Why Your Secondary School Might Not Offer the Full Dance Extended Diploma

Most secondary schools in the UK offer a solid mix of subjects like maths, science, PE, and English. That’s great if you’re looking for a general education. But if you're someone who sees dancing as more than a hobby, you might start to feel that something’s missing. The Full Dance Extended Diploma is one of the top ways to focus on dance full-time, but it’s simply not available in every school.

This can make things confusing for students who are serious about training and want to do it as part of their school day. So why don’t all schools offer this qualification? And what can you do if you know you want more than the basics? Let’s take a closer look at why this programme isn’t being offered everywhere and what that means if you're thinking about 16–18 dance courses in London.

What the Full Dance Extended Diploma Actually Is

This diploma is a full-time course designed for students aged 16 to 18. It’s a college-level programme, not something added on top of your usual lessons or squeezed between lunch and your next subject. Students on this course focus on dancing every weekday, usually as their main area of study.

It goes far beyond what’s offered in GCSE or even A-Level dance. Instead of a few lessons a week, you'll have multiple classes per day. That means technique classes, creative work, and sometimes rehearsals too. You’re expected to turn up each day as if it’s your job, and in a way, it sort of is. The goal is to grow your strength, coordination, artistic understanding, and focus through regular, focused training.

To keep up, students need commitment. This isn’t just about enjoying movement. It’s about showing up, working hard, learning how the body works, and improving week after week. You’re learning how to train daily, get personal feedback, and develop healthy habits that will carry you forward.

Why Most Secondary Schools Stick to Standard Subjects

Many secondary schools are set up to deliver a wide range of subjects, but they tend to stick to their core. That usually means a strong focus on maths, sciences, English, and humanities. These are the subjects most students need for general qualifications, and most schools are built around making sure they get them.

Timetables are another big factor. A full-time course like the Extended Diploma needs several hours a day, every day. Most schools simply can’t give that kind of time to one subject. A typical school schedule doesn’t have blocks of hours to dedicate to movement classes, rehearsals, recovery, or feedback. Trying to squeeze in a demanding dance course alongside regular lessons just doesn’t work for most timetables.

Then there’s staffing. Most secondary schools only have one or two dance teachers. That makes it hard to run a full programme that requires different teaching styles, backgrounds, and even professional experience.

Not All Schools Have Purpose-Built Dance Spaces

Think back to your school gym or assembly hall. There may have been space, but was it right for focused, daily work? Probably not. Those spaces often need to be shared for many different uses, and that limits what’s possible.

A full-time course isn’t just about moving around for fun. When you’re learning daily, you need a real space that helps your body work at its best. That means proper sprung floors (which help prevent injury), full-length mirrors, high ceilings, and equipment like barres and sound systems.

Without that kind of environment, it’s harder to train safely. Smooth progress depends heavily on a setup made for the work, and most secondary schools simply weren’t built with that in mind. Shared use spaces can be useful for a PE class or an after-school activity, but they fall short when dance becomes your main focus.

Finding the Right Space to Train Full-Time

The reality is that not all schools can offer what full-time training needs. That’s where colleges and specialist training centres come in. These places are built to support a full day of practical, physical work. You don’t have to cram your practice into the end of the day or give up your break times to rehearse.

In a better-equipped setting, your day might start with technique class, followed by a creative task, then rehearsals or conditioning work in the afternoon. Each part of the day is planned with your learning and growth in mind, with teachers who are present to guide and mentor throughout.

Space, structure, and staff make a big difference when your schedule is focused on movement. These specialist settings help keep the rhythm of full-time training going strong all week, not just when time allows.

If you’re serious about pursuing dance as your main focus after secondary school, now is the perfect time to explore your next step. At Adore Dance, we offer the kind of specialised training environment that schools often cannot provide. Discover how the facilities, expert teachers, and creative curriculum at our dance college in London can help you achieve your full potential. Make your passion your future by taking the leap into full-time dance training today.