get the best results, at least 90% attendance throughout the year is mandatory. There is also a compulsory Exam Preparation Workshop which takes place on the first three Sundays in August (subject to slight change depending on the exam date). It is vital that students attend all three sessions. Prior to exams we also hold ‘mock exams’ during normal class hours. When we enter students into exams, they are representing our school and our teachers, so we are not prepared to enter students who aren’t ‘ready’.
What is the cost to sit exams?
Grade 2 and below: $189 (one-off annual payment)
Grade 3 and above: $239 (one-off annual payment)
What this covers:
Examination fee (paid to the Royal Academy), compulsory 3-day Exam Preparation Workshop, special exam day uniform.
When this is due:
At the start of the year. Or, if you’re not sure if your child will sit the exam, you can pay it in May, when exam entries must be in.
Is it going to be too strict for my child?
We aim to ensure that the exam experience is overall a positive and inspiring one for all students. Working towards exams is fun, challenging and gently develops self-discipline, work ethic and a sense of pride, achievement and responsibility. Our students usually come out of exams beaming from ear to ear - it’s a very special day for them and a huge achievement that they can be proud of.
Which grade should we pick?
Our teachers will be able to advise the Grade that will be the most beneficial for your child. The below is a guide only….
5-6 years: Pre-Primary
6-7 years: Primary
7-9 years: Grade 1
9-11 years: Grade 2
10-12 years: Grade 3
11-14 years: Grade 4