Higher Dance

Dance National 5 Higher

Deliver this qualification (14/10/24)

14 October 2024

New centres

Centres need to apply for approval before delivering the qualification for the first time and must consider the resources that are available to them to do this.

In order to deliver this qualification in the next academic session, and for candidates to be certificated in August the following year, centres must apply for approval by the end of September of the previous year.

Centre already approved

It is your centre’s responsibility to ensure that you have the staff, reference materials, learning materials, assessment materials, equipment and accommodation needed to deliver, assess and internally verify any qualifications you deliver.

Centre’s must review resources regularly to ensure that they remain relevant, current and available in quantities appropriate to the qualification requirements and candidate numbers. This is an exercise that all centres should conduct annually before providing candidates with their subject choices. Appropriately qualified staff are required to deliver Dance qualifications to ensure that teaching and learning is of an appropriate standard and that the candidates are suitably prepared for the course assessments, resulting in a positive learning experience.

You must not continue to deliver a qualification if there are any changes in your staffing, resources, equipment or accommodation which would mean you will now not meet the minimum SQA requirements for approval.

Subject-specific requirements for the course

When applying for approval, centres must demonstrate that teachers and lecturers delivering/assessing Dance have completed at least two years' successful study of dance to a minimum of Higher National Diploma (HND) level (SCQF level 8) or have extensive knowledge in dance, which can be supported by vocational and teaching qualifications through accredited dance awarding bodies with a minimum value of 40 SCQF credit points at level 7 and 40 SCQF points at level 8. It is vital that any vocational qualifications or awards achieved are appropriate for course delivery of all three components within the National Qualifications. It would also be beneficial if teaching staff have or are working towards GTC registration in Dance.  For private Dance centre’s applying for approval, it would also be favourable if staff have or are working towards SQA assessor qualifications. 

Find out about our approval process.

Course Specification (07/03/2024)

Explains the structure of the course, including its purpose and aims and information on the skills, knowledge and understanding that will be developed.

When is the exam?

Higher Dance is on Tuesday 20 May 2025 from 09:00 to 11:00.

Timetable and exam apps

Past Papers and Marking Instructions

Coursework (23/05/2023)

This section provides information on marking instructions and/or the coursework assessment task(s). It includes information that centres need to administer coursework and must be read in conjunction with the course specification.

Information on the production and submission of SQA-assessed coursework for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.

Understanding Standards (20/12/2023)

Examples of candidate evidence with commentaries

Further examples of candidate evidence and commentaries along with other Understanding Standards materials can be found on SQA's secure website and you can access these through your SQA co-ordinator.

Audio presentation

Changes to Understanding Standards materials

Please note: Understanding Standards material are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain up to date.


Additional resources session 2020-22

Further information can be found on the Understanding Standards Website.

Course reports (23/09/2024)

Provides information on the performance of candidates - which is useful to teachers, lecturers and assessors in their preparation of candidates for future assessment.

Course Reports

Ushare open learning resources