We are excited to be launching the Bronze Arts Award as part of the Year 9 Art curriculum in January 2025.

Often, Arts Award is offered as an extra-curricular activity in schools. However, we saw an opportunity to widen this offer across our Year 9 cohort because by completing the Bronze Award, students can gain a Level 1 qualification, which is equivalent to half a GCSE.

Year 9 is a pivotal age group. In the cohort this year, 30% of students are Pupil Premium (PP); 16% English as an Additional Language (EAL) and 18% with Special Educational Needs (SEN). It is often these under-represented groups who traditionally struggle to access creative subjects. We believe that the possibility of students achieving a qualification prior to starting their GCSEs may improve confidence and attainment at GCSE and offer more post-school opportunities for our young people as a result.

As part of the Award, students can choose any arts specialism and develop their own portfolio. Students will have the option of choosing a specialism that has meaning for them. They are expected to spend 60 hours on this; 40 hours within the classroom (Art lessons) and 20 independently.

We are seeking funding to support a sustainable programme in which Year 9 students at CNS have access to the Bronze Arts Award, as part of a yearly cycle. This involvement will also support CNS’s current Platinum Artsmark qualification, of which only 110 schools nationally have been awarded this level.