COVID-19 guidance
The World Health Organisation has now characterised COVID-19 (coronavirus) as a pandemic and the risk level to the UK has been raised from moderate to high. This guidance follows official government advice and will be reviewed and updated as necessary (last updated on 1 April). The health and safety of our staff, students, visitors and the wider community is our primary concern, and we are monitoring the situation day-by-day as it evolves.
The UK government has now introduced strict new measures advising people to stay at home and to:
- only go outside for food, health reasons or essential work,
- stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people, and
- wash your hands as soon as you get home.
Full guidance can be found on the government website and anyone concerned about their health in relation to COVID-19 should follow Public Health England guidance and contact NHS 111 (or NHS 111 online) if the guidance advises them to do so.
How RAD services are affected
For RAD Members we are updating the Members’ Area regularly and have plans to create more online content and resources for you. We have added information on how to approach online classes, music licences and other considerations as well as useful information about business and financial support available.
RAD headquarters
Following the government’s announcement outlining more stringent measures to combat coronavirus, we have taken the decision to close RAD headquarters, including Ship House until further notice. This includes access to the library and the shop. RAD staff will be working from home and still able to respond to queries.
Shop and Library & Archive
The Shop and the Library & Archive are closed to the public from Friday 20 March until the end of April, when we will review the situation. Online orders may still be placed as usual through our online shop, but will be despatched only once our operations resume. Orders placed prior to 3pm on Monday 23 March have already been despatched. RAD app videos and ebooks are available if you require resources urgently. We plan to re-open as soon as it is advisable and will keep you updated.
Examinations
The RAD suspended all RAD examiner travel on 17 March until 30 April 2020.
The safety of our teachers, candidates, parents, examiners and RAD staff is paramount. We will postpone and reorganise all exams where possible and we are also putting plans in place to film exams, where that is the best solution.
If you have questions please contact exams@rad.org.uk or your local office. We will continue to communicate with you regularly throughout this global pandemic.
Dance School
RAD Dance School is closed for the remainder of the Spring Term.
We will endeavour to honour classes that have been booked and paid by rescheduling the classes once we are in a position to reopen.
In order to protect our staff, the Dance School team will be working offsite until further notice we, therefore, ask that all enquiries be sent via email to danceschool@rad.org.uk.
BA (Hons) Ballet Education practical class suspension
All onsite BABE sessions have been suspended until at least 20 April 2020.
We have also taken the decision to suspend all BBE507 and BBE607 teaching placements until at least 20 April.
We are also working very closely with the University of Bath to prepare more detailed information regarding Semester 2 BABE assessments.
If you have any urgent queries regarding your studies, please contact Janine Streuli on jstreuli@rad.org.uk.
Faculty of Education
The Faculty of Education is still accepting applications for all our programmes that commence from September 2020 onwards, but we have moved our application, audition and interview process online. If you are looking to apply you must email your application and reference to faculty@rad.org.uk. Read more on how to apply.
Admissions Hour Webinar
If you have any questions about the changes to our admissions process, join our live Admissions Hour webinar on Thursday 9 April at 1pm where you will be able to talk to our admissions team about any queries you may have. Sign up here.
If you have been offered a place to start on one of the Faculty of Education’s onsite or distance learning programmes this year, we will stay in contact and give you regular updates. If you are an international student whose first language is not English and have been impacted by IELTs tests being available, we are here to help support you. Likewise, if you have been impacted by delays in exams. We are doing all we can to ease the impact that the COVID-19 may have during this crucial time in the application process. If you have any specific concerns, please email faculty@rad.org.uk.
CPD
All UK based face-to-face CPD activities have been postponed until 14 June, with the view to offer these activities as soon as reasonably possible in the next CPD year. International CPD activity is subject to the current government guidance of that country, please email your National Office for further information.
Many of you may have already completed your CPD requirement. However, we recognise that the current exceptional circumstances mean that some of you may face difficulties in fulfilling the required CPD hours. If this is the case, when it is time to declare your CPD please indicate that you are Eligible for Exemption.
If you have questions please contact cpd@rad.org.uk or your local office. We will continue to offer a number of online activities, including live webinars and courses, which can be completed at any time.
Events
All onsite events have been postponed until the end of May 2020. We will do our best to reorganise as many events as possible once the situation is resolved. We are putting plans in place to deliver more online content.
Step into Dance
Step into Dance classes in schools, Step Company rehearsals and Ambassador scheme sessions will be suspended as of Friday 20 March until further notice. Step into Dance events and holiday projects scheduled to take place in April and May have also been cancelled.
Guidance on what to do if you have symptoms
Please stay at home for 14 days if you have either:
- a high temperature
- a new continuous cough
This will help to protect others in our community while you are infectious.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
COVID-19: stay at home guidance.
The NHS website has more information about how the virus is spread and answers common questions about the virus.
Advice for staff, students and visitors to RAD headquarters or RAD activities
Latest health advice
See the latest NHS guidance on coronavirus for the current situation in the UK and abroad.
The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) has also produced general advice on preparing for foreign travel and how everyone can reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.
Latest Travel Advice
Foreign & Commonwealth Office travel advice is advising against all but essential travel to some countries, cities and regions. You must check the travel advice to the country you are travelling to.
Many countries and territories have introduced screening measures (temperature checks and health/travel questions) and entry restrictions at border crossings and transport hubs.
If you have recently been in a country affected by the virus, you may need to be quarantined, or you may not be allowed to enter or travel through a third country. Check the travel advice pages for all countries you are planning to visit or transit.
Trusted Sources of information
Please stay informed by visiting the Government’s website and the following websites: