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AQA Dance: September 2025 updates

Welcome to our Autumn 2025 newsletter

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Published

Monday 1 Sep 2025

Welcome to our Autumn 2025 newsletter

I hope you’ve all had a truly wonderful summer holiday and a well-deserved break to rest, reset, and hopefully enjoy some sunshine. As we head into this new term, I wanted to take a moment to warmly welcome you back. Whether you spent the summer travelling, creating, reading, or simply recharging at home, I hope it has given you the energy and inspiration to begin the coming months with fresh ideas and motivation.

As we step into autumn, it feels like the perfect time to embrace creativity in all its forms. This time of year often brings a renewed sense of focus and an opportunity to reimagine your classroom environment, explore new projects, and develop thoughtful lessons that capture the curiosity and imagination of your learners. I hope this term brings you fresh ideas and opportunities that’ll support both your teaching and your own creative practice, as we work together to make it a successful and inspiring few months.

This newsletter is here to support you. Inside, you’ll find a range of key resources, general updates, and important information to help guide you through the months ahead. We’ve carefully put this together to make sure it’s as useful as possible for you, offering practical guidance, reminders, and insights that can support your planning, teaching, and subject leadership this term. We hope it becomes a go-to tool to keep you connected and up to date.

As always, please remember that we’re here for you. If you ever need further support or simply want to ask a question, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re only an email or a call away, and it’s so important to us that you feel supported in your work.

Also, keep an eye out for our list of upcoming Curriculum Connect sessions. These will include exploring the summer results and looking ahead to the new academic year.

We’re looking forward to working with you over the year ahead and receiving the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment review when it’s published.

If any members of your team would like to receive subject-specific updates, they can easily sign up for AQA subject updates , so they’re always informed and part of our community.

Sandra Allan
Subject Lead for Creative Arts

myAQA

Sign up to myAQA to get quick access to resources, CPD training and events, Data Insights (our results analysis tool) and much more this autumn term. Make sure you’ve filled in your myAQA profile including your role and subject specialism so we can instantly start connecting you with the tools, training and resources most relevant to you.

Once you’re logged into your myAQA account, you can also access Centre Services.

Curriculum Connects

Curriculum Connect: Exploring summer 2025

Join the Creative Arts team for an overview into the AQA results from the summer 2025 exam series. Uncover the latest national trends in your subject, gain insider insights from examiner reports, and discover strategies to boost success in the year ahead. Plus, we'll share a roundup of must-have resources and events you won't want to miss. These sessions are available to book now on our website.

Please note we will not be covering student responses with commentaries during these sessions, you'll have the opportunity to see those at our NEA Planning and Preparing for 2026 events. 

Our community links

Joss Arnott Dance

Meet the Hatter UK tour

  • Friday 19 September 2025 – Saturday 21 February 2026

Created in celebration of its 15th anniversary, Joss Arnott Dance is delighted to announce tour dates and further details for the World Premiere of its major new production Meet the Hatter, inspired by the iconic character from Lewis Carrol’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Combining dance, storytelling, original music, digital projection, lighting and animation, this imaginative new production offers a retelling of the beloved story of the Hatter, that sees him embark on a journey of growth and self-discovery.

Artistic Director and Choreographer, Joss Arnott said: “I am thrilled to announce our latest and most ambitious production to date, “Meet the Hatter” as we celebrate 15 years of Joss Arnott Dance. We’re delighted to be working on this exciting new production and collaborating with an award-winning team of artists to bring this new, spectacular story of the Hatter to life. Our thanks go out to Arts Council England, along with our funders and partners for supporting our vision. We can't wait to share this magical show with audiences across the UK later this year!".

To book or find out more information click here.

Jasmin Vardimon Company

Jasmin Vardimon Company is delighted to announce NOW, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of the company.

The latest creation by award-winning choreographer Jasmin Vardimon MBE will revisit favourite moments from the company's repertoire while reflecting the current moment, the present and the continuous movement of time.

  • Friday 7 November at 7:30pm
  • Saturday 8 November 2:30pm

To book or find out more about the production click here.

The school’s performance is Friday 7 November at 1:00pm. For school bookings the discounted cost is £11 per person, please email community@jasminvardimon.com.

JV2

An explosive dance ensemble of young international dancers showcasing an exciting and energetic mix of inventive choreography and exceptional new talent. The vibrant triple bill of new works by Jasmin Vardimon Company associates Chess Dillon-Reams and Hobie Schouppe culminates with choreography by multi-award-winning Jasmin Vardimon MBE.

  • Friday 19 September at 7.30pm
  • Saturday 20 September 2025 at 2.30pm – Please note this performance will include a curtain raiser performance by Jasmin Vardimon Company's Youth Company (JVyoU).

To book or find out more information click here.

The school’s performance is on Tuesday 23 September at 1.00pm at JV H.O.M.E, Henwood Estate, Unit 27, Creative Enterprise Quarter, Javelin Way, Ashford TN24 8FN. The discounted rate for schools is £7 per person. please email community@jasminvardimon.com for school bookings. 

Rambert

Rambert Classroom is Rambert’s digital platform to support the teaching of GCSE and A-level Dance. Through five purpose-built sections, teachers can explore specially made videos, written resources and audio guides for you to curate the learning experience for your students. Get access to all content for £99 with an annual subscription or sign up for a free account and access select resources.

The annual subscription includes exclusive access to three CPD’s across the year. Here’s what’s coming up:

  • 21 October 2025, at Rambert: A-Level Choreography: Inspiring Creativity, Developing Original Movement, and Effectively Responding to Stimuli
  • 22 January 2026, at Rambert and online: Studying Rambert for high achievers at A-level practical and theoretical approaches to stretch and challenge your students
  • June 2026 (date tbc), at Rambert and online: Introduction to GCSE Dance.

How to book: if you’re a subscriber, you can sign up now to any of the above courses by emailing learning@rambert.org.uk. If you’ve not got an account yet or your subscription is soon to expire, you can renew or subscribe online, or email to get setup.

Stopgap Dance Company

Seedbed

Evolve a more inclusive way of teaching with Stopgap Dance Company's online training course Seedbed. Coming in April 2026. You can find out more about Seedbed on our website or contact Joy@stopgapdance.com for more information. 

Artificial Things

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 are looking for teaching inspiration, support, or the opportunity for you and your students to work with our professional artistic team, we can create a session for you. Contact Belinda@stopgapdance.com for more information. 

Find everything you need on myAQA

Make sure you’ve got the materials and guidance to create engaging and effective learning experiences. Whether it’s schemes of work, community links or teaching guides, we’ve got what you need.

To access the resources, visit the plan, teach and assess tabs on our GCSE or A-level web pages. Resources are also available on our Centre Services secure web page. 

GCSE Dance teaching guide: set phrases

We've updated the videos of the set phrases on our website. A new resource which features the set phrase trainer counting over the slow-motion version of each phrase has been made available to all teachers. The trainer uses their voice to also highlight the dynamics changes and moments of hold. The videos support the delivery of the set phrases content.

GCSE Dance T-OLS Index

This resource allows you to navigate teacher online standardisation (T-OLS) more easily and find the examples you need. The index includes for each student: 

  • the names of the set phrases chosen for the solo performances with a breakdown of the marks and a total set phrase mark
  • identification of either a duet or a trio performance with a breakdown of the marks and a total duet/trio mark
  • a total mental skills mark
  • identification of solo or group choreography, the chosen set stimulus and a breakdown of the marks and a total choreography mark
  • an overall total mark out of 80 for each student.

Post-results services

Log into myAQA for post-results services to find information and deadlines and easy summary guide.

AQA NEA advisers

Each school or college has a dedicated NEA adviser. Our advisers are experienced teachers and moderators who can offer guidance and support throughout the academic year on delivering NEA.

They’re there to answer your questions, explain specification requirements, share teaching ideas and discuss general processes, planning and approaches to NEA tasks.

Their details may have changed from last year – so you can find them on Centre Services by going to ‘Pre-exams’ and then clicking on ‘NEA Advisers’. If you do not have an assigned adviser, please contact eos@aqa.org.uk.

Please be aware that contact details are confidential and must not be shared with third parties including students and on social media. Further information about our commitment to data privacy can be found in our privacy notice.

Free CPD courses and events – autumn 2025

For autumn 2025, we’ve developed a range of free to help you improve your knowledge and classroom confidence.

Teacher online standardisation – GCSE Dance only

Are you looking to improve the accuracy of your non-exam assessment (NEA) marking this year? Why not use our free Teacher online standardisation tool during a departmental meeting to check your marking is in line with our lead moderators? 

Summer 2026 exams

NEA preliminary materials on Centre Services

A reminder that the GCSE and A-level Dance Component 1 preliminary materials for assessment in summer 2026 are available from 15 September 2025 on Centre Services.

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

You can find the materials following the steps below:

  • log in to Centre Services
  • go to 'Resources'
  • select 'Assessment and training'
  • click 'All subjects'
  • click 'Dance'
  • under 'Resource type', select 'non-exam assessment'.

Remember, preliminary materials are live assessments and are therefore confidential, so do not 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.

GCSE Dance set phrase adaptation – update

The summer 2026 GCSE Dance Component 1 Access arrangements: set phrases adaptation form is available on our website. You’ll need to use this form if you’re applying to adapt the content of a set phrase to meet the needs of an individual learner. Please note we’ve added some helpful guidance on how to prepare the audio-visual footage to the form.

Student Advisory Group – recruitment for 2025/26

We’re looking for learners to join our Student Advisory Group to help us make key decisions about the future of exams. We’d love to hear from learners who’ve completed AQA specification GCSEs since 2024, as well as from those taking AQA AS and A-levels. We also really want to hear from students taking our vocational qualifications, or vocational qualifications with any other exam board, as long as they have sat at least one AQA qualification.

Since the Student Advisory group began they’ve; represented the student voice each year at the Parliamentary Youth Reception, shared their views at the Curriculum and Assessment Youth Shadow Panel, fed into our Curriculum and Assessment call for evidence response, given insights on AI in the Classroom at the 2025 Festival of Education, helped with reviewing books for our English literature set texts list, and much more.

So if you know any learners who you think would be interested, please pass this on. Full details of the role and how to apply can be found on our website. Applications open on Monday 8 September and close at 5.00pm on Monday 22 September 2025.

Contact our team

Help is never more than a click away. If you have a question, we’ve got the answer.

Email aqadance@aqa.org.uk

Call us on 01483 437 750 8am–5pm Monday to Friday.

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