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GRADED QUALIFICATIONS ALLIANCE

WHAT IS THE GRADED QUALIFICATIONS ALLIANCE (GQAL)?

The Graded Qualifications Alliance is the Regulated Awarding Organisation
through which all the regulated qualifications based on BTDA programmes are managed and quality assured.

It is also a company which is wholly owned by the British Theatre Dance Association.

WHY WAS IT FORMED?

Manchester College and the University of Exeter, who, having developed a suite of Graded Examinations for Personal and Employability skills, were looking for an awarding organisation through which they could offer their examinations as a regulated qualification, BTDA took the decision to formulate a new awarding organisation with a generic name so that these qualifications could be awarded without there being any reference to the word dance on their certificates. Hence the Graded Qualification Alliance was born.

Following a long accreditation process the Graded Qualifications Alliance was recognised as an awarding organisation by the Regulatory Authorities and whilst BTDA at that time still held the regulated status in its own right, further down the line, the Regulatory Authorities chose to proceed with the more generic name.

HOW DOES IT AFFECT BTDA?

Basically it only affects the layout of the certificates in that all regulated certificates must indicate that the qualification is awarded by the Graded Qualifications Alliance and this is why their name appears first on the certificate.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?

  • The majority of the GQAL directors are independent of BTDA and therefore the conflict of interest situation which exists between Association Membership and Awarding Qualifications is minimised.
  • We are free to explore new markets where Graded Examinations may be the best form of assessment.
  • To give other organisations involved in Graded Examinations the opportunity to include a regulated offer.

Qualifications Wales (Wales)

Ofqual - The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (England)

CCEA (CEA Regulation) - Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (Northern Ireland)

"To live is to be musical, starting with the blood dancing in your veins. Everything living has a rhythm. Do you feel your music?"