KS Dance

Further education and skills inspection report

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Education programmes for young people Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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Information about this provider

KS Dance is an independent dance college based in Warrington, Cheshire. It specialises in training students for employment as dancers and dance teachers, recruiting students from across the UK and internationally. The college is accredited by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre and the British Accreditation Council and is an approved centre for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.

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Information about this provider

KS Dance offers the level 6 diploma in professional dance validated by Trinity College. There are 41 students enrolled on this course. Of these, 21 are in receipt of Dance and Drama Award (DaDA) funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency, to assist students with fees and living costs. The college has no students in receipt of high needs funding and there are no aspects of the provision that are subcontracted. 18 to 20 May 2022

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Students enjoy attending college, are highly disciplined, work hard and demonstrate excellent attitudes towards their learning. Students feel rightly proud of their accomplishments and are quick to praise the support they receive from their teachers and college staff. Students are prepared effectively for their future careers as dancers and dance teachers. Teachers guide and nurture them successfully to develop their potential in a safe and responsible way.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Students learn the important and fundamental skills and knowledge they will need to become successful dance artists and teachers. They benefit from skilled and expert teachers who share their experiences and insight. In particular, students benefit from excellent classical ballet training. Teachers know each individual student very well; they understand what their career ambitions are and support them to achieve these.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Students have very good awareness of the professional behaviours and courtesies expected in the industry, and their conduct reflects these. Students are extremely respectful to their peers, to staff and to visitors to the college. Staff provide them with a range of opportunities to expand their understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion. As a result, students build their interpersonal skills, including leadership. They develop effective and appropriate professional relationships with each other.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Students have very good support for their physical and mental well-being. Students learn to prioritise listening to their bodies; they understand injury, nutrition and the importance of rehabilitation. Students develop mental fortitude and a strong mental attitude right from the start of their course, giving them the best opportunity to achieve a long and successful career.

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better?

Leaders draw on their own extensive knowledge and that of their contacts in the dance industry to ensure they provide a curriculum that prepares students well for work in a range of dance employment. Leaders have developed a relevant core curriculum of classical ballet, contemporary and jazz dance. This prepares students to take advanced qualifications in dance training and teaching.

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better?

Leaders have begun to expand the curriculum and have selected valuable additional elements such as choreographic sessions, musical theatre workshops and vocal coaching. However, the pandemic has stalled the further planned expansion of the curriculum. Leaders recognise that they now need to accelerate this work so that students can quickly begin to develop the alternative specialist skills that dancers are expected to demonstrate, for example ariel hoop, acro and silk work.

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better?

Highly experienced teachers use their specialist dance expertise to provide demanding and rigorous practical training. For example, in ballet lessons, there is a consistent focus on technical accuracy, coupled with constant attention to artistry, 18 to 20 May 2022 musicality and performance. As a result, students attain a high level of vocational competence and artistic confidence.

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better?

Teachers make effective use of practice, assessment, adjustment and repetition in all dance disciplines to support students to swiftly acquire controlled and aesthetically correct movement. Students can quickly recall the skills they have acquired, and use the feedback they have received in one genre to support their development in another effectively.

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better?

Teachers make good use of peer observation to support students to develop their understanding and appreciation of movement on different bodies, and of how they each interpret movement differently. For example, in a contemporary dance session, students noticed that a dancer was working with more flexibility, which made the dance sequence look more rounded and complete. Students enjoyed seeing how the personal interpretations of this material could create different dynamics and visual effects, although they were all working with the same dance material. As a result, students learned to consider this when creating their own choreography.

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better?

Students receive useful feedback from teachers that helps them know what they do well and what they need to improve in their practical work. Students monitor their own progress over time through helpful reports which identify their progress in approach and achievement. As a result, students can focus their efforts on developing specific technical skills or in further building their strength or stamina to master more complex repertoire or enchainment. While students complete their written work in topics such as nutrition, the history of ballet and anatomy to a satisfactory standard, the feedback that teachers give students on this work does not always result in improvements in their written work.

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better?

In-house qualified rehabilitation and injury prevention professionals develop individual programmes to meet the needs of each student, giving them access to regular and consistent treatment. Students are well informed about how to manage injuries and illnesses. As a result, they are very knowledgeable about injury management and the need for proper rehabilitation before returning to full training.

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better?

Students are encouraged to get involved in activities that extend beyond their main vocational training; however, these remain limited and rarely extend beyond the limitations of their immediate college community.

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better?

Students are well prepared for their next steps and receive advice and guidance throughout their three-year programme from industry professionals and guest artists. The vast majority of students successfully complete the diploma and move on to related careers or further training. Students finish with a high standard of practical skills and additional advanced dance and dance teaching qualifications. Students achieve high levels of performance through extensive direct experience with the in-house dance company, for example in ‘La Sylphide’. Students also produce powerful, contemporary ensemble work in discrete performing companies. They make work that contributes to their professional showreels, which are distributed to creative companies, casting professionals and producers. 18 to 20 May 2022 Since the previous inspection, leaders have successfully established a formal external board to support and challenge the senior team. Board members have a

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better?

clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. New board members have highly relevant skills; they have expertise and experience in key areas such as safeguarding, dance pedagogy, performance industry training and commercial business.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Well-trained leaders have a clear understanding about their safeguarding responsibilities, and place safeguarding at the forefront of all decisions and plans. Appropriate policies and procedures are in place to support staff and students to stay safe.

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Safeguarding

The safeguarding leads have a good overview of safeguarding in the college. Students are taught about key safeguarding topics, including local threats. They have received support to develop their awareness of sexting and sexual harassment and banter, which has helped keep them safe from the negative impact of such threats.

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Safeguarding

Students feel safe and would not hesitate to speak to any member of staff if they had any concerns. Students are confident that all staff would tackle harassment, bullying or discrimination swiftly, if these occurred in college.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Leaders need to accelerate their plans to diversify the dance and movement genres offered so that students are trained in a broad and relevant curriculum that meets current dance industry expectations.  Leaders need to ensure that students are provided with a range of opportunities to engage with the wider community, to support their development as active citizens. 18 to 20 May 2022

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Provider details

Address Unit 9a Centre 21 Bridge Lane Warrington Cheshire WA1 4AW

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Provider details

Dates of previous inspection 15 and 16 May 2019

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Provider details

Main subcontractors None 18 to 20 May 2022

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the principal, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements, including visiting learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Judy Lye-Forster, lead inspector Her Majesty’s Inspector Christina Christou Ofsted Inspector 18 to 20 May 2022 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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Inspection team

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