Central School of Ballet announces Office for Students registration acceptance

Central School of Ballet has been successful in its application for self-registration with the Office for Students (OfS).  From 1 August 2022 Central will join the registered Office for Students English higher education providers, meaning that from this date all students studying at Central will be registered with Central School of Ballet rather than the Conservatoire of Dance and Drama. All degree courses will continue to be validated by the University of Kent and this change will have minimal impact on Central’s training and the student experience.

Central has been working towards this goal over an 18 month period and acceptance verifies that the school provides well-designed courses that deliver high quality academic experience for all students, ensures students’ outcomes are valued by employers or enable further study, and awards qualifications that hold their value over time.

Mark Osterfield, Central’s Executive Director said: “This is an important milestone in Central’s progress allowing the school to continue with greater flexibility in the delivery of its world-class training building on the legacy of Christopher Gable and Ann Stannard, whilst responding to wider the demands of the dance industry.  Being OfS registered means Central can focus on realising the potential of the Countess of Wessex Studios, while engaging in new partnerships locally, nationally and internationally.”

Mark continues: “We are very grateful for the support we have received from the Conservatoire of Dance and Drama over many years and during this transition. Being a part of the Conservatoire has helped Central to grow and develop our Higher Education programme. It has also helped us form strong relationships with the other Conservatoire schools who are also choosing to take independent paths before the Conservatoire of Dance and Drama dissolves at the end of the year.”