Quick links

• Assessment Reform: DfE consultation
• myNetwork: Upcoming webinars and community news
• myResources: Key resources for this term
• myTraining: New training for the term ahead
• mySupport: Help and guidance

Help shape the future of digital assessment

We’d like to hear about your experiences of digital teaching, learning and assessment through a short survey.

By sharing your experiences, you’ll help us shape the guidance, resources and support teachers need as digital assessment continues to evolve.

The survey contains 24 questions, takes around 12 minutes to complete and closes on 1 November 2026. As a thank you, participants who complete the survey can enter a prize draw for the chance to win one of four £50 gift vouchers.

Curriculum Connects

We have some exciting Curriculum Connects coming up, including:

Exploring Summer 2026

Join the AQA Creative Arts team for an overview of AQA results from the Summer 2026 exam series. Explore national trends in your subject, including grade boundaries, outcomes and gain valuable insights from examiner reports, highlighting key strengths and areas for development. We’ll also share a round-up of resources and upcoming events to support your teaching. Please note that student responses and commentaries will not be covered in this session; these will be explored in more detail in our national programme events.

NEA Planning

Join us for a session designed to support your planning and delivery of the NEA. We’ll provide an overview of the NEA brief, mark scheme and clarify what is and isn’t permitted throughout the process. The session will also include key dos and don’ts, top tips for success and the opportunity to ask questions directly to our Subject Support team during a live Q&A.

Dance

Live Q&A and Networking: Come along, ask your questions and connect with others.

Autumn Curriculum Connects are available to book now  – come and meet your Creative Arts Subject Support team and network with other teachers.

Community Links updates

Here we’ve rounded up a few useful and practical resources from some other organisations in the Dance community to support you in the classroom.

Joss Arnott Dance

returns with Meet the Hatter, an acclaimed dance and multimedia production touring the UK and internationally in 2026-27. Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s iconic character, the show combines dynamic dance, striking visuals and an original score to reimagine the story of the Mad Hatter.

• Meet the Hatter visits Bournemouth (24 October),
• Gloucester (27 October),
• Rotherham (29 October),
• Chester (31 October) and
• Bradford (18–20 December) in autumn 2026, with additional 2027 dates to be announced.

Studio Wayne McGregor

We Are Movement: Unlocking Your Physical Intelligence
Written by Wayne McGregor

How much do you know your body and how much does your body know about you?

Internationally celebrated choreographer Sir Wayne McGregor’s new publication We Are Movement makes a compelling case that physical intelligence is instinctive, pre-verbal, available to all of us and that unlocking it can transform the way we think, connect and live.

Drawing on decades of research with elite performers, athletes, cognitive neuroscientists and technologists, McGregor offers practical, accessible steps, from mindful walking to understanding how our bodies process stress, which are as relevant in the classroom as they are on the stage.

We Are Movement has the potential to enrich your curriculum and your school library by opening up entirely new conversations with your students about body, mind and intelligence. Get in touch with Jessie (jessie@waynemcgregor.com) to find out more.

Jasmin Vardimon Company

Lullaby - New Creation 2026:

Internationally acclaimed choreographer Jasmin Vardimon returns with a groundbreaking new production that resonates with the emotional depth of her 2003 breakthrough work Lullaby. A school’s performance will take place on Tuesday 15 September 2026 at 1pm at JV H.O.M.E. Public performances will take place on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 September with booking available here.

We’ll also be touring theatres in Winchester, Worthing, Exeter, Liverpool, Nottingham, Huddersfield, London and Edinburgh. You can find out more about our tour dates and venues here.

School Workshops 

Book an inspiring movement workshop in our studios or at your school, led by a Company Dancer and exploring the creative world of Jasmin Vardimon’s productions. Contact community@jasminvardimon.com for more information.

Creative Learning Memberships 

Designed for educators, membership includes a production copy, one workshop per year and access to education resources.

Explore more 

Educational Resources

Free written and visual resources for selected productions are available online for students and teachers.

Explore more

English National Ballet

they are passionate about building long-term partnerships with schools and colleges, providing high-quality artistic experiences for young people.

Explore English National Ballet's exciting repertoire with artist-led school workshops, continued professional development, resources and exciting theatre visits.

“We really did have an amazing day and watching the show the same week made it all even more special. Have nothing but praise for the English National Ballet Artists and the wonderful workshop. All feedback from parents has been extremely positive too.” 

All workshops can be tailored to your school group so if interested, please get in touch via engagement@ballet.org.uk, or sign up to their school/college newsletter here.

Royal Ballet and Opera House: RBO Schools Dance

RBO Schools Dance are pleased to share a programme of free dance opportunities for primary and secondary teachers this autumn. Teachers can access certified Dance CPD, classroom-ready resources and Live Lessons inspired by world-class ballets including The Nutcracker, Romeo &Juliet and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Designed for teachers of all experience levels, the programme helps build confidence in teaching dance while supporting creativity, physical literacy and wellbeing. Inclusive pathways, including sensory-aware approaches for pupils with PMLD, are also available. Find out more at: Royal Ballet and Opera Schools

Stopgap Dance Company

See what we've been doing this year in our Creative Learning round up.

Stopgap Dance Company offer a range of in-person and online workshops and CPD sessions for Artificial Things. These are for both students and teachers. Whether you’re looking for teaching inspiration, support, or the opportunity for you and your students to work with our professional artistic team, they can create a session for you.

GCSE Dance teaching guide

Set phrases

You can find the videos of the set phrases on our website. These include a resource which features the set phrase trainer counting over the slow-motion version of each phrase. The trainer uses their voice to also highlight the dynamic changes and moments of hold. The videos support the delivery of the set phrases content.

Additional resources for GCSE and A-level are available on our website under the planning, teaching and assessment tabs as well as on our secure area, Centre Services.

Non exam assessment (NEA) preliminary materials on Centre Services

A reminder that the following GCSE and A-level Dance Component 1 preliminary materials for assessment in summer 2027 are available from 15 September 2026 on Centre Services: 

• GCSE Dance (8236/C) Component 1 Choreography assessment task
• A-level Dance (7237/X) Component 1 Performance and Choreography Practical Assessment.

Remember, preliminary materials are live assessments and are therefore confidential, so don’t share these materials outside of your classroom. If you do need to give the file electronically to your learners, please tell them not to share it. This includes uploading it on any website, social media platform or video sharing site. Sharing anything affecting live assessment could be considered malpractice.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) within assessments

JCQ’s AI in assessments: protecting the integrity of qualifications document provides teachers/assessors involved in delivering JCQ qualifications with the information they need to manage the use of AI in assessments. All relevant staff need to be aware of and familiarise themselves with the latest guidance and instructions. If AI misuse is detected or suspected by your school or college, and the declaration of authentication has been signed, the case must be reported.

Get more with myAQA 

Once signed in, you can:

• book training and professional development to develop your skills, explore new approaches and bring the latest ideas to your classroom
• join Curriculum Connect webinar sessions to hear from subject experts and connect with teachers from across the country
• use Data Insights to explore exam performance across your school, classes and individual students, helping you identify trends and areas for focus
• discover a wide range of resources, from specifications and subject guidance to planning tools and sample assessment materials
• unlock secure materials through Centre Services, giving you access to the latest question papers, mark schemes, examiner reports and post-results services

Don’t have a myAQA account? Register today to get everything you need to plan teach and assess in one place.

If you already use Centre Services, you can sign in to myAQA using your existing account details. If you're new to myAQA, your exams officer will need to approve your account request before access can be granted.

Professional development and events

We’ve developed a range of live, on demand and e-learning professional development training courses to help you develop your knowledge and classroom confidence. Some of the sessions coming up are:

• GCSE Dance Component 1: NEA Marking
• GCSE Dance: Mark scheme guidance and application Component 2 – Tuesday 22 September, 4pm–6pm and Thursday 24 September, 4pm–5.15pm
• A-level Dance: Mark scheme guidance and application Component 2 Section A – Wednesday 9 September, 4pm–5.30pm
• A-level Dance: Mark scheme guidance and application Component 2 Section B – Monday 14 September, 4pm–5.30pm

Explore more to see the full list of what’s on offer and secure your place.

Get involved and opportunities

Transform your teaching

Whether you're looking to enhance your CPD, gain a fresh perspective on assessment, or bring new ideas and insights back to the classroom, examiner, visiting examiner and moderator roles can have a lasting impact on your teaching and career. By seeing real learners' work and understanding how marks are gained and lost, you'll develop valuable insights that can help you prepare learners more effectively while building your professional credibility and experience. Learn more about our examiner, visiting examiner and moderator roles.

NEA advisers

For subjects with non-exam assessment, it’s likely you’ll have an NEA adviser. Advisers are experienced teachers and moderators who can provide guidance throughout the academic year on delivering NEA. Find out more about AQA NEA advisers.

Adviser contact details are available on Centre Services from mid-September, so please check back then, as their contact details may have changed from last year. If you don’t have an assigned adviser, please contact us.