Trinity College London

Trinity College London (TCL) is an examination board based in London, United Kingdom, which offers graded and diploma qualifications (up to postgraduate level) across a range of disciplines in the performing arts and English language learning and teaching in over 70 countries worldwide.

This article is about the examinations board. For the former Trinity College of Music based in London, see Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
Trinity College London
Established1872
PatronThe Duke of Kent
Address
Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street, London, SE1 0TA
,
London
,
UK
Websitetrinitycollege.com

Trinity College London was founded as the external examinations board of Trinity College of Music (which today is part of the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance) in 1872, and began offering exams in music to external students in 1877. Over time, Trinity expanded to offer exams in other areas of the performing arts and in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

With over 850,000 candidates in more than 60 countries worldwide, Trinity qualifications are specifically designed to help learners realise their potential.

History[1][2]
150 years of Trinity History[3][4]
Year
1872 Bonavia Hunt and Sir Frederick A. Gore Ousley establish the Church Choral Society and College of Church Music, London
1875 Trinity College London is incorporated under Companies Act 1862 consisting of two divisions, Academic and Choral
1877 Beginning of the College's external music exams. The first tests are in elementary musical knowledge, quickly expanding to practical music exams. Just two years later these exams are administered in 200 local centres throughout the UK.
1881 The local theoretical exams are extended to India.
1895 Practical exams are introduced in Australasia and South Africa.
1904 Trinity College London changes its name to Trinity College of Music London.
1921 Trinity College of Music registers 53,180 exams.
1938 Trinity begins English language assessments.
1947 The early music department is re-formed as the Department for Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century Music. The department subsequently moves to Fenton House in Hampstead before all activities finally transfer to the main college premises.
1972 The College celebrates its centenary with a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, and a dinner attended by almost 700 invited guests at Grosvenor House, Park Lane.
1992 A separate company, limited by guarantee, Trinity College London Ltd (TCL), is established. The company is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission in the UK.
1993 Formal separation of the exams business Trinity College London from Trinity College of Music.
1996 Trinity College London receives Queen's Award for Exports.
2001 Trinity College of Music relocates from London's Marylebone to the iconic Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site.
2004 Trinity College London performing arts exams division merges with the external department of the Guildhall Music and Drama to form Trinity Guildhall.
2005 Arts Award launches in the UK, in partnership with Arts Council England, with a mission to support young people to deepen their engagement with the arts, and build creative and leadership skills.
2009-2010 Trinity College London India is set up.
2012 The name Trinity Guildhall was dropped and the board's performing arts exams are now offered under the Trinity College London brand.
2015 The first ten Secure English Language Test centres, operated by Trinity College London, open nationally in the UK.
2016 BCELT (now Trinity College London Italy) is acquired into the Trinity family.
2020 Trinity College London launches digital grades and diplomas.
2021 Erez Tocker joins Trinity as new CEO.
2022 Trinity's Secure English Language Test centres in the UK now number 20, across four nations.

Performing arts examinations

In 2004, Trinity College London's performing arts examinations division merged with the external examinations department of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama to form the Trinity Guildhall examinations board. The name Trinity Guildhall was dropped in 2012, and the board's performing arts examinations are now offered under the Trinity College London brand.

Music

Trinity College London offers graded musical qualifications for musical theory and for performance in a range of string instruments, singing, piano, electronic keyboards, brass, woodwind instruments and percussions. The grading begins with the Initial Grade then are numbered from Grade 1 to Grade 8 in increasing difficulty. Candidates are rated under three categories – the performance of musical pieces, technical work such as scales, and supporting tests such as sight reading and improvisation.[5] Candidates are graded on a scale from 1 to 100, with 60 being the pass mark.[5] Candidates have some flexibility in the choices of pieces and tests prepared for each of these sections.

In addition to graded examinations, TCL also offers foundation, intermediate and advanced certificates in music. TCL also offers diplomas in music at three levels - Associate (ATCL, which is equivalent to the standard of work required for a UK Certificate of Higher Education) and AmusTCL, Licentiate (LTCL, which is equivalent to the standard of work required for a UK Bachelor's degree) and Fellowship (FTCL, which is equivalent to the standard of work required for a UK Master's degree).

In 2012, the exam board introduced Rock & Pop graded examinations for bass, drums, guitar, keyboard and vocals.

Drama and performance

Trinity College London offers a choice of qualifications for students and teachers of drama and speech subjects with various levels of experience and ability. Exams can be taken by individuals, pairs or groups. Study strands include: Speech and Drama, Individual Acting Skills, Group Performance, Shakespeare, Choral Speaking, Communication Skills, Musical Theatre and Performance Arts.

As is the case with music, diplomas in drama, performance and communication subjects are also offered at three levels, and TCL is the awarding body for the series of professional performing arts courses that are funded in part by the Dance and Drama Awards scheme.

In 2012, the exam board introduced Rock & Pop graded examinations for bass, drums, guitar, keyboard and vocals. Candidates perform their ‘set list’ from eight songs in their published Songbook for each grade, as well as improvisation and playback session skills – needed to be successful in the industry.

In 2020 Trinity introduced Digital Grades and Diplomas – an online submission-based version of the well-established face-to-face qualifications. In response to changes in the way people learn and consume music, these exams were designed to support teaching, learning and assessment through a digital medium. They are fully regulated qualifications – with each level corresponding with its equivalent face-to-face option – offering learners a greater choice and flexibility.

Arts Award

Within the United Kingdom, Trinity College London manages Arts Award in association with Arts Council England.[6]

English Language examinations

Trinity’s English language qualifications focus on giving learners lifelong transferable skills that they will need for future study and work. English language qualifications include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Secure English Language Tests (SELTs).

ESOL qualifications

Trinity’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) qualifications cover all levels, from beginner to advanced. Trinity offers two skills oral assessments and four skills reading, writing, speaking and listening assessments as well as young learner awards.

TESOL qualifications

Trinity’s English language teaching qualifications (Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) are designed to support teachers throughout their careers — from early practitioner to experienced professional.

SELT

Trinity offers Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) which are approved for applications to UKVI for visas, UK visa renewal, British Citizenship, Settlement and Leave to Remain. Trinity has 20 centrally located SELT centres in the UK providing exam sessions seven days a week. Book an SELT exam here.

References
  1. "Timeline of Laban". Trinity Laban. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  2. "Trinity timeline | Trinity College London". www.trinitycollege.com. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  3. "Trinity timeline | Trinity College London". www.trinitycollege.com. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  4. "Timeline of Laban". Trinity Laban. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
  5. Exam Structure, Trinity College London
  6. "Arts Award". artsaward.org.uk. 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
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