Summary

This one-year, full-time programme offers an ideal opportunity to take your first steps into the world of creativity or transition into mainstream education. You will delve into the exciting realms of art and design through playful and experimental activities, exploring various creative pathways for your future. Taught by practicing professional creative tutors, the programme serves as an introduction to creative practice, allowing you to test a range of techniques across art, design and photography.

How will I learn?

The course is delivered and assessed through a range of valuable experiences, including workshops, presentations, and projects designed by industry professionals. These hands-on experiences help you develop practical skills while learning directly from experts in the field. At the end of the year, we’ll have our School of Art exhibition to showcase all the fantastic work our students do. You will also take trips to museums and galleries, providing valuable context on the work you create, its purpose, and how audiences perceive art, design and photography. Additionally, you will be introduced to our specialist facilities, including the print room, digital suite, 3D workshop, darkroom and photography studio, offering you the tools and resources to explore and refine your creative techniques. Alongside technical skills, the programme focuses on essential soft skills such as communication, collaboration, organisation and time management, all of which are key to achieving future professional success. The core of this programme is awarded by University of the Arts London (UAL). Widely regarded as the providing the best creative qualifications available, UAL enables us to teach flexible, professional programmes that give the most valuable, engaging and industry-ready skills possible.

Entry Requirements

Either pre-16 and no qualifications plus a portfolio of recent work to show at Taster Day or 16+ years old and at least an English or Maths GCSE at grade 2 or above (or Functional Skill Entry Level 3 or above) plus a portfolio of recent work to show at Taster Day

Work Experience

You will receive guidance and support in seeking opportunities that are relevant to your specialism, helping you gain practical experience in a real-world environment. This could involve participating in live projects set by industry professionals, entering creative competitions, or working with local or national companies. These experiences will not only help you build a strong portfolio and professional network but also provide valuable insights and practical exposure to the demands of the creative industries.

What can I do next?

Upon completing this course, you will have diverse and flexible progression options, including studying a Level 2 Diploma in Art, Design & Photography, Music or Games Design. After completing further programmes at Level 3 and beyond, you could work in a wide variety of creative fields. You may work freelance or perhaps as part of a studio or professional organisation. You could be a painter, an illustrator, a photographer, a sculptor, a fashion or textiles designer, an interior designer, a ceramist, a filmmaker or animator, a printmaker, a designer, an architect, a game artist or something else creative altogether. Alternatively, you might pursue a career in teaching, art therapy or curation. With endless possibilities in the creative sector, this course provides the foundation to explore and succeed in a variety of roles within the art and design industries.