Secondary school dance

[chloeballet96]

I want to be a dance teacher but what is it like to become a secondary dance teacher? I'm thinking about children's nursing but I'm so unsure need some advice please

 

I've been dancing since I was 2 years old and suddenly the other day I wanted to do children's nursing but then I keep thinking about dance teaching, what do I decide??

[Picturesinthefirelight]

I'm not convinced with the new curriculum & Progress 8/ebacc that there is going to be much of a future for dsnce in secondary schools.

 

Some schools offer dsnce at Key Stage 3/GCSE/Alevel & done offer it as an option in PE. Often it is a PE teacher that delivers the curriculum though many schools at the moment do have dance teachers as part of a performing/creative arts department.

 

I believe that there is quite a focus on contemporary/choreography but perhaps check out the new specs as I know drama GCSE for example has changed a LOT for the current year 9's.

[drdance]

As Pictures quite rightly said - I've got a feeling that dance will become less and less prevalent in the state secondary school system. Ebacc subjects (eng, maths, sci, MFL, History, Geog, RE) are taking priority, government want 90% of school leavers to have these in the next 5 years max, so arts (both visual and performing) are being squeezed out of the curriculum. As a secondary teacher I find this horrible. I work at a school which is ranked very highly nationally in terms of visual arts and so many of our kids thrive on art, photography, media etc Sadly dance has never really been important at the school, but the music teacher has worked hard to try to bring music on in the last few years. I hope that my school is going to find a way to keep offering arts to all students but it may be as part of an extended school day. The governments agenda regarding progress 8 and ebacc is soul destroying (and that's coming from a science teacher....).

 

FYI even if you decide to become a secondary dance teacher, the only PGCE courses are in the south / London area, and jobs nationally are few and far between. 

[Jan McNulty]

Hello Chloeballet96 - have you spoken to your Careers advisor?  

 

Our members have also given you plenty of advice in the other threads you have started:

 

http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/11921-paediatric-nurse-can-dance-still-be-my-hobby/

 

http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/11804-can-my-dance-school-be-my-permanent-job/

 

I fear PITF is right and that opportunities to be a dance teacher in a secondary school will become ever more limited.  Have you checked to see if there are any dance teachers in schools in your locality?  That would give you an idea if it may be a feasible career path.

[Anna C]

My daughter's secondary school covered a very tiny amount of dance in lower school as part of the PE curriculum, but despite having many talented dancers in all genres it has never offered Dance GCSE. It only offered Dance A Level as part of a federation of local schools but that isn't on offer for 2016-2018. As Dr Dance and Pictures have said, the future for arts subjects is looking fairly bleak in secondary schools. In any case, you'd most likely have to do a teaching degree in PE to teach dance (if still on offer) at secondary school.

[Waitingmum]

Just got back from a fantastic secondary school dance show with over a 100 dancers showing some amazing talent from year 7 up to A level and yesterday they were competing at a national dance competition!! Some schools still value dance!!

[ParentTaxi]

Waiting, the secondary school my children attend has many fantastic dancers in genres from ballet to street (winners of national competitions etc), has an annual in-school dance competition in which large numbers take part, followed by a show of the best, dance plays a big part in the annual production etc etc.

 

BUT no dance qualifications are offered at GCSE or A-level (it can form a small part of GCSE PE), and none of the PE teachers are dance specialists. The quality dance tuition is ALL at local extracurricular dance schools.

 

So the 'product' and high profile in terms of dance, at that school at least, does not in any way indicate that a dance teacher is employed by the school, nor that dance qualifications are offered.

[Fiz]

It is exactly the same as my dds school which fielded a polo team without stating that the brother and sister in it were trained at considerable expense elsewhere!

[t_rose]

Dd's school don't offer dance apart from small pat of pe up to yr 9. DD is doing GCSE pe & anyone who dances externally can use dance for part of assessment but they won't be doing a dance module (teacher stated that dancers always do well in this module & don't need her to teach them but waste of time for others so no longer do it)

[invisiblecircus]

I agree with others who have said that it seems as if there are going to be fewer and fewer opportunities for specialist dance teachers in secondary schools. You may find that you will need to offer another subject as well as dance and that you spend more time teaching that other subject. Have you got any experience in contemporary dance or have you studied GCSE or A level dance yourself?

 

If you decide to go down that route you'd need a degree in dance plus a PGCE. I'd recommend spending some days in a secondary school observing a dance teacher and getting a better idea of what the job is about. Most schools are open to this kind of thing. Think about how you would feel about dealing with the behaviour management side of the job and teaching lower school students who don't want to be in dance lessons. If you're still in the Northants area, I can advise you on which schools to approach to arrange this if it's something you'd be interested in.

 

Can I ask what has attracted you to teaching dance in secondary school and also if you have experience in teaching syllabus work as you have previously mentioned working towards IDTA teaching awards?

 

Regarding nursing, I think you need to do some work experience in that area before you apply for courses. That will give you a better feel for whether it's something you'd like to do as well as strengthening your application if you do decide to go down that path. You could find out whether your local hospital offers work experience placements of even if they have any vacancies for healthcare assistants on the children's ward which would not only give you a feel for the job but also allow you to earn some money as well.

[Waitingmum]

Waiting, the secondary school my children attend has many fantastic dancers in genres from ballet to street (winners of national competitions etc), has an annual in-school dance competition in which large numbers take part, followed by a show of the best, dance plays a big part in the annual production etc etc.

 

BUT no dance qualifications are offered at GCSE or A-level (it can form a small part of GCSE PE), and none of the PE teachers are dance specialists. The quality dance tuition is ALL at local extracurricular dance schools.

 

So the 'product' and high profile in terms of dance, at that school at least, does not in any way indicate that a dance teacher is employed by the school, nor that dance qualifications are offered.

Didn't realise how lucky my dd is then - her school has 2 full time dedicated qualified dance teachers!