The School announces future changes to Upper School full-time training audition
We are pleased to announce a change to full-time training at The Royal Ballet School’s Upper School.
Effective from September 2026. 2nd Year students will no longer be required to audition to enter the Pre-professional (3rd) Year at Upper School, and will instead take part in an assessment process, like that in other years at the School.
The new assessment process has been carefully designed to review students’ progress at this pivotal point in their training and best support them as they move closer to their professional careers. The assessment panel will include the Artistic Directors or other representatives from the Royal Ballet Companies, bringing industry knowledge and expertise. The assessment process is also an opportunity to open up constructive conversations with students and their families about students’ goals and pathways as they approach their final year of training, allowing us to better tailor training to support confidence and continued growth.
Why we are making this change
This change is born out of careful reflection on the School’s progression structure, and constructive conversations with students who have recently gone through the audition process and their families, for which we are grateful. It builds on other recent changes to training since September 2024, including the removal of an audition requirement in Year 9 to enter Year 10, and the change to the age at which our young students join full-time training.
The change reflects our commitment to nurturing the young people we are privileged to train in the most supportive and effective way, so they can reach their full potential and the level of artistic excellence that we believe they can achieve. It also reflects our belief that a more nurturing, holistic approach will provide stronger, healthier and better prepared artists entering the careers they wish to professionally pursue, and the art form they will shape the future of.
Consistency in training and academics
These final years of training for a dancer are crucial, and removing the audition requirement gives students the full three-year period to develop as artists at the School. As they progress through this important phase of their training and development, we want students to be able to focus on their training rather than preparing for an audition process partway through. Removing the audition ensures students can concentrate fully on their development, with a clear guaranteed timeline for the final years of their training.
Crucially, we greatly value the degree programme as something deeply important to these students, during and beyond their performing careers, and this change means all students can complete the full BA Honours degree without the worry of interruption.
Learn more about full-time training.
Catja Christensen is the Marketing and Communications Executive at The Royal Ballet School and joined the School in 2025. She enjoys interviewing students, staff and guest artists for news stories and crafting eye-catching newsletters.
