The School announce future changes to entry into full-time training and new UK Scholars programme

We are pleased to share an important change to the way Year 7 and 8 students will be trained from 2026, with the introduction of enhanced national Associate centres and a new UK Scholars programme.

The change builds on our current approach to nurturing aspiring professional dancers in the most effective and supportive way. It is the result of careful reflection in our unique context and is informed by the latest research and guidance from experts across dance, sport science, education, healthcare, and safeguarding.  

From September 2026, we will offer training to students of Year 7 age (11-12 years) in our national Associate centres, through our International Scholars programme, and through a new UK Scholars programme, rather than in a full-time vocational setting. This means that we will not take any Year 7 students into the School to train full-time or to board from September 2026.

From September 2027, we plan to extend this approach to students of Year 8 age (12-13 years).  

Why we are making this change 

As one of the world’s leading ballet schools, we are committed to consistent and continuous self-evaluation and improvement. Foremost in our minds are the individual needs of our young dancers, and our priority is to give them the best possible experience through which they can thrive and reach their full potential. This means providing supportive, nurturing training environments that meet their evolving needs and lead to long-term student success and well-being. Our approach must always consider not just their potential as aspiring dancers, but their development as healthy young people.  

Over recent years, and more especially since September 2024, we have been engaging with and participating in research on early specialisation in vocational dance training—that is, intensive, single-focus training from a young age. This process has included reflecting on our students’ needs and their lived experiences, and consulting with senior teachers, our Healthcare, Academic, Pastoral, Safeguarding and Teacher Training teams, and mental health specialists. We have also considered the latest thinking from across the wider dance and sports sectors, which increasingly highlights the benefits of a more gradual, holistic approach to intensive training.   

This process has led us to conclude that, in our specific context, young dancers may benefit from more time to develop before entering full-time vocational training. Students who begin full-time training slightly later, when they are more physically and emotionally prepared, are more likely to thrive long-term, both in training and throughout their professional careers. Evidence shows that later specialisers can benefit from increased mental resilience, longer, healthier careers and higher, more consistent levels of success.

We have also carefully considered the challenges our youngest students may face in adapting to a boarding environment. While some children may flourish in this setting, we are mindful of increasing evidence that, for many, the emotional and psychological demands of living away from home, alongside the demands of intensive training, may be significant. 

After careful thought, we are adapting our training model to allow students more time to grow and develop before joining our highly specialised residential training environment. This change reflects what we believe is right for our students and their long-term development within The Royal Ballet School’s specific framework and mission. We recognise and respect that different schools may make different choices based on their own values, settings, and student communities. 

We want to reassure families of students joining Year 7 in September 2025 that this change reflects an evolution in our long-term approach, rather than a judgment on the quality or value of our current training model. Our pastoral and safeguarding teams take huge care with their work to protect against the challenges that we know exist for some of our young people, particularly with regards to boarding. We remain deeply committed to ensuring that every student currently enrolled—including those beginning full-time training this coming year—continues to receive the same exceptional support and education that defines The Royal Ballet School.  

The School have engaged at length with colleagues at the Royal Ballet Companies on this change, who have given their full support.

Kevin O’Hare CBE, Director of The Royal Ballet, said:  

‘In the ever-evolving world of best practice in vocational dance training, this new initiative by The Royal Ballet School feels timely and appropriate. The changes announced today place the needs of young people at their heart and have been carefully considered by the internal leadership team in collaboration with experts in the wider ballet and education system. As the School nears its centenary and continues to produce young dancers of exceptional talent, this is an important step for securing the ongoing commitment to the welfare and care of all its students. The Royal Ballet is fortunate in having so many of its dancers come through from the School, as our founding director Dame Ninette de Valois had always envisaged. I am in no doubt that this significant pathway will continue as the School steps positively into its next hundred years.’  

Carlos Acosta CBE, Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, added:  

‘These new developments to the vocational training model at The Royal Ballet School reflect the School’s continuing commitment to providing optimum educational experiences, relevant to the needs of current day students. These changes follow meticulous research undertaken by the School’s leadership. I very much look forward to witnessing the positive impact that these changes will have on students’ ballet training and academic studies, further enhancing the School’s historic capacity for continuing to produce the finest artists and well-rounded individuals for the dance sector and beyond.’

Our national Associate Programme and UK Scholars 

From September 2026, in place of full-time Year 7 training, we will introduce a new Mid Associate model across our national Associate centres. This model has already been trialled in our London centre and includes a specially developed ballet conditioning programme, repertoire weekends and bespoke development plans. We aim for all centres to adopt this approach by the 2026/2027 academic year.  

Alongside this, we will introduce a UK Scholars programme for a selected number of exceptionally talented Year 7 students that we would typically consider to be at the level to enter the School full-time, identified through our Associate network. This national initiative will offer additional opportunities beyond Associate training, including performance experiences, attendance at residential camps and Intensives, tailored mentoring and structured engagement with parents and local teachers.  

Together with our International Scholars, these programmes will ensure that young dancers continue to receive exceptional part-time training, support, and mentorship close to home, placing them in the strongest possible position to transition into full-time training when the time is right. 

We want to reassure parents that this is not a reduction in opportunity but a rebalancing of when and how we nurture talented young dancers. Our expanded Associate model will be central to that development journey. 90% of Year 7 entrants into the School currently come through our Associate pathway, and we will work hard to ensure we maintain the programme’s high level of success, supporting Junior Associates to progress to Mid Associates or UK Scholars and into full-time training where that is the goal. 

What’s next 

Importantly, this change will not reduce the number of students we train full-time at The Royal Ballet School. Full-time places previously allocated to Year 7 and 8 students will be redistributed across the older year groups, allowing us to continue to offer the same number of training places overall, with increased flexibility to support students at the most appropriate stage in their development.   

We are thoughtfully considering whether full-time training will begin at Year 9 or Year 10 in future years. These early changes are part of a phased approach, and we are gathering evidence to help us make the best long-term decisions for our students’ success and well-being. 

We understand that this change may raise questions for many families and dance teachers, particularly those preparing for auditions. We are committed to keeping you fully informed and supported as these changes are introduced. In the coming months, we will share further details about the Enhanced Associate Programme and future entry points for full-time training. 

The Royal Ballet School remains dedicated to nurturing the dancers of tomorrow—balancing excellence with care and ensuring every child has the best possible chance to thrive.

Online Q&As

We understand you may have questions following this update, and we’re committed to keeping you fully informed and supported as these changes are introduced. We will hold two Zoom Q&A sessions on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 August which will be an open forum for you to ask any questions you have to Artistic Director Iain Mackay, Head of Associate Programme Victoria Collinson and Head of Admissions Kim Sheard.

Register and pre-submit your questions below now.

Wednesday 27 August 2025, 14.00 BST – register here

Thursday 28 August 2025, 19.00 BST – register here