Arts Award

Many of our Arts Award workshops take place within a secure online classroom on our virtual learning platform, Blackboard Collaborate.

You may wish to participate via audio, though this is not a requirement and we recommend participation via the chat/messaging function on the page. You will not use a webcam or participate via video. All sessions will be monitored and supervised by University of the Creative Arts employees and will be recorded to allow for multiple viewings by students on the course.

Participants will be sent a secure link to the virtual classroom and this will ensure that only students with an approved place on the workshop and UCA employees will have access to the room.

The UCA Outreach Team can also offer Arts Award support to our target schools, (please see the list below to check your schools eligibility). We can provide support with existing programs as well as deliver in-school workshops. If you are a teacher or member of school staff and are interested in receiving Arts Award support, please get in touch with us: [email protected].

Arts Award's are suitable for students who are studying or have an interest in creative subjects and would like to develop their skills and portfolio. 

The aim of the course is to provide an opportunity for young people to access free art and design tuition from a higher education institution to support them in the development of their portfolio of work. It's also designed for students who may not otherwise have the chance to access such an opportunity. This work is funded through the UCA's Access and Participation Plan's commitment as approved by the Office for Students (OfS). The programme is aimed at supporting students who are under-represented in Higher education. For further information and a list of the under-represented groups, please refer to the OfS approach to access and participation.

Priority will be given to applicants who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• are the first generation in their family to study at higher education level (e.g. Degree, HND, HNC)
• are currently eligible for Free School Meals
• come from a neighbourhood with low overall progression rates to higher education (determined by postcode using POLAR 4 data)
• are from a black or minority ethnic (BAME) background
• are in, or have lived under local authority care
• have caring responsibilities for a family member
• have a disability
• are studying without the support of family 
• are an unaccompanied asylum seeker/refugee
• are from a military family
• are from a Gypsy, Roma or Traversal community
• attend a KaMCOP, KMPF or HEON partnered school (a list of eligible schools is included below)
• live in HEON or KaMCOP target postcode area

This information will be gathered via the ArtsAwards application form and will be assessed by the University’s Outreach Manager and Outreach Officer.

Once the application deadline has passed, we will consider all applications against the priority criteria listed above to determine who will be offered a place. A decision will be sent in writing to confirm whether a place on the programme has been secured, and successful applicants will be asked to confirm their place in writing. Where the programmes are oversubscribed, unplaced applicants who meet the criteria outlined above will be kept on a waiting list and allocated spaces should they become available.

If an applicant decides not to accept their offer, they must inform UCA staff via email as soon as possible so spaces can be reallocated where possible: [email protected]. 

• • Astor Secondary School
  • Barton Manor School
  • Brockhill Park Performing Arts College
  • Cornwallis Academy
  • Dartford Science & Technology College
  • Dover Christ Church Academy
  • Ebbsfleet Academy
  • Folkestone Academy
  • Fulston Manor School
  • Goodwin Academy
  • Greenacre Academy
  • Hartsdown Academy
  • Herne Bay High School
  • Maritime Academy
  • New Line Learning Academy
  • Northfleet School for Girls
  • Northfleet Technology College
  • Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey
  • Orchards Academy
  • Sandwich Technology School
  • Spires Academy
  • St Edmund's Catholic School
  • St George's Church of England Foundation School
  • St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School
  • Strood Academy
  • Thamesview School
  • The Abbey School
  • The Archbishop's School
  • The Canterbury Academy
  • The Charles Dickens School
  • The Holmesdale School
  • The John Wallis Church of England Academy
  • The Leigh Academy
  • The Leigh UTC
  • The Marsh Academy
  • The North School
  • The Robert Napier School
  • The Royal Harbour Academy
  • The Sittingbourne School
  • The Victory Academy
  • Turner Free School
  • Ursuline College
  • Walderslade Girls' School
  • Waterfront UTC

  If you are a Kent school not mentioned above, please contact [email protected] for advice on UCA outreach support available to you.

• Alderwood Senior School
• Bohunt Farnborough
• Broadwater School
• Chertsey High School
• Christ's College, Guildford
• Collingwood College
• Cove School
• Farnborough College of Technology
• Farnham Heath End School
• Hoe Valley School
• Kings International College
• Salesian School, Chertsey
• The Beacon School
• The Matthew Arnold School
• The Wavell School

UCA processes data in accordance with the General Data Protection Rules (GDPR). The university's data protection policies and privacy notices can be viewed here.

The policies which apply to the Online Arts Award are:
Outreach & Widening Participation

You have the right to review information held about you. If you would like to do so or to notify us of a change of your details, please email [email protected]. If, you believe there is no legitimate reason for us to continue processing your data and wish us to delete it, please contact the Data Protection Officer [email protected].