Student-related Policies

In this section you will find the following policies relating to admission to a course of higher education with the Conservatoire: 

• Conservatoire Admissions Policy 
• Conservatoire Admissions Appeals and Complaints Policy
• Conservatoire Terms and Conditions 
• Conservatoire Fees Policy  

Each Course of higher education is delivered by one of our Member Schools.  For information about our Courses, please visit http://www.cdd.ac.uk/courses/  

In this section you will find the following policies relating to students:

• Access and Participation Plan
• CDD Mental Health Charter
• Conservatoire Code of Behaviour
• Criminal Records Policy
• Data Processing Statement
• Emergency Powers of Exclusion and Suspension
• Inclusivity Policies and Protocols
• Non-Academic Misconduct Policy
• Prevent
• Refunds and Compensation Policy
• Sexual Misconduct, Harassment and Related Behaviours
• Student Complaints Procedure
• Student Protection Plan
• Student Transfer Arrangements Statement
• Support Through Studies

Please note, the CDD Interruption to Studies Request form can be found on the Student Resources page.

For queries about any of the policies, or to submit complaints or appeals, please contact: qualityoffice@cdd.ac.uk.

If you would like to talk to someone in your school about any of these policies, please see your listed school policy contact below:

Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Julia Heeley
julia.heeley@oldvic.ac.uk

Central School of Ballet
Josh Yeardley
josh.yeardley@csbschool.co.uk

London Contemporary Dance School
Bethany Holdaway
bethany.holdaway@theplace.org.uk

National Centre for Circus Arts
Stevie Taylor
stevie@nationalcircus.org.uk

Northern School of Contemporary Dance
Hannah Perry
hannah.perry@nscd.ac.uk

Rambert School
Judy Bowden
judy.bowden@rambertschool.org.uk

Access and participation plans set out how higher education providers will improve equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups to access, succeed in and progress from higher education.

All our access and participation plans can be found on our Widening Access page.

The University Mental Health Charter was created by thousands of staff and students to shape a future in which everyone in higher education can thrive.

​The Charter provides a set of principles to support universities across the UK in making mental health a university-wide priority. It forms the basis of the Charter Award Scheme, being developed in 2020, which will recognise and reward universities that promote good mental health and demonstrate good practice.

The Conservatoire for Dance and Drama have used the principles of the University Mental Health Charter to develop a Charter which is more relevant to our specific institutional needs and context.

The Conservatoire Code of Behaviour is part of the Conservatoire’s Inclusive Cultures Strategy and applies to all staff and students of the Conservatoire and its Member Schools.  We believe that the positive behaviours enshrined in our Inclusive Cultures Strategy apply to our whole community and that, whilst procedures may as necessary be different for staff and students, our expectations about who we are and the institution we want to be are the same for everyone in the Conservatoire, regardless of status.  It is of the utmost importance to us that in creating and maintaining our inclusive culture and community within the Conservatoire, our graduates and staff go on to continue this inclusivity as they progress on their individual journeys.

The purposes of this Code of Behaviour are:

•  To establish the expected behaviours of students registered with the Conservatoire
• and the staff that work across all areas of the institution and its Schools
• To promote, foster, nurture and embed the desired positive and inclusive
• Behaviours, on the part of all members of the Conservatoire, that help to create and maintain the Conservatoire cultures within which all can flourish, thrive and feel safe
• To provide for the advancement of the profession, knowledge and creativity in the development of ethically sensitive, professional and responsible persons

The Conservatoire and its Schools have a responsibility to provide a secure, safe environment for students, staff, visitors and other individuals, and must balance this alongside any legal requirements (such as those to protect vulnerable individuals).  In line with this responsibility, the Conservatoire has a criminal records policy which contains procedures for managing the disclosure of criminal records.  This applies both to applicants who are applying to study on a course of higher education with any of the Conservatoire Member Schools, and also to students who are registered with the Conservatoire.

Some programmes of study may require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.  You should contact your School policy contact if you have any queries about this.

The policy sets out the common approach and procedures that allow your School and the Conservatoire to assess any potential risk posed by an individual having a relevant criminal conviction, and determine what appropriate action (if any) might be needed.  Having a criminal record is not necessarily a bar to becoming or continuing as a student of the Conservatoire and its Schools. Please see the policy for further information.

The data processing statement and accompanying Schedules 1 and 2 outline how the Conservatoire holds and processes your personal data, including the types of data, the categories/purposes of processing, where we will share data with third parties, and the lawful bases for processing data, in accordance with Article 6 of GDPR.

Where a concern is raised relating to a student’s wellbeing and/or conduct, whether on or off School or Conservatoire premises, which represents a potential or actual threat to the safety, security, health, wellbeing, good order, or reputation of the student, and/or of the School, the Conservatoire, its members, an external organisation or placement provider, or members of the public, a member of staff may make a recommendation to the Conservatoire CEO or the CEO’s delegate that the student should be temporarily suspended and/or excluded.

As part of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama Inclusive Cultures Strategy, the Conservatoire is in the process of developing a series of policies and protocol addressing a range of subjects including: gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and belief, race and ethnicity, mental health and well-being, and disability.

This is an on-going project. Additional policies and protocols will be published here as they are completed.

Section 21 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (the “Act”) places a duty on certain bodies, listed in Schedule 3 to the Act, to have “due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism”. The Act states that the authorities subject to the provisions of the Act must have regard to this guidance when carrying out the duty, including Higher Education Institutions.

All Schools of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama seek to maintain an environment which is safe and conducive for all members of the school, whether students or staff, and which supports the wellbeing of all such individuals, as well as fostering the professional development of all trainees. This endeavour is supported by the Conservatoire’s Inclusive Cultures Strategy.

The Conservatoire Policy on Sexual Misconduct, Harassment and Related Behaviours underpins and is founded upon the principles outlined in the Inclusive Cultures Strategy, which reflect the Conservatoire’s commitment to establishing a culture of mutual respect and support, and to ensuring a zero tolerance for sexual violence and misconduct, harassment and related behaviours.

The Refunds and Compensation Policy explains how the Conservatoire will meet its obligations regarding refunds and compensation for registered students of the Conservatoire, including when matters arise which trigger the Student Protection Plan.

The Conservatoire for Dance and Drama and its Schools are committed to considering and investigating genuine complaints from students. The Conservatoire defines a complaint as being an expression of dissatisfaction by one or more students about an action or lack of action by a Conservatoire Member School, or about the standard of service provided by or on behalf of a Conservatoire Member School, which warrants a response.

This complaints procedure encompasses the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama’s procedures for student complaints.

As a registered higher education provider, the Conservatoire is required by the Office for Students (OfS) to publish a Student Protection Plan (SPP) that sets out the steps that will be taken by the Conservatoire and its Member Schools to protect students in circumstances that might lead to the discontinuation of their programme of study.  Possible scenarios that might result in the discontinuation of students’ programmes of study, and the steps that would be taken in such situations, are set out in the Student Protection Plan below.

For further information, please see also the Refunds and Compensation Policy.

Support Through Studies refers to your ability to engage positively and fully with your programme of study and to fulfil the expectations of the course. It is a common policy  in place across the 6 member schools of the Conservatoire, designed to support the needs of students.

Support Through Studies is not about your academic or professional ability.  It is about having supportive procedures which can be used by staff of a Conservatoire School when a student’s health, well-being and/or behaviour is, or appears to be at risk of, having a detrimental impact upon their studies and/or ability to cope with student life.