Arts Award

Bronze and Silver Arts Award for Special Schools - Music and the Arts as a Communications Tool 2012 - 13:

Hertfordshire Music Service will again be delivering the Arts Award for Special Schools from September 2012 either at:

Mid Herts Music & Arts Centre, Hatfield on alternate Monday mornings;
or in your school on alternative Tuesday or Wednesday mornings.

The theme for 2012 -13 is SPACE (stars and planets rather than aliens)

Workshops will run for three hours on alternative weeks (six weeks per term) and will be led by Judy Manning working with professional musicians and artists. Students will need to do some follow up work in the intervening week.

At the end of the academic year students will gain a Bronze Arts Award (this is a Level 1 accredited qualification) or a Silver Arts Award (this is a Level 2 accredited qualification).

‘Judy, your work in arts award is a model of excellence in the way you have resourced it, both with human (attached arts practitioners) and material resources. The portfolios, backed up with excellent supplementary evidence on screen, are bursting with creativity. Outstanding was the work using film animations, with additional music scores, using both voices and instruments. Your choice of The Sea as a theme clearly inspired the young people to produce visual, sound and narrative performances of a high order. The use of sand paintings for animation was super productive. The work was a credit to your whole team and the young people have reason to be proud of every detail, down to the design of the CD covers.' (Arts Award Moderator, July 2011)

Short Courses in Film and Music for Special Schools

From January 2012 Hertfordshire Music Service is offering a six week course in film and music. The course can be added towards a Bronze Arts Award or can be a stand alone arts project in school.

Judy Manning, Hertfordshire Music Service Lead Teacher for SEN and Jo Howe, professional visual artist, will work alongside pupils in making an animation film with accompanying music score exploring one of the following themes:

Olympic Dream
Cupboard Tale
Everyday is different
The Sea

The course can begin at any point within the academic year as long as it can be delivered over six consecutive weeks.

'Judy's commitment to delivering an accessible arts experience to young people with SEN has significantly increased our pupils' access to a wide range of enjoyable activities. This has resulted in improvements in their confidence and communication skills, as well as extending their understanding of music and the arts. ' (Rosemary Freestone, Headteacher, Woodfield School)

To see examples of work and find out more about Hertfordshire's Music Service's Arts Award for Special Schools please click on the links below:

A Cupboard Tale:

Camel Crossing the Desert:

The Sea:

Bronze Arts Award for young people with profound disabilities

The pilot for this award was funded by SSOSHL and Hertfordshire Music Service and took place in two residential homes. To see the case study please click here

If you would like more information on Arts Award and how to involve your students please contact Suzanne Rider, Arts Education Development Officer on 01438 202806 or email: suzanne.rider@hertscc.gov.uk

More information on Arts Award:

Arts Award is a national qualification accredited by Trinity Guildhall.

Young people, aged 11 - 25, can take the award at Bronze (Level 1) , Silver (Level 2) and Gold (Level 3) in any art form including performing arts, visual arts, literature, media and multimedia. The award builds confidence, helps young people to enjoy cultural activities, and prepares them for further education or employment.

Since its launch in 2005, Arts Award has grown quickly and is now flourishing in arts centres, colleges and schools, community projects, libraries, galleries, local authorities, theatres, youth clubs and youth justice settings.

Arts Award is a national qualification accredited by Trinity Guildhall.

Over the last three years Hertfordshire Music Service has been running a Bronze and Silver Arts Award for Special Schools. Under the direction of Judy Manning, professional musician and Lead Teacher for SEN for Hertfordshire Music Service the programme has gone from strength to strength:

For more information on Arts Award click here