Arts Award

Trinity Arts Awards

Trinity College London offer Arts Award at the levels as described here:

Introductory level (Discover)

Entry level in the Arts (Explore)

Level 1 (Bronze), (GCSE-level below C)

Level 2 (Silver ) (GCSE-level A-C)

Level 3 (Gold) (AS-level.)  

They can require a lot of work, but can be a great project for a group or an individual.  Many home-educated children have taken them.  Here, as an example from the Arts Award site, is a description of the Silver Arts Award:

"Silver Arts Award, a Level 2 qualification, has two units – Unit 1: arts practice and Unit 2: arts leadership. Doing Silver involves achieving an arts challenge, reviewing arts events, researching artists and arts organisations, and delivering an arts leadership project to lead other people.

Young people need to plan their work with an adviser and keep a record by creating their own Arts Award portfolio. Young people can pick their own style of portfolio – this could be a diary, video, website blog – or something different altogether. Silver is available to young people aged 11 to 25. There are no entry requirements or set time limit for completing Silver Arts Award. It will take young people around 60 hours to complete their Silver award."

 Are Arts Awards GCSE equivalents?

Trinity Arts Awards are qualifications which are accredited by Ofqual at levels 1-3. This means that their difficulty is accredited at these levels, although they are a different size from GCSEs and A-levels.

The size of a qualification is measured in terms of total learning time, which is teaching time ('guided learning hours) plus independent learning time. For Level 3, it is also measured in terms of UCAS points for university entry. For instance, the Silver Arts Award is accredited at 60 Guided Learning Hours + 35 Independent learning hours = 95 hours total qualification time, while GCSE Art is 120 Guided Learning Hours + 120 Independent Learning Hours = 240 hours total qualification time. Art is always a time-consuming subject - for comparison, GCSE English Literature is only 120 hours total qualification time - so a Silver Arts Award demonstrates ability at higher GCSE level, and is worth between half and two-thirds of a GCSE, depending on which subject you choose!

[Source: Ofqual register for AQA GCSE Art & Design and for Trinity College Level 2 Award in the Arts.]

• Bronze Award is Level 1 - the same standard as a GCSE grade 1-3 (D-G)
• Silver Award is Level 2 - the same standard as a GCSE grade 4-9 (A*-C), but half the teaching time.
• Gold Award is Level 3 - the same standard as A-levels, with UCAS points equivalent to a grade B at AS-level or half a grade C at A-level.

Can I use an Arts Award instead of a GCSE/IGCSE to get into college?

Arts Awards are similar to other Ofqual-accredited alternatives to GCSEs, like music grades or ECDL (in use of computer software). They demonstrate your ability at GCSE level or above, and as such they might help you get onto a college art course which normally requires, eg, GCSE art, which you may not be able to do from home education. However, colleges may not count these qualifications towards the total number of GCSEs in their entry requirements, because they are different in focus to a GCSE and fewer learning hours than a GCSE. They may, or may not, count them towards entry to study other subjects. It is important to talk to any colleges you're thinking of applying to and asking them to confirm their policy on this in writing.

Trinity College, the examining board, have released a statement as to the value of the Award. It can be found on their Qualification Information page where you can download the Combined Qualification Specification.

Please check your providers credentials.

Before starting an Arts Award with any provider please check that they have the ability to actually deliver Arts Award. There are two important things to look at.

1) Are they trained and an approved Advisor for that AA Level?

Before anyone can deliver Arts Award they must have completed and passed training with Trinity for that level. It is the individual person who is trained and approved (not an organisation)

Ask them the question, 'Are you an individually trained and approved Arts Award advisor in your own name / right'.

2) Are they associated with an approved centre?

Advisors must be associated with an approved arts award centre. Advisors can move between centres or register their own centre. This is crucial, if they are not associated with an approved AA Centre they will not be able to enter for moderation. Also ask what their back up plan is if they need to leave the centre they are with. Because organisations can become approved centres, an individual advisor may leave that organisation and would then have to join another.

Ask them the question 'As a qualified Arts Award Advisor, are you attached to a registered and approved centre with Trinity. What is the centres name. If you leave this centre, what are your contingency plans to join another centre?

Comments from Home - Ed Arts Awards providers:

Here are some explanations and advice from home educators who have their own businesses providing distance learning support for Arts Awards. Please note that comments have been edited for brevity and consistency.

Kate Pavey - Arts Award advisor

Can you use Silver Arts Award to build a portfolio?

Silver Arts Awards is a great qualification, which is essentially more about challenge and leadership than anything else. The student could have a challenge which would necessitate her building a portfolio, which might help her focus her ideas. However she would also need to do the leadership and all the other bits and pieces to complete the award, all of which could of course be tied into building that portfolio.

The portfolio could be part of her evidence for doing the award. It could show her progress though the award. The important point here though is that the portfolio in itself would not be enough. There needs to be a specific challenge - for example: producing a picture in mixed media. Her portfolio would then be all the evidence leading up to that - bit like a GCSE portfolio.

In silver it's the process that process that's marked rather than what is produced. It awards autonomous working which is why I really like the awards. The important thing will be whether the student achieves the challenge she sets herself and even if she failed - it would be about her evaluation of that process.

So for example my own daughter did pottery for her challenge. She wanted to be able to throw well enough to make a tall vase. The reality was that this was far more difficult than she realised and she had to be content with a small vase - but it was the evaluation that was important. Her portfolio consisted of drawings and photographs. The photographs were of her many attempts to throw and experimenting with different glazes etc.

It's also important to say that silver is a level 2 qualification and the student needs to be working at GCSE equivalent standard to do this award adequately. I find most are ready at about 14yrs.

Do you need to do Bronze before taking Silver?

You don't need to do the Bronze award before taking Silver. Bronze is a great qualification too, but I'd say it depends on the young person as to whether it's worth doing it. It's an interesting fact, that most people who do bronze and silver never go on to do Gold and most people who do Gold have never done bronze or silver.

The Arts Award Initiative Company Limited

via this Home Ed arts award Facebook group

AAI has achieved massive successes in the Arts Award, and thousands of their students have achieved a pass mark.

All levels of the Award are offered to ages 4-24 and to all abilities. All student Award work is created in study packs offered online, which were designed specifically for home educated children by Trinity College Staff and the Director of AAI who has worked with Trinity as a Moderator and an Adviser, since the inception of the Awards.

These study packs focus work, minimise time spent creating a portfolio, hone learning, and they ensure a pass if all pack instructions are followed. All work can be completed at home, online and there is no requirement for attendance at moderation sites.

Not only does AAI ensure a pass, but they also provide daily support online for their students, as they work, guiding and assisting.

Prices are competitive, with discounts for home educated learners and groups who register with AAI to offer Arts Award; there is an annual sale in September, the ‘not back to school sale’; as this is a not for profit business, scholarships are offered in October.

The company was set up by Carol Leach as a not for profit business, with senior Trinity Management support (Alice Young, founder and former CEO of Arts Award thought of the name), when the Award was first introduced in the UK. Full information about the company, and staff, can be found at www.artsawardinitiative.co.uk. To work with AAI, email: artsawardinitiative@gmail.com

Arts Award v. GCSE/AS level qualifications

Written by Carol Leach with support from Trinity College

Arts Awards are not GCSEs and they are not A levels; they are a different kind of qualification with a different focus and they are not comparable as such.

Arts Awards are focused on learning about different art forms and media and all levels of the Arts Award focus on expanding and enhancing art skills and understanding. However, they do so in slightly different ways to GCSE/A levels.

1.   Subject matter varies much more with Arts Award, you can learn about any art form or media as it encompasses everything which can be called ‘art’ - and at AAI we have seen just about all the different art forms there are, from fire juggling, oboe playing, jazz dance, cake decorating, and illustration.

• GCSE/A level Art focuses on expanding an understanding of art and artists. 

• Arts Award allows young people to focus on the art skills they value the most and gives them practical qualifications for the work they would have done anyway whilst following their passions. 

2.   Although Art is the foundation for this qualification, and art skills are explored at Discover, Explore and Bronze level, and progressed at Silver and Gold level, Arts Award has a different depth of learning. Particularly, when taking Silver and Gold Arts Award, you study specific art forms/media in depth and you learn a lot about how artists in your field work in the community - it is, therefore, a very practical qualification for a young person who wants to work in any artistic profession and some professions, such as illustration, value this deeper understanding of the artistic community and the way it communicates with the world. 

• When taking GCSE/A levels you study a greater variety of art forms and media, and you learn many art skills at a basic level (although if your course is well led you may become a master of some).

• Arts Award allows you to specialise.

3.   When Arts Award was conceived it was granted its accreditation as a qualification different to GCSE/A level for the strength of the researching, reviewing and reporting skills which the student learns. Hence it is a valuable qualification to take if you want to learn skills for life - and many students use it to get into professions which value these skills - not just the practical arts such as illustration, architecture etc. but others such as science, teaching etc.

• GCSE/A levels are obviously best suited to those who want to study fine art etc, but some young artists have complained that they knew nothing about their profession after taking GCSE/A levels. 
• Arts Awards are focused on arts in the community 

Please be aware, not all Colleges/6th forms will accept an Arts Award in lieu of a GCSE/A level, because the content is different. If you are taking an Arts Award because you want to take a specific course you MUST speak to your course administrators in advance.

from Carol Leach, Director Arts Award Initiative Company Limited

contact: artsawardinitiative@gmail.com

There are many ways to take an Arts Award, and they are endlessly accessible to all home educated students, mainly via online courses. To chat to people who have taken these Awards please feel free to join the Home Ed Arts Award forum on Facebook:

Watch out for savings in the 'notbacktoschool' sales in September, and the group discount prices.

Sarah Cowley-Catchpole, CYAC founder and Arts Award Examiner:

I have been an Arts Award Adviser since 2007 and home educator for what seems like forever!! I truly believe the Arts Awards are great, all of my 3 children have done mixtures of all 5 levels.

I set up a creative youth club so they could do the awards with friends and so we could apply for funding to do bigger and better activities. At CYAC, you can see some of the things we have done over the years here. CYAC has grown since then.

I have found that the Arts Award qualifications have really helped home educated young people gain entry to college as it shows a level of working comparable to GCSE, commitment and organizational skills, as well as showing off their creativity. I have had 16 young people go from CYAC into college on either level 2 or 3 courses, which is great. 

You have to be registered with Trinity through Arts Award, once you have found an adviser linked to a centre they will register you, I offer distance Arts Awards so that is possible too.

Depending where you do your award, there are some costs fixed by Arts Award themselves to consider as well, these are ( at September 2017):-

Discover (5-25) £3.75 for moderation ( approx. 20 hrs guided work )

Explore (7-24) £12.75 for moderation ( approx. 25 hrs guided work, + 10hrs independent learning time)(Entry Level Award in the Arts (Entry 3)

Bronze (11-24) £5.50 for the kit & £23.00 for moderation ( approx. 40 hrs guided work, + 20hrs independent learning time)( Level 1 Award in the Arts equivalent level to a GCSE grade D-G)

Silver (11-24) £6.00 for the kit & £23 for moderation ( approx. 60 hrs guided work, + 35hrs independent learning time) (Level 2 Award in the Arts equivalent level not size to a GCSE grade A*C/ a short GCSE)

Gold (11-24) £6.50 for the kit & £40 for moderation (approx. 90 hrs guided work, + 60hrs independent learning time)(Level 3 Certificate in the Arts equivalent level not size to an A Level/ half an AS)(35 UCAS points)

The cost of taking part and accessing the guided learning from a trained adviser depends on where you go and who you choose, some are subsidised by local authority or school most are independant, so prices and time scale will vary nationwide.

Learning hours stated include times spent visiting places and taking part in art programmes, the actual hours spent on the portfolio can be minimised by a good Adviser.

They should all be recognized but I always advise my students to take the printed Arts Award qualification table and explanation to make sure, I also give them an Arts Award information booklet to leave at the college in case they are not familiar with the awards. The Gold Award now carries 35 UCAS point as well, which helps with Uni applications.

Trinity also do the Trinity Rocks music grades in popular music, they are great too, you can do them in bass, guitar, vocals, drums, keyboards and as a band grades 1-8, they are worth a look if your child is interested in music.

I hope some of this information helps you, let me know if you would like to know anything else, or to find out about remote Arts Award through CYAC...

What level would you recommend for age 12/13? Do you need to start with bronze/explore or can you go straight in to silver?

You can start at any level you think is appropriate there is quite a leap in work load and leadership skills but it depends on your child completely.

I think Bronze is a good place to start at that age it gives you a good idea of what is expected in terms of assessment and then you know what you need to do more of for your Silver.

Bronze is split into 4 very clear parts where as Silver is split into 2 larger parts the first personal development within a chosen art for and research into possible future plans, education and career paths,  and a more detailed review the second part is a leadership project the aim is for it to take around 3 months-ish and this requires evidence of planning, execution, and finally feedback and review.

Marie Waterhouse

I am a long time Home Educator and a trained Arts Award advisor to Gold level and have my own approved registered centre with Trinity where I am currently providing online access to Arts Award to UK Home Educators.

contact: helpdesk@homeeducated.org.uk

Why Arts Award is a Great Fit for Home Educated Children ( Maddie @ Creative Art Studio approved AA Centre)

The Arts Award is not just a qualification — it’s a celebration of your child’s creativity, individuality, and voice. For home-educating families, it offers a unique opportunity to gain formal recognition for the creative work your child is already doing in a flexible, supportive, and self-paced way. Whether your child is into writing, fashion, photography, or animation, the Bronze Arts Award gives them the freedom to shape their learning around what they love. There’s no set curriculum — instead, it encourages exploration, experimentation, and self-expression.

The entire award can be completed from home or within your existing learning environment. There’s no need to attend workshops or classes (unless you want to!) — everything can be done with support from a parent or carer, plus ongoing guidance from a qualified Arts Award assessor.

The Arts Award develops valuable skills including research, reflection, communication, project planning, and independent thinking — all while focusing on creative development. It’s a fantastic way to build confidence and produce a portfolio of meaningful work your child can be proud of.

The Arts Award gives home-educated children the space to create freely, the structure to achieve something meaningful, and the support to thrive on their own terms.

At Creative Studio we offer Bronze & Silver Level Art Awards, our packs include: Fashion Design, Creative Writing, Digital Photography and Animation.

email : creativestudiobrands@gmail.com or visit our website: www.creativestudiobranding.co.uk