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IDTA Code of Conduct

ARTICLES AFFECTING MEMBERS’ CONDUCT

If the Board shall at any time for any reason be of opinion that the interests of the Association make it desirable that any member should resign his membership of the Association, they may by written notice addressed to the member request the member to resign and inform him of the reason for the request. Unless he shall within fourteen days from the date of the notice give notice of resignation or shall have given notice of his desire to be heard as hereinafter mentioned he shall be deemed to have ceased to be a member at the expiration of such period of fourteen days.

If any member shall be requested to resign under the provisions of the preceding clause he may within fourteen days from the date of the notice given to him (or such extended period as the Board in its discretion may grant) request a hearing before a Committee composed of not less than three nor more than seven persons appointed by the Board for the purpose. Upon receipt of such request the Board shall take steps to appoint and call a Committee and give notice to the member of the date, time and place when he will be heard. A Committee may make regulations for its own conduct and the conduct of the hearing. Upon conclusion of the hearing the Committee shall make known as soon as practicable, its findings of fact to the member affected and to the Board and may, but shall not be bound to make recommendations to the Board as to any penalty which in their opinion should be imposed upon the member. Neither the Association nor the member shall be entitled to any review of the findings of fact.

After the receipt by the Board of the recommendations of the Committee, the Board shall give notice to the member of the penalty (if any) it imposes, and such penalty may include a demand for his immediate resignation or his expulsion.

Any member who does any of the following unprofessional acts, renders himself liable to disciplinary action at the instance of the professional association or associations of which he is a member viz.:-

a) Knowingly commits or connives at any breach of the British Dance Council Rules for the time being in force. b) Joins or supports any Association which conducts examinations or medal tests unless the same is, a corporate member of or otherwise represented on the Board of the British Council, or approved by the IDTA Board of Directors. c) Lectures on, demonstrates or publishes a description of any publication issued by or with the authority of that British Dance Council prior to the date on which, such publication is officially released by the Board. d) Makes any use for advertising or publicity purposes of his membership of or qualification in relation to any professional Association except to the extent and in the manner expressly authorised by the rules of that professional Association for the time being in force. e) Seeks by any means to influence or intimidate an examiner at any examination or a judge at any competition. f) Advertises himself or any activity connected with his business in a manner, which is expressly or by implication critical of another member of the profession. g) When acting as adjudicator at any competition, engages in any discussion as to the merits or otherwise of competitors shall be guilty of unprofessional conduct and renders himself liable to disciplinary action.

Professional Etiquette

The following acts, whilst not in themselves amounting to unprofessional conduct, should be avoided and regarded as contrary to the standard of professional conduct which should be expected of every professional teacher of dance:-

To solicit any person known to him to be a pupil of a member of the Association by:

(1) approaching a pupil personally as that pupil enters or leaves any dance class given by that member; (2) giving leaflets or other written material to that pupil as that pupil enters or leaves any dance class given by that member; (3) fly-posting at or near any building or other permanent or temporary structure from which that member is giving any dance class; (4) approaching a pupil by telephone for the purpose of offering tuition or other coaching services to that pupil.

To engage in public in unseemly argument or dispute on matters of a professional nature.

To criticise or denigrate to pupils or members of the public the examination standards or methods of any professional Association being a Corporate member of the British Dance Council, an organisation approved by the IDTA Board of Directors.

To behave in public, or at functions or occasions when members of the public are present in any capacity, in a questionable or unseemly manner.

To attempt by unfair means to remove, exclude or supplant any member of any Association, which is a corporate member of the BDC or approved by the IDTA Board of Directors, from premises known to him to be used by that member for the professional teaching of dancing.

Code of Professional Conduct and Practice

This is the recommended Code of Professional Conduct and Practice prepared by the CDMT to guide teachers and instructors on issues of good practice. It is endorsed by the CDMT Validated awarding organisations.

Fundamental Principles

A teacher should:

  • behave with integrity in all professional and business relationships. Integrity implies not merely honesty but fair dealing, courtesy and consideration
  • strive for objectivity in all professional and business judgements
  • not accept a teaching post or undertake work for which he or she is not competent or qualified
  • carry out his or her professional work with due skill, care and proper regard for the technical and professional standards expected of him or her
Integrity

A teacher should:

  • uphold and enhance the good standard and reputation of the profession
  • work in a collaborative and co-operative manner with other professionals and organisations
  • not attempt to influence or intimidate any examiner at any examination or a judge at a competition
Objectivity

A teacher should:

  • work in an open and co-operative manner with students and families
  • ensure that students are not discriminated against on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sex as described in the Equalities Act 2010
Competency

A teacher should:

  • acknowledge any limitations in his/her knowledge and competency and take steps to practice in a fully skilled manner
  • assist professional colleagues, in the context of his or her own knowledge, experience and sphere of responsibility, to develop their professional competence
  • undertake continuing professional development to ensure knowledge and practice remains current as required by his or her individual awarding body(ies) and/or employers
Due skill and diligence

A teacher should ensure that no action or omission on his or her part, or within his or her sphere of responsibility, is detrimental to the interests or safety of students.

Courtesy and consideration

A teacher should:

  • always act in such a manner as to promote and safeguard the interests and well-being of students
  • justify student trust and confidence
Confidentiality

A teacher should ensure that confidential information obtained in the course of his or her professional work should not be used for personal advantage or be disclosed without the consent of the pupil or parent, except where there is a legal right or duty to disclose. A teacher should be aware of and abide by current data protection legislation and any arrangements for confidential assessment materials that they have responsibility for.

Publicity
  • A teacher may seek publicity for his or her own services, and advertise his or her services, achievements and school in any way consistent with the dignity of the profession
  • A teacher should, under no circumstances, promote his or her services, or the services of another teacher, in such a way, or to such an extent, that amounts to harassment of the prospective pupil or parent
  • A teacher should not publish, or cause to be published, any notice, newspaper, advertisement or any other matter likely to damage the standing of the profession or to damage or depreciate the reputation of any colleague
  • Promotional material may contain any factual statement, the truth of which a teacher is able to justify, but should not make any disparaging references to, or disparaging comparisons with, the services of others
  • A teacher should use social media responsibly and in a way which is consistent with the dignity of the profession
Teaching names
  • A teacher may teach under whatever name or title he or she sees fit
  • A teaching name should not be misleading
  • A teacher should not use any title, description or designatory letters to which he or she is not entitled
Statutory Requirements

A teacher should:

  • comply with all statutory requirements affecting health and safety at work
  • ensure the provision of adequate public/products liability insurance and employer liability insurance
  • comply with all the statutory requirements affecting the running of the business, including registration of names, income tax, value added tax and any other matter required by law
  • ensure that he or she is in accordance with the law with regard to copyright, recording, public performance and other matters concerning printed matter and recorded music related to their work
  • be aware of and where required comply with legislation protecting children and vulnerable adults
Health and safety

A teacher should:

  • ensure that classes are of a size appropriate to the levels and techniques being taught and the space being used. Students in each class should be of compatible age and/or standard be aware of developments in Child Protection legislation and undertake DBS disclosure as required
  • ensure that teaching facilities are adequately maintained and provide:
    • suitable flooring appropriate to the techniques and disciplines taught, with a clean, safe surface; to minimise the risk of injury;
    • adequate heating levels and ventilation;
    • suitable, secure and safe area for changing
  • abide by Health and Safety statutory legislation requirements, understand his or her responsibility in case of a medical emergency and keep records in an accident book
  • ensure that all fire regulations are displayed and adhered to
Data Protection

A teacher should behave in accordance with sound data protection principles; currently these are the eight data protection principles of The Data Protection Act 1998. These principles are summarised in Appendix A.

Standards of good practice for the relationship between teacher and student for principals of performing arts schools, studio principals and individual teachers should:

  • have written, clearly defined aims and objectives setting out the broad goals to be achieved by the individual or school. A similar set of objectives will be stated which outline the benefits a pupil can expect to receive through the teaching staff’s conscientious implementation of them. A teacher should have a written health and injury prevention and child protection policy
  • employ teaching staff with experience and qualifications appropriate to the levels and techniques to be taught. Student teachers should be trained and supervised to ensure maintenance of the school’s teaching standards
  • conform to sound business practice
  • apply appropriate teaching aims and assessment procedures to students
  • ensure that students and families have ample opportunity to communicate with their teachers
  • use adequate and flexible teaching skills to create a productive learning environment

Individual teachers will:

  • encourage communication between student and him/herself and other students
  • communicate a love of the performing arts and encourage the art of dance, drama and musical theatre
  • demonstrate professional attitudes, including punctuality, reliability and responsible care of students
  • develop self-discipline and self-motivation in the students
  • transmit general concepts of movement in addition to those of a particular styles and disciplines
  • develop in the students an appreciation of the characteristic style of each specific discipline taught
  • recognise and develop each student’s potential and offer appropriate guidance for further progress
  • recognise physical differences and limitations and different learning styles, modifying the teaching and seeking advice where necessary. The teaching, choreography and directing must be anatomically safe, and physical corrections must be attempted in a careful and sensitive manner
  • uphold the rules of their awarding organisation as applicable
Appendix A

The eight principles of the Data Protection Act 1998

The eight principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 may be summarised thus. All data recorded by dance teachers concerning individuals with whom they come into contact (be they child or adult) must be:

  1. fairly and lawfully processed
  2. processed for limited purposes
  3. adequate, relevant and not excessive
  4. accurate
  5. not kept longer than necessary
  6. processed in accordance with the data subjects’ rights
  7. secure
  8. not transferred to countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) without adequate protection

Notification – In certain circumstances (but not all) teachers need to register with the Information Commission. However all teachers, must comply with the eight principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.

A teacher who holds personal data on computer or other electronic means may be required to register with the Information Commission depending on the data held and the purpose/s for which it is held. If, for example, personal data is only stored for the dance teacher’s accounting purposes and record keeping then it might be that registration is not required. This should always be confirmed with the Notification helpline on 0303 123 1113 or www.ico.gov.uk.

A teacher who holds any health-related information electronically (e.g. on a computer, word processor etc) must, without exception register with the Information Commission.

Information Commissioner’s Website: www.ico.gov.uk Notification helpline: 0303 123 1113

INTERNATIONAL DANCE TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION (Limited by Guarantee)
CODE OF CONDUCT

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