Dance lessons 'at risk' due to Coalition exam reforms

Experts from prestigious bodies such as The Royal Ballet and English National Ballet said there was a “real danger” that the subject will be axed for 11- to 16-year-olds as part of a shake-up of GCSEs. In a letter to The Daily Telegraph, it was claimed that dance was dying out despite “an unprecedented level” of enthusiasm for the discipline among young people. The comments were made after the Government unveiled plans to scrap GCSEs in favour of new qualifications dubbed English Baccalaureate Certificates. Courses will be introduced in English, maths, science, foreign languages, history and geography. Ministers also want to overhaul exam league tables to measure school performance in the six subject areas. But the new qualifications – covering England – will fail to cover other disciplines such as art, drama, dance, music, religious studies, design and technology and physical education.