LCEP Resources
External Resources
This section includes a growing range of consolidated external resources.
The following section includes externally sourced resources, key terms unpacked and a list of local cultural organisations, which will be of use to teachers, educators and support staff.
The resources can be explored in isolation as well as in line with the support provided from the Creative Teachers' Networks in Luton, Bedford and Central Bedfordshire.
NB, if you are interested in joining a Creative Teachers' Network please contact culture@beds.ac.uk. Furthermore, if you would like to know what wider work the University does with local schools and colleges please see the Collaborative Outreach Projects' Aspire Higher website. These pages also provide practical presentations that can be used in education settings.
Key Organisation: The Cultural Learning Alliance
The Cultural Learning Alliance includes a range of organisations working across the cultural and education sectors, including teachers, schools, non-departmental public bodies, philanthropists, umbrella organisations, cultural and arts partners, creative industry leaders, and education specialists. They have more than 3,000 organisational members, and 6,000 individual members and 11,000 Twitter followers.
The Alliance is run by two co-directors, who report to a Strategy Group of six members from across the education and arts sectors. In addition to its wide membership, the Alliance also has an Advisory Panel of 30+ members.
The Cultural Learning Alliance champions a right to art and culture for every child.
Their aims are to:
- ADVOCATE for equality of access to arts and culture for every child
- DEMONSTRATE why cultural learning is so important
- UNITE the education, youth and cultural sectors delivering arts and cultural learning
They deliver this through:
- Policy analysis and evidence gathering
- Dissemination of advocacy materials, including briefing papers, evidence and statistics
- Lobbying and advocacy
- Building strategic relationships across arts, culture, education and policy, and supporting our members
Furthermore, as part of their work, The Alliance provide a wide range of statistics on the arts in schools and the case for cultural learning.
Schools can benefit from a wide range of resources from the Alliance, including useful case studies and case studies that support valuing the role of arts in schools
Key Organisation: Arts Council England
Arts Council England (ACE) is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is dedicated to promoting the performing, visual and literary arts in England. It was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales.
Between 2018 and 2022, Arts Council England will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create arts experiences for as many people as possible across the country.
Find out about Arts Council England activity in your local area
Key Term: The Quality Principles
It is common to hear about the 'quality principles' referred to in both cultural and educational settings. The aim of the quality principles work is to raise the standard of work being produced by, with and for children and young people.
The quality principles have been developed as a result of close collaboration between the Arts Council England and arts and cultural organisations that work with children and young people.
The seven quality principles are:
- Striving for excellence and innovation
- Being authentic
- Being exciting, inspiring and engaging
- Ensuring a positive and inclusive experience
- Actively involving children and young people
- Enabling personal progression
- Developing belonging and ownership
Find more information about the Quality Principles
Key Term & Resource: ArtsMark
Artsmark is the only creative quality standard for schools and education settings, accredited by Arts Council England.
- Artsmark provides a clear and flexible framework for teachers and schools leaders to embed creativity across the whole curriculum and address school improvement priorities
- Receive professional support, advice and resources to strengthen your arts provision
- You’ll be supported throughout your Artsmark journey by our regional network of Bridge organisations, providing training, advice, practical teaching resources and introductions to other settings and leading cultural organisations in your area
- Artsmark clearly demonstrates how you support personal development and provides evidence to Ofsted on how you meet its spiritual, moral, social, cultural requirements
- You’ll receive one of three award levels; Silver, Gold or Platinum
Artsmark is open to primary, secondary and special schools, pupil referral units, youth offending teams and sixth form colleges.
Find out more About Artsmark and the benefits of joining the programme
Join the ArtsMark Mailing List
Explore the range of Artsmark resources and templates
Key Term & Resource: Arts Award
Arts Award is a range of unique qualifications that supports anyone aged up to 25 to grow as artists and arts leaders, inspiring them to connect with and take part in the wider arts world through taking challenges in an art form - from fashion to digital art, pottery to poetry.
Through progressing through the five levels, young people get to:
- discover the enjoyment of creating and participating in arts activities
- experience arts events
- develop creative and communication skills that are essential for success in 21st century life
- explore the work of artists and craftspeople and gain insights into the professional arts world
- gain experience and knowledge to help progress into further education and employment
Find out more about the impact of Arts Award on young people.
There are no entry requirements, no time limit for completing the award, and no set rules on how to present final work.
The awarding body responsible for Arts Award is Trinity College London. In England, Arts Award is managed by Trinity in association with Arts Council England and 10 regional Bridge organisations drive participation.
Download the Arts Award Guide [PDF]
Become an Arts Award advisor training
Arts Award Partnerships and Alliances
Key Resource: Voice Magazine
Voice is a magazine and platform for young creatives covering arts, culture politics and technology. Featuring the latest news and reviews, They're passionate about supporting young people to have their say. Voice hosts a wide range of perspectives from the next generation, from writing and videos to photos and podcasts.
Voice also creates content for young people doing Trinity College London's arts qualifications and they run Arts Award on Voice for young people working through Arts Award, offering ideas and support to young people completing awards.
Voice's parent charity is Upstart Projects, which supports young people to enjoy the arts and become the creative professionals of the future.
Visit Voice Magazine
Key Resource: Cultural Education, a guide for governors: Providing a high quality cultural education in schools
It is important to have the support of governors if creativity is going to be taken seriously in schools. This guide to cultural education, framed for school governors, provides an overview of cultural education, the Cultural Education Challenge, relevant partnerships, funding and further reading.
Visit Music Mark
Key Resource: Teaching Resources for Creative and Cultural Education, by Music Mark
A useful database of resources curated on behalf of Arts Council England by Cape UK, which is designed to generate create new ideas and inspire teachers of subjects at Key Stage 1 -- 5 across the national curriculum.
Browse the Music Mark teaching resources
Key Resource: Discover Creative Careers
Discover Creative Careers is a website that is populated and led by a consortium of creative industry, education and skills-focused organisations.
The website provides a useful selection of resources for teachers
Key Term: Uni Connect & Aspire Higher
The Office for Student Uni Connect programme brings together 29 partnerships of universities, colleges and other local partners to deliver outreach programmes to young people in years 9 to 13.
Their work is focused on local areas where higher education participation is lower than might be expected given the GCSE results of the young people who live there.
The Aspire Higher Programme is the UniConnect partnership between the Universities of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Northampton. They connect local schools and colleges with universities and employers, helping you to access opportunities for your learners. They also run targeted outreach activity with local schools to support you in giving learners exposure to HE experiences and in meeting the Gatsby benchmarks.
The Aspire Higher website provides a growing range of useful external and bespoke resources for prospective students. Access these resources here:
Access Aspire Higher's Bespoke Resources
Access Aspire Higher's External Links
LCEP work led by the University of Bedfordshire works in a way that complements, supports and builds on from the partnerships that UoB are engaged in through Aspire Higher. Resources are jointly produced and are shared through LCEP and on the Aspire Higher site
Key Resource: Cultural Education in England: An independent review by Darren Henley for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education
The review from 2012 is a useful publication to consider for teachers and educators. The review considers the interrelation between cultural education from the perspective of DCMS and DfE and supports arguments for embedding cultural education into school and cultural settings.
Download the Cultural Education report [PDF]
Key Resource: Cultural Education: A summary of programmes and opportunities
The report from 2013 provides a useful summary of cultural education, with appendices that include overviews of arm's length bodies who can support schools, teachers and support staff in delivering/growing cultural education in school.
Download Cultural Education: A summary of programmes and opportunities [PDF]
Key Term: National Portfolio Organisations, Music Hubs, Bridge Organisations & Creative People and Places Projects
It is useful to understand the relevant terms that come from Arts Council England's core funded programmes. The below programmes are supported through Arts Council England funding across the country:
- National Portfolio Organisations, or NPOs, are leaders in their areas, with a collective responsibility to protect and develop the national arts and cultural ecology. They are funded by Arts Council England (ACE) through a tiered system. Public investment brings public accountability, for ACE and for the organisations they invest in, and this is reflected in ACE's expectations.
Many NPOs have specific engagement and development targets surrounding cultural education and children and young people, and so it is worth knowing the local NPOs near to you and your educational setting and form a relationship with them.
How Arts Council England works with NPOs can be better understood by the Relationship Framework [PDF]
- Music Education Hubs are groups of organisations – such as local authorities, schools, other hubs, art organisations, community or voluntary organisations – working together to create joined-up music education provision, respond to local need and fulfil the objectives of the Hub as set out in the National Plan for Music Education.
Visit Arts Council England's website for more information about Music Hubs and how they are funded
Their Relationship Framework document is also a useful way of better understanding the role and work of Music Hubs [DOCX]
- The Arts Council funds a network of 10 Bridge Organisations to connect the cultural sector and the education sector so that children & young people can have access to great arts and cultural opportunities.
They work with local schools, art organisations, museums, libraries, music education hubs, local authorities, Further Education and Higher Education Institutions and many other partners to develop a network of cultural provision.
They also support schools to achieve Artsmark and organisations to deliver Arts Award.
The Arts Council invests £10 million a year in Bridge organisations which are working in at least 100 places across the country to galvanize Local Cultural Education Partnerships
Bridge Organisations are co-funded with the Department for Education.
In Bedfordshire, our Bridge Organisation is Royal Opera House Bridge, or ROH Bridge. ROH Bridge not only cover Beds, but Essex, Hertfordshire and North Kent as well.
Find out more about Bridge Organisations
Find out more about ROH Bridge
- Creative People and Places Projects, or CPPs, have been developed to support more people choose, create and take part in brilliant art experiences in the places where they live. CPPs are funded by Arts Council England, and there are 30 independent projects based in areas where there are fewer opportunities to get involved with the arts. The CPP in Bedfordshire is Revoluton Arts. CPPs are an action research programme, and they share our learning widely.
More information about CPPs and their impact is shared on the main Creative People and Places projects website
Sign up here to receive email updates about CPPS
Arts Council England also provide development and project funding that may be of use to schools. More information about funding can be found on the TestBeds resources page under funding. The Creative Teachers' Network in both Luton and Bedford can also support schools who are considering applying for ACE (or any other) funding for creative education.
Key Term: Higher Education Access and Participation Plans
Access and Participation plans set out how higher education providers, such as universities, will improve equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups to access, succeed in and progress from higher education. It is overseen by The Office for Students.
The APP includes:
- the provider’s ambition for change
- what it plans to do to achieve that change
- the targets it has set
- the investment it will make to deliver the plan.
See the OfS Access and participation plans
It is useful to know the targets a HE institution has set in order to best strategically align projects and collaborative outreach opportunities to universities. Furthermore it helps when wanting to better understand why your school may be considered a target for universities to provide enhanced support.
Key Resource: Young Participation in Higher Education
POLAR (the participation of local areas) and The Office for Students' new, experimental measure called TUNDRA (tracking underrepresentation by area) are two forms of data that Higher Education providers use to target specific forms of outreach. This data can be useful in modelling local demographics and demonstrating need by wider education providers.
Find out more about Young participation by area
Key Organisation: AccessArt
A registered UK charity AccessArt is a membership organisation, which relies on the income created from memberships to continue to expand and develop the inspirational resources it shares via the AccessArt website. AccessArt was founded and is led by Paula Briggs and Sheila Ceccarelli.
They facilitate high quality visual arts workshops and events to a wide audience, and are proud to share the ideas and outcomes generated through these workshops via an evolving collection of high quality, inspirational teaching and learning resources available from this site.
If you are a teacher or educator you’ll find their collection of resources will help you plan art lessons and provide ideas, inspiration and guidance.
They're proud of their resources which are based upon over 20 years of educational practice and believe by sharing them with you they can all work together to inspire the next generation of creative individuals.
Visit AccessArt
Key Organisation: MK Islamic Arts, Heritage & Culture
MKIAC has been operating in Milton Keynes (prompted by the 9/11 attacks) to connect communities, and bring people together through high quality shared arts experiences. They work in a diverse range of locations across the city including, community centres, schools, galleries, libraries and museums.
MKIAC deliver arts workshops, seminars and events inspired by Islamic arts and heritage. They explore the themes of Calligraphy, Architecture, Geometry, Arabesque and Garden design.
MKIAC believe that art transcends religion, politics and race and empowers the individual and benefits the community.
Visit Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and Culture
Key Organisation: Revoluton Arts
Revoluton Arts is a people-powered project on a mission to cultivate grassroots creativity in Luton and put on big, high-quality creative events that delight our town's diverse audiences. Revoluton are an Arts Council England Creative People and Places project
Revoluton are based at Marsh House Community Centre — see our contact page for more details. They run events and programmes that aim to inspire and support more Lutonians to engage in creativity in all its forms — from henna art to animation, dance to beat-boxing.
Revoluton delivers a range of opportunities:
- Online creative events — keeping Luton connected through creativity in self-isolation
- Large-scale, spectacular outdoor event commissions
- Residencies (working deeply embedded in a place for a long time) in:
- Marsh Farm (in collaboration with Marsh Farm Outreach) — working to put the ART into the heART of democracy with People's Assemblies
- Bury Park — featuring creative workshops, family events, creative forums
- Young people’s programme — creative skills development and experience for 16 to 30-year-olds.
- Open mic nights — a supportive place for 18 to 30-year-old performers of all types to showcase their talent or watch others perform
- Kickstarter Mini Commissions — investments of up to £400 for local creatives to try new ideas and reach new audiences
- Creative Cafés — events for local creatives to get together, share project ideas and forge new collaborations.
- The Producers’ Hub (in partnership with 1DegreeEast) — access for creatives to professional development, mentoring and long-term support from the best producers in the country.
- The Matrix — a digital platform for local creatives to showcase their work and connect with each other.
Visit Revoluton Arts
Key Organisation: UK Centre for Carnival Arts
The UK Centre for Carnival Arts (UKCCA) is a home dedicated to carnival arts, communities, learning and enterprise. Carnival involves highly skilled art forms across music, movement and costume. These art forms are rooted in traditions spanning the globe. The Centre runs carnival-inspired courses, workshops, seminars, outreach, exhibitions showcases, galas and events.
The UKCCA mission is to:
- Champion high quality art that is ambitious, challenging and innovative
- Connect, inspire and strengthen the Carnival Arts sector across the UK
- Unite, support, develop and sustain the cultural and artistic sector within Luton
Visit UK Centre for Carnival Arts
Key Organisation: Bedford Creative Arts
Bedford Creative Arts is a contemporary arts charity dedicated to commissioning high-quality art with communities and working with artists to explore new developments in socially engaged art practice. Their work is focused outside the gallery space in social spaces and in schools in Bedford and Bedfordshire. See BCA's Projects page to find out more.
BCA also produce The Culture Challenge programme for schools and cultural providers, and are an Arts Award Supporter
Bedford Creative Arts is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and a registered charity.
Visit Bedford Creative Arts
Key Organisation: Culture Trust Luton
The Culture Trust Luton is a vibrant and progressive charitable trust. They actively welcome the community to engage with their venues and enjoy the diverse programme of events.
The Culture Trust is proud to be based in Luton and in all they do, they're here to celebrate and support local talent, as they work to build a brighter future for arts and culture in Luton.
Their venues include:
- Stockwood Discovery Centre
- Wardown House, Museum and Gallery
- Luton Library Theatre
- The Hat Factory Arts Centre
- The Hat District
Visit Culture Trust Luton
Key Organisation: The Higgins
The Higgins Bedford unites on one central site three previous cultural venues: Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford Museum and Bedford Gallery. The buildings themselves date back 200 years and have their own rich history of occupation and use, even before they became used for their more recent cultural past.
Visit The Higgins
Key Organisation: The Place Bedford
Since it opened in 2003, The Place Bedford has developed a reputation among local audiences as one of the best places to see high-quality and cutting-edge professional theatre, as well as being the home of Bedford’s best amateur and community-led theatre companies.
A year round programme of theatre, music and film presenting a varied cross-section of work for everyone in the community: spanning children’s theatre, folk music, musical theatre, comedy, as well as our core contemporary drama programme.
The Place are dedicated to presenting work with a political edge, bringing the highest quality small-scale professional work to Bedford, and increasing the representation of diverse voices and experiences on the stage in Bedford.
Visit The Place
Key Organisation: The Quarry Theatre
Located on St. Peter’s Street, in the heart of Bedford, The Quarry Theatre are a performing arts facility for Bedford School and the town. St. Luke’s Church has been sympathetically adapted into a venue that houses a 282-seat theatre, a 50-seat studio-theatre, a spacious bar opening onto the original church garden and a foyer that displays pupils’ art as well as art produced by members of the local community. Although primarily a school theatre, our aim is to involve the wider community as much as possible.
The Quarry want the people of Bedford to be frequent visitors as audience members, participants in events, performers, or part of volunteer team of ushers and front of house staff.
The Quarry Theatre Mission Statement:
- We aim to involve the wider community of Bedford, as well as the Bedford School community, so that as many people as possible can take advantage of the opportunities the theatre has to offer.
- We aim to encourage people to share their work across the spectrum of creative, visual, literary and performing arts.
- We aim to engage and involve young people in theatre and the performing arts.
- We aim to collaborate with other schools, colleges, local and national arts organisations.
- We aim to provide a diverse programme of performances and events. The key criteria for our choice of events is: quality, relevance and entertainment value.
Their programming focus: new writing, original and imaginative work and innovative adaptations of the classics.
Visit The Quarry Theatre
Key Organisation: The Grove Theatre
Grove Theatre is situated on the edge of Grove Park in Dunstable. It is a cultural hub for the people of Central Bedfordshire and the wider region.
Grove provides a dynamic space for the enjoyment of a broad range of challenging, professional live entertainment and high quality cinema screenings; the encouragement of individual development through creative learning programmes for all ages; and the hosting of a diverse range of community and business events.
Their aims are:
- Ensure the products and events they offer represent a balance across genre, topic and age.
- Broaden the audience base for the arts through community projects and educational activities, as well as their programming.
- Provide the opportunity for local people of all ages to engage with and participate in the arts.
- Deliver the highest standard of service to all customers.
They believe in art that entertains; that actively encourages participation and engagement; that is fully inclusive and challenges pre-conceptions of theatre; that knocks down barriers to attendance and inspires people to enjoy what they know, and attempt something new. Grove believe it is their role and the role of the arts to support both the individual and the community in enhancing their overall quality of life and mental well-being through access to entertainment, education and participation within the community. They believe that art enriches lives and everyone should have the opportunity to experience that.
Visit Grove Theatre
Key Organisation: Full House Theatre
With audience at the heart of their work, Full House Theatre carefully craft, programme and develop theatre and performance projects for, by and with children and young people.
They exist to enrich young creative minds, delight young audiences, and nurture a lifelong connection with the arts.
Full House is committed to listening and responding to the needs of audiences, reaching out to all corners of the community to create lasting memories.
Visit Full House
Key Organisation: Milton Keynes Arts Centre
Milton Keynes Arts Centre is situated in the heart of the 18th century Great Linford Manor Park. The Centre present a programme of artists’ projects, events and educational activities inspired by their unique location. The Centre provides access to specialist ceramic, silversmithing and wood shop resources, and the space to explore new ideas and directions in the development of craft, design and the visual arts.
In 1974 MKAC became an Arts Centre and registered charity, nurturing arts, culture and wellbeing in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas. Past fundraisers have supported MKAC to provide opportunities for MK communities to benefit from arts and culture. These communities have included local schools; young people with special education and behavioural needs; homeless charities; and individuals with diverse physical and learning needs.
The Centre also provides a range of physical and online opportunities for schools.
Visit Milton Keynes Arts Centre
Key Organisation: Milton Keynes Gallery
Inspired by the unique history of Milton Keynes, the new MK Gallery building, designed by renowned architects 6a in collaboration with artists Gareth Jones and Nils Norman, is an iconic feature of the city skyline.
Changing exhibitions of international art sits across five large, beautiful gallery spaces. Cutting edge contemporary art will be displayed alongside Old Masters to present a dynamic, diverse and stimulating programme.
The Sky Room offers stunning views over Campbell Park and beyond while bringing the best contemporary film, experimental concerts, thought provoking lectures and a range of comedy nights to the city centre.
MK Gallery works with partners locally, nationally and internationally to bring the best cultural activities into the region. The Gallery is part of the Arts Council’s National Portfolio and a member of the Plus Tate network.
Visit MK Gallery
Key Organisation: The Stables
Wavendon Allmusic Plan Ltd (WAP) is a registered charity, founded in 1969 by the world-renowned jazz musicians Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine. It has a vision to engage the widest range of people with music in all its diversity.
Sir John and Dame Cleo began the realisation of that vision with the development of The Stables Theatre in converted outbuildings at their home, presenting concerts and education activities. The first performance took place on 6 February 1970.
In October 2000, the new Stables Theatre opened its doors, with a second phase of development opening in 2007. It is now home to The Jim Marshall Auditorium with 438 capacity (398 seated and 40 standing) and the smaller Stage 2 (80 seated and 10 standing or 120 standing) and presents around 350 concerts and 250 education sessions each year.
Education is central to WAP’s vision and encourages people of all ages, levels of ability and backgrounds to participate in music-making activities. Around 250 sessions are offered each year, ranging from interactive concerts for schools to participatory workshops and longer-term projects.
In 2010, The Stables produced the first Milton Keynes International Festival. Held every two years in July, the Festival is now established as one of the UK's leading multi-artform festivals. It is very accessible for all ages.
The Stables Theatre holds National Portfolio Organisation status with Arts Council England and is supported by PRS for Music Foundation.
Visit The Stables
Key Organisation: Next Generation Youth Theatre
NGYT was set up in early 2012 by Laura and David Lloyd with the purpose of providing high quality, accessible and inclusive dance and theatre opportunities to the young people of Luton.
NGYT believe in a two tier approach which enables them to provide both engagement and development in the arts locally.
NGYT create Theatre and Dance with young people. Their work is always written and devised collaboratively by members of the team or supported by external arts practitioners. NGYT not only recognise the importance and impact of the arts on young people but also lead and collaborate on creative projects for the benefit of wider communities.
NGYT offer a range of Theatre and Dance opportunities to local schools and colleges; from enrichment, to curriculum, to before and after school clubs NGYT are able to cater to the needs of your young people.
They also create theatre pieces that specifically cater to the needs of your young people. In the past they have created pieces around the issues of Hate Crime and Peer Pressure and are more than happy to create bespoke workshops and pieces that address the needs of your students.
If you are interested in NGYT working/collaborating with your school/college please download our packs for more information.
Visit Next Generation Youth Theatre
Other Key Organisations & Resources
Below includes a range of arts organisations who have online teacher resources that may be of use to you:
A selection of relevant local and regional arts organisations and resources that support family-friendly arts engagement.
We have also included a few London-based organisations that are easily accessed on public transport and/or provide resources online.
Do make sure you sign up to their newsletters so that you can keep up to date!
Bitesize
BBC Bitesize is a free online study support resource designed to help with learning, revision and homework.
Bitesize provides support for learners aged 5 to 16+ across a wide range of school subjects. It also supports children and young people’s wellbeing and career choices. From April 20th Bitesize will be publishing daily lessons to help students across the UK with home schooling.
Bitesize guides are written by teachers and subject experts and are mapped to follow the curricula of the UK. Secondary Bitesize follows exam board specifications for the main exam boards in the UK, including for GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 4, National 5 & Highers in Scotland, ensuring students are preparing for the right exams.
Discover Creative Careers
Discover Creative Careers is a website that is populated and led by a consortium of creative industry, education and skills-focused organisations. The website provides a useful selection of resources for teachers, which can be of use to parents, families and carers who are supporting young people into a creative career.
Bedford Creative Arts, Bedford
Bedford Creative Arts is a contemporary arts charity dedicated to commissioning high-quality art with communities and working with artists to explore new developments in socially engaged art practice. Their work is focused outside the gallery space in social spaces and in schools in Bedford and Bedfordshire. See BCA's Projects page to find out more.
BCA provide bespoke support to local parents, with more information available on The Culture Challenge: Parents
BCA also produce The Culture Challenge programme for schools and cultural providers, and are an Arts Award Supporter
Visit Bedford Creative Arts
Full House Theatre, Bedfordshire
With audience at the heart of their work, Full House Theatre carefully craft, programme and develop theatre and performance projects for, by and with children and young people.
They exist to enrich young creative minds, delight young audiences, and nurture a lifelong connection with the arts.
Full House is committed to listening and responding to the needs of audiences, reaching out to all corners of the community to create lasting memories.
Visit the Full House Theatre
The Culture Trust Luton, Luton and online
The Culture Trust Luton is a vibrant and progressive charitable trust. They actively welcome the community to engage with their venues and enjoy the diverse programme of events.
The Culture Trust is proud to be based in Luton and in all they do, they're here to celebrate and support local talent, as they work to build a brighter future for arts and culture in Luton.
Their venues include:
- Stockwood Discovery Centre
- Wardown House, Museum and Gallery
- The Hat Factory Arts Centre
- The Hat District
Visit Culture Trust Luton
Revoluton Arts, Luton and online
Revoluton Arts is a people-powered project on a mission to cultivate grassroots creativity in Luton and put on big, high-quality creative events that delight Luton town's diverse audiences. Revoluton are an Arts Council England Creative People and Places project
Revoluton are based at Marsh House Community Centre — see their contact page for more details. They run events and programmes that aim to inspire and support more Lutonians to engage in creativity in all its forms — from henna art to animation, dance to beat-boxing.
Revoluton delivers a range of opportunities:
- Online creative events — keeping Luton connected through creativity in self-isolation
- Large-scale, spectacular outdoor event commissions
- Residencies (working deeply embedded in a place for a long time) in:
- Marsh Farm (in collaboration with Marsh Farm Outreach) — working to put the ART into the heART of democracy with People's Assemblies
- Bury Park — featuring creative workshops, family events, creative forums
- Young people’s programme — creative skills development and experience for 16 to 30-year-olds.
- Open mic nights — a supportive place for 18 to 30-year-old performers of all types to showcase their talent or watch others perform
- Kickstarter Mini Commissions — investments of up to £400 for local creatives to try new ideas and reach new audiences
- Creative Cafés — events for local creatives to get together, share project ideas and forge new collaborations.
- The Producers’ Hub (in partnership with 1DegreeEast) — access for creatives to professional development, mentoring and long-term support from the best producers in the country.
- The Matrix — a digital platform for local creatives to showcase their work and connect with each other.
Visit Revoluton Arts
Tangled Feet, Bedfordshire and online
Tangled Feet is a theatre ensemble and charity, who create original, visually stunning, transformative performances, sometimes inside theatres but often in other public spaces.
Tangled Feet create atmospheres and experiences for the audience which are thrilling, surprising and memorable, which always feel 'live' and in the moment, where the unique reality of this audience, in this moment, right here is acknowledged and celebrated.
They are a dedicated ensemble and believe in long-term rehearsal and performance history. The company formed in 2003 as a group of like-minded artists and friends with a shared vision, and commitment to a collaborative, physical working methodology.
They also have a comprehensive participation programme for children and young people, including dedicated activity for families.
Visit Tangled Feet
UK Centre for Carnival Arts, Luton
The UK Centre for Carnival Arts (UKCCA) is a home dedicated to carnival arts, communities, learning and enterprise. Carnival involves highly skilled art forms across music, movement and costume. These art forms are rooted in traditions spanning the globe. The Centre runs carnival-inspired courses, workshops, seminars, outreach, exhibitions showcases, galas and events.
The UKCCA mission is to:
- Champion high quality art that is ambitious, challenging and innovative
- Connect, inspire and strengthen the Carnival Arts sector across the UK
- Unite, support, develop and sustain the cultural and artistic sector within Luton
UKCCA's Luton carnival and learning programme offers a range of opportunities for families to engage.
Visit UK Centre for Carnival Arts
Milton Keynes Islamic Arts, Heritage & Culture
MKIAC has been operating in Milton Keynes (prompted by the 9/11 attacks) to connect communities, and bring people together through high quality shared arts experiences. They work in a diverse range of locations across the city including, community centres, schools, galleries, libraries and museums.
MKIAC deliver arts workshops, seminars and events inspired by Islamic arts and heritage. They explore the themes of Calligraphy, Architecture, Geometry, Arabesque and Garden design.
MKIAC believe that art transcends religion, politics and race and empowers the individual and benefits the community.
Visit Milton Keynes Islamic Arts, Heritage & Culture
Milton Keynes Arts Centre, MK and online
Milton Keynes Arts Centre
Milton Keynes Arts Centre is situated in the heart of the 18th century Great Linford Manor Park. The Centre present a programme of artists’ projects, events and educational activities inspired by their unique location. The Centre provides access to specialist ceramic, silversmithing and wood shop resources, and the space to explore new ideas and directions in the development of craft, design and the visual arts.
In 1974 MKAC became an Arts Centre and registered charity, nurturing arts, culture and wellbeing in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas. Past fundraisers have supported MKAC to provide opportunities for MK communities to benefit from arts and culture. These communities have included local schools; young people with special education and behavioural needs; homeless charities; and individuals with diverse physical and learning needs.
The Centre also provides a range of physical and online opportunities for families, which can be found on MKAC Events
Milton Keynes Gallery, MK and online
Inspired by the unique history of Milton Keynes, the new MK Gallery building, designed by renowned architects 6a in collaboration with artists Gareth Jones and Nils Norman, is an iconic feature of the city skyline.
Changing exhibitions of international art sits across five large, beautiful gallery spaces. Cutting edge contemporary art will be displayed alongside Old Masters to present a dynamic, diverse and stimulating programme.
The Sky Room offers stunning views over Campbell Park and beyond while bringing the best contemporary film, experimental concerts, thought provoking lectures and a range of comedy nights to the city centre.
For families, The Gallery has weekly art workshops – Start the Art and Saturday Studio – and lots of other exciting programmes throughout the year. Adjacent to the building is the City Club Playscape – an artist designed play area – which will be open 365 days a year for children to play, learn and enjoy.
MK Gallery works with partners locally, nationally and internationally to bring the best cultural activities into the region. The Gallery is part of the Arts Council’s National Portfolio and a member of the Plus Tate network.
The Stables, Milton Keynes and online
Wavendon Allmusic Plan Ltd (WAP) is a registered charity, founded in 1969 by the world-renowned jazz musicians Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine. It has a vision to engage the widest range of people with music in all its diversity.
Sir John and Dame Cleo began the realisation of that vision with the development of The Stables Theatre in converted outbuildings at their home, presenting concerts and education activities. The first performance took place on 6 February 1970.
In October 2000, the new Stables Theatre opened its doors, with a second phase of development opening in 2007. It is now home to The Jim Marshall Auditorium with 438 capacity (398 seated and 40 standing) and the smaller Stage 2 (80 seated and 10 standing or 120 standing) and presents around 350 concerts and 250 education sessions each year.
Education is central to WAP’s vision and encourages people of all ages, levels of ability and backgrounds to participate in music-making activities. Around 250 sessions are offered each year, ranging from interactive concerts for schools to participatory workshops and longer-term projects.
In 2010, The Stables produced the first Milton Keynes International Festival. Held every two years in July, the Festival is now established as one of the UK's leading multi-artform festivals. It is very accessible for families of all ages.
The Stables Theatre holds National Portfolio Organisation status with Arts Council England and is supported by PRS for Music Foundation.
Visit The Stables
Next Generation Youth Theatre, Luton and online
NGYT was set up in early 2012 by Laura and David Lloyd with the purpose of providing high quality, accessible and inclusive dance and theatre opportunities to the young people of Luton.
NGYT believe in a two tier approach which enables them to provide both engagement and development in the arts locally.
Tier One: 0-18 years. Arts For All. A range of activities, mixed ability groups and companies where the aim is to learn new skills, build confidence, have fun and find your own creative voice.
Tier Two: 14-25 years. Auditioned Companies. NGYT have a youth theatre and youth dance company. They create high quality, professionally minded work with the aim to capture and reflect the creativity, thoughts and stories of young people locally. NGYT's companies create and produce their own original work. Together with a creative team of professionals the company decide on the message or story they want to deliver and work collaboratively to devise their shows. Shows are then performed in professional venues and toured locally and nationally.
NGYT create Theatre and Dance with young people. Their work is always written and devised collaboratively by members of the team or supported by external arts practitioners. NGYT not only recognise the importance and impact of the arts on young people but also lead and collaborate on creative projects for the benefit of wider communities.
Visit Next Generation Youth Theatre
Grove Theatre, Dunstable
Grove Theatre is situated on the edge of Grove Park in Dunstable.It is a cultural hub for the people of Central Bedfordshire and the wider region.
Grove provides a dynamic space for the enjoyment of a broad range of challenging, professional live entertainment and high quality cinema screenings; the encouragement of individual development through creative learning programmes for all ages; and the hosting of a diverse range of community and business events.
Their aims are:
- Ensure the products and events they offer represent a balance across genre, topic and age.
- Broaden the audience base for the arts through community projects and educational activities, as well as their programming.
- Provide the opportunity for local people of all ages to engage with and participate in the arts.
- Deliver the highest standard of service to all customers.
They believe in art that entertains; that actively encourages participation and engagement; that is fully inclusive and challenges pre-conceptions of theatre; that knocks down barriers to attendance and inspires people to enjoy what they know, and attempt something new. Grove believe it is their role and the role of the arts to support both the individual and the community in enhancing their overall quality of life and mental well-being through access to entertainment, education and participation within the community. They believe that art enriches lives and everyone should have the opportunity to experience that.
Visit Grove Theatre
The Quarry Theatre, Bedford
Located on St. Peter’s Street, in the heart of Bedford, The Quarry Theatre are a performing arts facility for Bedford School and the town. St. Luke’s Church has been sympathetically adapted into a venue that houses a 282-seat theatre, a 50-seat studio-theatre, a spacious bar opening onto the original church garden and a foyer that displays pupils’ art as well as art produced by members of the local community. Although primarily a school theatre, their aim is to involve the wider community as much as possible.
The Quarry want the people of Bedford to be frequent visitors as audience members, participants in events, performers, or part of volunteer team of ushers and front of house staff.
The Quarry Theatre Mission Statement:
- We aim to involve the wider community of Bedford, as well as the Bedford School community, so that as many people as possible can take advantage of the opportunities the theatre has to offer.
- We aim to encourage people to share work across the spectrum of creative, visual, literary and performing arts.
- We aim to engage and involve young people in theatre and the performing arts.
- We aim to collaborate with other schools, colleges, local and national arts organisations.
- We aim to provide a diverse programme of performances and events. The key criteria for our choice of events is: quality, relevance and entertainment value.
Their programming focus: new writing, original and imaginative work and innovative adaptations of the classics.
Visit The Quarry Theatre
The Place Theatre, Bedford
Since it opened in 2003, The Place Bedford has developed a reputation among local audiences as one of the best places to see high-quality and cutting-edge professional theatre, as well as being the home of Bedford’s best amateur and community-led theatre companies.
A year round programme of theatre, music and film presenting a varied cross-section of work for everyone in the community: spanning children’s theatre, folk music, musical theatre, comedy, as well as their core contemporary drama programme.
The Place are dedicated to presenting work with a political edge, bringing the highest quality small-scale professional work to Bedford, and increasing the representation of diverse voices and experiences on the stage in Bedford.
Visit The Place
British Film Institute (BFI), London and online
The BFI is the UK’s lead organisation for film, television and the moving image.
It is a cultural charity that:
- curates and presents the greatest international public programme of world cinema for audiences – in cinemas, at festivals and online.
- cares for the BFI National Archive, the most significant film and television archive in the world.
- actively seeks out and supports the next generation of filmmakers.
- works with government and industry to make the UK the most creatively exciting and prosperous place to make film internationally.
The BFI is the distributor of National Lottery funds for film. Founded in 1933, the BFI is a registered charity governed by Royal Charter.
Visit the British Film Institute
Rich Mix, London and online
Rich Mix is Community arts hub staging music, dance and spoken word performance, art shows and film screenings. They have provided a range of creative ideas and resources online for families
Turner Contemporary, London and online
Turner Contemporary is an art gallery in Margate, Kent, England, intended as a contemporary arts space and catalyst for the regeneration of the town. The title commemorates the association of the town with noted landscape painter J. M. W. Turner, who went to school there, and visited throughout his life.
The gallery offers a range of online resources for families
National Theatre, London and online
The Royal National Theatre in London, commonly known as the National Theatre (NT), is one of the United Kingdom's three most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House. Internationally, it is known as the National Theatre of Great Britain.
The National Theatre offers a range of online and physical opportunities for families. This includes providing a range of free plays that can be watched on their website.
Visit The National Theatre
Royal Opera House and ROH Bridge, London, Bedfordshire and online
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site.
ROH also provide a range of learning opportunities for families, including streaming performances online for free.
Royal Shakespeare Company and online
The Royal Shakespeare Company perform Shakespeare’s plays, as well as works by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and plays by today’s writers. They want as many people as possible to be able to access theatre at its best, so they bring their work to the widest possible audience through:
- Touring and residencies – UK and worldwide
- Broadcasts to cinemas Live From Stratford-upon-Avon – UK and worldwide
- Online activity
- Education work reaching out to 530,000 children and young people, including free Schools' Broadcasts
- Making our theatre more accessible
The RSC Learning Zone is also an offer which is useful for families.
The British Museum and online
The British Museum is unique in bringing together under one roof the cultures of the world, spanning continents and oceans. No other museum is responsible for collections of the same depth and breadth, beauty and significance.
Its eight million objects allow audiences to explore the extraordinary diversity of human cultures, from small communities to vast empires, to discover the many forms and expressions human beings have given to every aspect of life, and to realise how closely they are interconnected.
The Museum also has a range of provisions for families, which can be further explored:
Fantastic for Families, online
Fantastic for Families help families discover affordable and relevant arts and cultural activities from trusted organisers in their local area.
Fantastic for Families showcases new work created especially for families. They also feature information for groups wanting to experience arts and culture together.
Fantastic for Families want families to have confidence and trust in their local arts and cultural offerings, and to know that they will receive a warm family welcome.
You'll find art, craft, theatre, dance, music events and a lot more. You'll also find over 800 organisations who are accredited with the Family Arts Standards badge - a sign of quality and reassurance of an excellent family welcome.
Fantastic for Families began in 2013 as the national Family Arts Festival before becoming a year-round event listings service for families, launched in 2017. During their time as a festival they worked with over 3,000 arts organisations, hosting 20,000 events and reaching 2.2 million family members.
Fantastic for Families is run by the Family Arts Campaign, a national collaborative programme funded by Arts Council England and led by the visual and performing arts sectors to increase levels of arts engagement by families. To find out more about the Campaign and how to get involved as an artist or organisation, please visit Family Arts
The following resources, key terms and organisations have been consolidated for children and young people. You may also find that our resources for prospective students is of use too!
Discover Creative Careers
Discover Creative Careers is a website that is populated and led by a consortium of creative industry, education and skills-focused organisations. The website provides a useful selection of resources for children and young people interested in discovering more about creative careers.
Visit Discover Creative Careers
National Careers Service
The National Careers Service can help you with your career, learning and training choices. It is often referred to as NCS. This service is available to people who live in England.
Visit the National Careers Service
Discover Creative Careers
Prospects
Working at the heart of the higher education (HE) sector for more than 40 years, Prospects provide a range career and study recruitment options and work in close partnership with universities, colleges, professional bodies and government to deliver unique services that benefit the sector as a whole.
Although developed to focus on young people who have already entered university (e.g. graduates), the site is useful to explore when you are still at school/college as opens up ideas for what you might do after university, or help you consider why university may be a useful path for you. It also has a section specifically about the creative arts.
Visit Prospects
Creative Industries Federation
The Creative Industries Federation represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries.
Through their network of creative organisations, their influential policy and advocacy work and extensive, UK-wide events programme they support and celebrate the work of our members.
Their Creative Careers programme offers young people with a range of support on entering the creative sector, including gaining work experience.
Visit the Creative Industries Federation
Voice Mag
Voice is a magazine and platform for young creatives covering arts, culture politics and technology. Featuring the latest news and reviews, They're passionate about supporting young people to have their say. Voice hosts a wide range of perspectives from the next generation, from writing and videos to photos and podcasts.
Voice also creates content for young people doing Trinity College London's arts qualifications and they run Arts Award on Voice for young people working through Arts Award, offering ideas and support to young people completing awards.
Voice's parent charity is Upstart Projects, which supports young people to enjoy the arts and become the creative professionals of the future.
Visit Voice Mag
Bitesize
BBC Bitesize is a free online study support resource designed to help with learning, revision and homework.
Bitesize provides support for learners aged 5 to 16+ across a wide range of school subjects. It also supports children and young people’s wellbeing and career choices. From April 20th Bitesize will be publishing daily lessons to help students across the UK with home schooling.
Bitesize guides are written by teachers and subject experts and are mapped to follow the curricula of the UK. Secondary Bitesize follows exam board specifications for the main exam boards in the UK, including for GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 4, National 5 & Highers in Scotland, ensuring students are preparing for the right exams.
Visit BBC Bitesize
Browse Bitesize Careers
Revoluton Arts
Revoluton Arts in a Creative People and Places Project funded by Arts Council England. It is based in Luton, and offers a range of young people-led opportunities that are accessible to a range of ages and interests.
Visit Revoluton Arts
Arts Hub
Founded in 2000, ArtsHub has been one of the arts industry’s leading online portal, providing its strong and loyal subscriber base with the latest industry news and jobs.
ArtsHub publishes essential jobs and information for professionals working in the British arts industry. It is supported by our sister publication in Australia and has over 44,000 registered users.
Subscribers receive the latest jobs, news, information and services. Additionally, all subscribers receive access to ArtsHub’s widely read arts jobs classifieds and independent and authoritative arts news service, delivered via the ArtsHub website and weekly newsletters.
Visit ArtsHub
UK Young Artists
UK Young Artists (UKYA) is a registered national charity that champions the next generation of creativity, supporting collaboration and intercultural dialogue, ensuring a vibrant and diverse creative future for the UK. We develop artists’ practice through cross art form opportunities and celebrate creativity at national & international festivals.
Visit UK Young Artists
This section includes a range of resources and key terms for Creative & Heritage Providers to develop/refresh their creative education knowledge and output.
These items can be read in isolation, however if you are a practitioner who delivers/lives in Luton you may find additional support through the LCEP delivery provided in partnership with the Luton Creative Forum
UK Education System
Across the UK there are five stages of education:
- Early years foundation stage (EYFS)
- Primary
- Secondary
- Further Education (FE)
- Higher Education (HE).
The law states that full-time education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 (4 in Northern Ireland) and 16, the compulsory school age (CSA). In England, compulsory education or training has been extended to 18 for those born on or after 1 September 1997.
- EYFS: In England since September 2010, all three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free nursery education for 38 weeks of the year. Early Years education takes place in a variety of settings including state nursery schools, nursery classes and reception classes within primary schools, as well as settings outside the state sector such as voluntary pre-schools, privately run nurseries or childminders. In recent years there has been a major expansion of Early Years education and childcare. The Education Act 2002 extended the National Curriculum for England to include the Foundation Stage which was first introduced in September 2000, and covered children’s education from the age of 3 to the end of the reception year, when children are aged 5. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) came into force in September 2008, and is a single regulatory and quality framework for the provision of learning, development and care for children in all registered early years settings between birth and the academic year in which they turn 5. The EYFS Profile (EYFSP) is the statutory assessment of each child’s development and learning achievements at the end of the academic year in which they turn 5.
- Primary: The primary stage covers three age ranges: nursery (under 5), infant (5 to 7 or 8) (Key Stage 1) and junior (up to 11 or 12) (Key Stage 2) but in Scotland and Northern Ireland there is generally no distinction between infant and junior schools. In Wales, although the types of school are the same, the Foundation Phase has brought together what was previously known as the Early Years (from 3 to 5-year-olds) and Key Stage 1 (from 5 to 7-year-olds) of the National Curriculum to create one phase of education for children aged between three and seven. In England, primary schools generally cater for 4-11 year olds. Some primary schools may have a nursery or a children’s centre attached to cater for younger children. Most public sector primary schools take both boys and girls in mixed classes. It is usual to transfer straight to secondary school at age 11 (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or 12 (in Scotland), but in England some children make the transition via middle schools catering for various age ranges between 8 and 14. Depending on their individual age ranges middle schools are classified as either primary or secondary.
The major goals of primary education are achieving basic literacy and numeracy amongst all pupils, as well as establishing foundations in science, mathematics and other subjects. Children in England and Northern Ireland are assessed at the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. In Wales, all learners in their final year of Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2 must be assessed through teacher assessments.
- Secondary: In England, public provision of secondary education in an area may consist of a combination of different types of school, the pattern reflecting historical circumstance and the policy adopted by the local authority. Comprehensive schools largely admit pupils without reference to ability or aptitude and cater for all the children in a neighbourhood, but in some areas they co-exist with other types of schools, for example grammar schools. Academies, operating in England, are publicly funded independent schools. Academies benefit from greater freedoms to help innovate and raise standards. These include freedom from local authority control, the ability to set their own pay and conditions for staff, freedom around the delivery of the curriculum and the ability to change the lengths of terms and school days. The Academies Programme was first introduced in March 2000 with the objective of replacing poorly performing schools. Academies were established and driven by external sponsors, to achieve a transformation in education performance. The Academies Programme was expanded through legislation in the Academies Act 2010. This enables all maintained primary, secondary and special schools to apply to become an Academy. The early focus is on schools rated outstanding by Ofsted and the first of these new academies opened in September 2010. These schools do not have a sponsor but instead are expected to work with underperforming schools to help raise standards.
At the end of this stage of education, pupils are normally entered for a range of external examinations. Most frequently, these are GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Standard Grades in Scotland, although a range of other qualifications are available. In Scotland pupils study for the National Qualifications (NQ) Standard grade (a two-year course leading to examinations at the end of the fourth year of secondary schooling) and NQ Higher grade, which requires at least a further year of secondary schooling. From 1999/00 additional new NQ were introduced in Scotland to allow greater flexibility and choice in the Scottish examination system. NQ include Intermediate 1 & 2 designed primarily for candidates in the fifth and sixth year of secondary schooling, however these are used in some schools as an alternative to Standard Grades.
- FE: Further education may be used in a general sense to cover all non-advanced courses taken after the period of compulsory education. It is post-compulsory education (in addition to that received at secondary school), that is distinct from the education offered in universities (higher education). It may be at any level from basic skills training to higher vocational education such as City and Guilds or Foundation Degree.
A distinction is usually made between FE and higher education (HE). HE is education at a higher level than secondary school. This is usually provided in distinct institutions such as universities. FE in the United Kingdom therefore includes education for people over 16, usually excluding universities. It is primarily taught in FE colleges, work-based learning, and adult and community learning institutions. This includes post-16 courses similar to those taught at schools and sub-degree courses similar to those taught at higher education (HE) colleges (which also teach degree-level courses) and at some universities.
Colleges in England that are regarded as part of the FE sector include General FE (GFE) and tertiary colleges, Sixth form colleges, Specialist colleges (mainly colleges of agriculture and horticulture and colleges of drama and dance) and Adult education institutes.
In addition, FE courses may be offered in the school sector, both in sixth form (16-19) schools, or, more commonly, sixth forms within secondary schools.
In England, further education is often seen as forming one part of a wider learning and skills sector, alongside workplace education, prison education, and other types of non-school, non-university education and training. Since June 2009, the sector is overseen by the new Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, although some parts (such as education and training for 14-19 year olds) fall within the remit of the Department for Education.
- HE: Higher education is defined as courses that are of a standard that is higher than GCE A level, the Higher Grade of the SCE/National Qualification, GNVQ/NVQ level 3 or the Edexcel (formerly BTEC) or SQA National Certificate/Diploma. There are three main levels of HE course:
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(i) Postgraduate courses leading to higher degrees, diplomas and certificates (including Doctorate, Masters (research and taught), Postgraduate diplomas and certificates as well as postgraduate certificates of education (PGCE) and professional qualifications) which usually require a first degree as entry qualification.
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(ii) Undergraduate courses which include first degrees (honours and ordinary), first degrees with qualified teacher status, enhanced first degrees, first degrees obtained concurrently with a diploma, and intercalated first degrees (where first degree students, usually in medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine, interrupt their studies to complete a one-year course of advanced studies in a related topic).
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(iii) Other undergraduate courses which include all other higher education courses, for example SVQ or NVQ: Level 5, Diploma (HNC/D level for diploma and degree holders), HND (or equivalent), HNC (or equivalent) and SVQ or NVQ: Level 4 and Diplomas in HE.
As a result of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, former polytechnics and some other HEIs were designated as universities in 1992/93. Students normally attend HE courses at HEIs, but some attend at FE colleges.
Types of State School in England
All children in England between the ages of 5 and 16 are entitled to a free place at a state school.
State schools receive funding through their local authority or directly from the government. The most common ones are:
- community schools, which are sometimes called local authority maintained schools - they are not influenced by business or religious groups and follow the national curriculum
- foundation schools and voluntary schools, which are funded by the local authority but have more freedom to change the way they do things - sometimes they are supported by representatives from religious groups.
- academies and free schools, which are run by not-for-profit academy trusts, are independent from the local authority - they have more freedom to change how they run things and can follow a different curriculum.
- grammar schools, which can be run by the local authority, a foundation body or an academy trust - they select their pupils based on academic ability and there is a test to get in.
Key Stages
Schools in England are usually divided into the the following key stages:
- Nursery and Reception Years: (3-5 years old). More commonly known as the Early Years Foundations Stage (EYFS)
- Key Stage 1: Years 1 to 2 (5-7 years old)
- Key Stage 2: Years 3 to 6 (7-11 years old)
- Key Stage 3: Years 7 to 9 (11-14 years old)
- Key Stage 4: Years 10 to 11 (14-16 years old)
- Key Stage 5: More commonly referred to as College or Sixth Form. Covers Years 12 to 13 (16-18 years old). Subjects at this level are more tailored to each student’s further education
The National Curriculum
In England the national curriculum must be taught in all local-authority-maintained schools. Other schools, such as academies and free schools, are able to opt out of following the national curriculum should they wish to, although academies must teach a broad and balanced curriculum and include English, maths and science.
The National Curriculum sets out programmes of study and attainment targets for all subjects in all key stages, with the exceptions of English, Mathematics and Science. Some subjects are newly included into the curriculum for certain key stages – for example English and Mathematics, which will be taught to Year 11 pupils from September 2016. The Science curriculum will be taught from September 2016 for Year 10 students, and from September 2017 for Year 11 students.
Read the National Curriculum guidance on Gov.uk
Exam Boards
There are five examination boards in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland:
- AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance)
- CCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment)
- City & Guilds.
- Pearson Edexcel.
- OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Exams)
- WJEC (Welsh Joint Examinations Committee)
Many of the exam boards have useful resources on their websites that enable you to reflect on how cultural education is being taught at exam level. This includes resources that have been made by cultural providers for the exam boards. An example of these include Topic Exploration Packs made for OCR
Gatsby Benchmarks
The Gatsby Benchmarks are a framework of 8 guidelines that define excellent career guidance, which the Department of Education (DfE) expects schools and colleges to meet by the end of 2020. Not to be mistaken, the DfE explains that the benchmarks ‘are not a statutory framework but by adopting them, schools can be confident that they are fulfilling their legal duties’. In other words, the benchmarks will help school measure and improve their career provision. However, no government action will be taken towards schools that don’t comply.
The benchmarks reveal the first attempt to integrate career guidance into every educational institution across the United Kingdom – schools are tasked to guide pupils through their career planning, to distribute unbiased and professional information about the labour market; create the opportunities for professional networking; and organise educational experiences that would help students reflect on a variety of professional and academic pathways. Career guidance that was previously a responsibility of a pupil, their family or local community is becoming a ‘legal duty’ of every school - a service that should be available to all young people regardless of their social background.
Find out more about the Gatsby Benchmarks
Read the Gatsby Good Career Guidance
Bridge Organisations
It is common to hear about Bridge Organisations in both cultural and educational settings.
Arts Council England (ACE) funds a network of 10 Bridge Organisations to connect the cultural sector and the education sector so that children & young people can have access to great arts and cultural opportunities.
They work with local schools, art organisations, museums, libraries, music education hubs, local authorities, Further Education and Higher Education Institutions and many other partners to develop a network of cultural provision.
They also support schools to achieve Artsmark and organisations to deliver Arts Award.
The Arts Council invests £10 million a year in Bridge organisations which are working in at least 100 places across the country to galvanize Local Cultural Education Partnerships
Bridge Organisations are co-funded with the Department for Education.
In Bedfordshire, our Bridge Organisation is Royal Opera House Bridge, or ROH Bridge. ROH Bridge not only cover Beds, but Essex, Hertfordshire and North Kent as well.
Find out more about Bridge Organisations
Find out more about ROH Bridge
Higher Education Access and Participation Plans
Access and participation plans set out how higher education providers, such as universities, will improve equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups to access, succeed in and progress from higher education. It is overseen by The Office for Students.
The APP includes:
- the provider’s ambition for change
- what it plans to do to achieve that change
- the targets it has set
- the investment it will make to deliver the plan.
See the OfS Access and Participation Plans
For cultural providers, who are interested in engaging universities as partners to cultural education, it is useful to know the targets a HE institution has set in order to best strategically align. This includes the areas, target groups and specific schools which have been identified as requiring additional support.
Young Participation in Higher Education
POLAR (the participation of local areas) and The Office for Students' new, experimental measure called TUNDRA (tracking underrepresentation by area) are two forms of data that Higher Education providers use to target specific forms of outreach.
As a cultural provider this 'free to access' data can be useful in modelling local demographics and demonstrating need for cultural education offers to education providers, funders and local stakeholders.
Find out more about young participation by area