Further education criteria guidance resource Artsmark Part 2 2012/2013 further education criteria The term arts in the Artsmark criteria applies to a wide range of disciplines including learners within SSA9 subject areas: 1. Performing Arts, 2. Craft, Creative Arts and Design and 3. Media and Communications. Production Arts are included within Performing Arts Question Guidance for answers Why does the criteria ask for this? Assessment of criteria guidance The arts in your college 2.1 What is included in your college s arts offer and why is it important to your organisation? Provide a document or extracts from a document (could be an arts policy or prospectus) that demonstrates: what your college understands by the arts and which art forms are covered through your courses how your arts offer accommodates a range of learners levels and needs how your delivery evaluation includes a range of learner voices how the involvement in arts activity is open to learners outside of the arts/creative faculty how you link to the creative and cultural sector and higher education as progression routes how you ensure your staff are skilled to deliver their arts subjects (max 400 words) Artsmark colleges appreciate the role of the arts beyond technical training in a discipline and are able to clearly communicate what is on offer, and the importance of it. A strong vision and clear commitment will support and underpin the rest of your application, which enables you to demonstrate how you put your offer into practice. Additional to your answers to Part 1, this will enable you to celebrate what the arts means to your college and what opportunities are available to all learners across your community. This information may be extracted from a policy or any other formal document created by and committed to by the college. It should refer to the SSA9 subject areas your college offers and cover all the areas listed. 1
2.2 How do you know that your arts offer is of quality? Use information gathered through your processes for monitoring quality and progression to identify and explain your college s approach. Select examples from two accepted art forms (Artsmark level) or four accepted art forms (Artsmark Gold level), showing how this information has modified teaching practice (max 300 words). You will be able to use offline and online tools to help you collect this information. You can include comments from Ofsted inspections and refer to or quote from your self assessment report. All colleges want to take pride in providing high quality teaching and learning experiences. Quality should be measured by qualification success rate as well as learner experience. Measuring the quality as well as the quantity helps identify where delivery is strong and where improvements and developments can be made. Examples of how this information has been used to effectively modify teaching practice demonstrates your commitment to continuous improvement and quality experiences for all those involved. Explanation of the college s approach needs to show that you use a range of monitoring and evaluation tools which measure quality of provision, progression and define measurable learning outcomes through quantitative and qualitative evidence. Examples need to focus on how you know what you do is of quality and should identify that your arts provision reaches and exceed benchmarks and KPIs. 2.3 What arts experiences are offered to learners to engage them in and with a range of cultures and perspectives? (Max 300 words) As a member of the Artsmark network you will be signposted to examples of good practice that link to the wider quality principles developed by Arts Council England. Drawing on more than one SSA9 subject area, provide three examples of arts experiences that promote awareness, respect, appreciation and enjoyment of a range of cultures and perspectives (max 300 words). Examples can be drawn from arts experiences exploring culture, race, sexuality, gender or disability. We live in a diverse society and the arts are a great way of developing learners understanding and values in relation to it and supporting them to make connections within and outside of their community. The college location and learners backgrounds can sometimes limit understanding and awareness of the arts. An Artsmark college looks to widen the scope of experience, so learners appreciate the wider cultural significance of the arts. Examples should demonstrate how the college celebrates and values cultural diversity as part of embedded practice and not only as one-off (possibly tokenistic events). Examples may include: arts opportunities to learn about other cultures nationally or internationally working with local arts groups that promote cultural diverse activities to inform and enrich learning arts activities that enable students to make connections between their work and other cultures now as well as in the past Experience through participation or as an 2
audience member 2.3 Gold (additional question for Artsmark Gold) How do learners not studying SSA9 subjects engage with and benefit from your arts offer/provision? Describe how you plan and promote your offer and the impact it has had on all learners. Give one example of the offer in any of the areas of SSA9 and outline the benefits for those that have participated (max 300 words). Learners in further education have often focused in on particular areas of study, but their wider interests and talents should still be nurtured. An Artsmark college will support all learners to have opportunities in the arts and to make connections beyond the faculty they are studying within. An inclusive strategy or approach with clear aims for communicating and sharing your arts provision Diversity of engagement through participation and as an audience members This may include: Inviting audiences to see student art work, exhibitions, performances and gigs Invitations to attend events with guest lectures, artists or arts organisations. Evaluation and review processes which involves feedback from learners and inform s the planning and or modification of the offer. Excellence and wider impact 2.4 How do you provide specialist arts information, advice and guidance for learners about progression opportunities within education, training and future employment in the creative industries? (max 300 words) Give an outline of how information advice and guidance in the arts is made available to learners in your college. Give one example of how external links with the creative and cultural sector supports your information, advice and guidance. Give one example of how external links with higher education institutions supports your information, advice and guidance in the arts. Learners studying arts subjects will benefit from informed and relevant information, advice and guidance about potential careers in the creative and cultural sector. External links will help to maintain a high quality and up to date offer. Learners should understand the range of careers potentially available to them, and the variety different routes into these. At its best, information, advice and guidance is offered through a combination of skilled staff, external industry professionals and opportunities. This will ensure the best possible outcome for your learners once they leave college. Advice and guidence should be informed by practice and the requirements of the creative industries There should be a process for obtaining and communicating relevant advice and guidance and for maintaining its currency Provide examples of successful progression opportunities that have been developed and maintained Examples of learner progression into higher education or employment as a direct result of advice and guidance 3
2.5 How do you consult with learners to enable them to play an active part in developing the arts on offer in your college? Outline how learners contribute their ideas to decisions made about the arts in the college (max 300 words). Examples include: Through subject learner representatives Through individual learner plans Using surveys of learners opinions/feedback/ideas Through learner forums Give one example of how an idea was taken forward. Further education aims to further develop learners independence, interests and sense of responsibility. Listening to and acting upon views and suggestions made by learners and increasing their sense of responsibility in the life of the arts in the college will support this. Consultation and a genuine learner voice can add a great deal to the sense of belonging and level of engagement across college life, as well as usefully informing the future of your arts provision Examples should show how consultation resulted in action and change through a range of opportunities. It should be clear how: - you record and develop these opportunities - you review and make decisions regarding which learner contributions are taken forward. - course delivery or programme content has been developed as a result (this question is different from the leadership question at Gold level as it focuses on decisions about how you consult whereas the next question focuses on opportunities for leadership within an art form) 4
2.5 Gold (additional question for Artsmark Gold) What opportunities are available for learners to gain skills through the arts in leadership and enterprise, and how are these skills recognised? Outline why your college sees the development and recognition of these skills as important for learners studying the arts. Give two examples from across different art forms of what opportunities are available, and if they are recognised through Arts Award or another nationally recognised qualification that develops leadership in the arts (max 300 words). Artsmark colleges have an important role to play in supporting the development of future arts leaders. Offering formal recognition for these achievements raises the profile and increases the benefit for those involved. Examples of leadership skills gained should reflect the age and level of the learner and identify routes for further progression. They should Identify how learners leadership skills may benefit the college and other communities Examples should show how learners can develop skills in arts leadership and enterprise and how this is recognised and supported by the college, relationships with artists and arts organsiations, or through the learners own enterprise. 5
A skilled workforce 6
2.6 Describe how you ensure that your staff team are skilled and up to date in their arts subject by: a) explaining how you identify staff needs in the arts b) explaining how professional development impacts on teaching and learning in the arts a) Reflecting back on training that has taken place over the previous academic year or that is planned for the current year, provide one example of professional development in the arts for the following: Artsmark level = two examples; one each from two of the key art forms (max 200 words) Artsmark Gold level = four examples, one from all four of the key art forms (max 400 words) Examples may be drawn from: working alongside artists, conferences, external or internal training events, lesson observation in your own or another college, mentoring through arts practice, participation or audience experience within art forms etc) With increasing pressures on budgets for staff development, Artsmark aims to recognise colleges that are finding innovative approaches to managing ongoing professional development. This includes both formal accredited training and informal insights staff can feed into delivery. Reflecting on these opportunities will help your college to gain an insight into the impact, and inform future plans for further development in this area. A commitment to Continuous Professional Development for arts staff ensures that their skills and knowledge are relevant, and will result in a higher-quality arts offer, and a committed and supported staff team. Examples need to demonstrate that your college has a clear procedure for identifying staff development needs across a range of art forms. This may be through monitoring and review processes or subject area priorities Offer concrete examples which demonstrate how this has impacted on the knowledge of staff and their teaching. These may include how resources and facilities have been adapted to provide a more inspirational or work related environment, course structure modification, or changes to content delivered. 2.6 Gold (additional question for Artsmark Gold) How do staff who are also practicing artists share their creative practice within the college in addition to their teaching? b) Using the examples identified explain the impact the activity has had on the skills, knowledge and understanding of staff and how they have applied this to their practice (200 words) Outline how opportunities are offered and supported, and give two specific examples in different arts subjects (max 250 words). Artsmark recognises that many teaching staff are also practicing artists and that sharing their skills and expertise can benefit other staff and learners. Examples may include a range of public facing activities across the breadth of art forms in the curriculum including: Skills workshops Exhibitions Invitations to open studio events Peer learning opportunities through demonstration Identifying how they have led to new learning in skills and/or knowledge 7
Your college in your community 2.7 How do you share your progress, activities and achievements with the local community? 2.7 Gold (additional question for Artsmark Gold) How do you work with other education institutions to ensure they benefit from your best practice/leadership in arts education? Provide two examples that include a description of the roles learners and tutors play. Examples may include: through your website, newsletters, displays, broadcasts, exhibitions, performances and concerts in and outside of your college, festivals, competitions, partnerships with residential homes, celebration events etc (max 400 words). a) Reflecting on one example, provide a description of how this works and what you do (max 300 words). Examples could include leading arts based activities to ease transition into the college leading training for other settings to improve arts teaching and learning leading a joint arts based project with other settings allowing other colleges/setting access to your specialist resources or teaching staff learners leading workshops in schools, children's centres or youth centres Profiling your college s achievements and opportunities can be very advantageous to the profile of the arts faculty and the wider college, and also helps to maintain and build the status of the arts. By reflecting on how you share and celebrate the arts with the local community, your college can both celebrate what you do and identify other things that you might do. Involving learners in the leading, management, and participation of opportunities that engage the local community increases their sense of pride and responsibility in college life. It can also provide great experiences for developing skills and subject specific knowledge. Artsmark Gold colleges are seen as leaders of good practice and are therefore well positioned to support other settings. When colleges use the arts to work with other educational institutions they are able to give their learners some valuable learning opportunities, promote an appreciation of the arts and enhance the profile of the college. By collecting feedback from the settings you have worked with, you can really see the benefit of your offer/provision. This can help to inform how you build in this area and can also feed into your own Examples should show: How and who is responsible for gathering, updating and sharing information Responsiveness to developments and events within the local community Reflection on the purpose and impact of promoting the college achievement and successes. The example should demonstrate how: - your college ensures other organisations benefit from best practice for learners and staff - evaluation is gathered to show the impact on other education institutions - your college builds and develop leadership practice necessary or useful to other organisations. Quotes need to focus on how the partner setting has benefitted/ what difference it has made 8
b) You will need to provide a quote from another setting (with their contact details) describing how they benefit, from your arts facilities, activities, leadership etc. (max 300 words) Working with artists and arts organisations 2.8(Artsmark level only) a) How does your college choose and plan which artists and arts organisations you will work with? b) How do you evaluate the success and impact of the work? c) Outline a successful example of work with an artist or arts organisation during the last year, and explain how and why it was successful. a) Explain your selection criteria when choosing which artists/arts organisations to work with How do you develop the purpose of the partnership and consider possible outcomes? (max 200 words). b) Explain how you monitor, identify the impact and evaluate the success of the project or partnership (max 200 words). As a member of the Artsmark Network you will be signposted to effective practice in this area. c) Using your responses to questions a and b provide one example (max 300 words). practice. Learners benefit from understanding the reach of the arts and their impact on society and the local economy. Regardless of how many tutors are practising in the industry, it is important that learners have regular interactions with contrasting environments, artists and challenging briefs. Effective investment is crucial you want to see the maximum benefit and impact from any arts project. Being very clear about your processes of selection, planning and evaluation will help you to get the best out of the experience and inform future projects. Examples should show the college has clear criteria for selection across a range of art forms: Consideration given to areas such as: overall aim of the initiative, CRB status and other safeguarding issues, Public Liability insurance, identified learning objectives, contracts, taking references and other examples of best practice Demonstrate how you reflect back to the plan but also identify where unexpected learning has taken place Describe the learning objectives and the artist or arts organisation, and give examples to demonstrate why and how it was successful 2.8 (Artsmark Gold level only) a) How does your college choose and plan which artists and arts organisations to work with in a sustained partnership? a) Explain how your college selects an artist or arts organisation and plans to sustain the relationship (max 200 words) b) Provide a description of your most successful sustained partnership during the last year, including how it Sustained partnerships with professional artists or arts organisations can provide an excellent opportunity to build on success and maximise impact. Relationship building with partners also encourages learners to understand the benefits of collaboration. Link back to a plan or outline which demonstrates your approach to collaboration and ongoing planning, monitoring and evaluation, which shows you ensure that you learn from this 9
b) What has been the most successful example of a sustained partnership with an artist or arts organisation? Definition of sustained partnership: At least 3 occasions where contact time with learners is at least one hour each with the same learners and the same artist/arts organisation (not on the same day) within a period of one academic year, and where the partner and the college are working collaboratively in the design of the activity clearly links to the other arts courses offered and evidence of the impact it has had (max 200 words). c) You will need to provide a quote from the artist/arts organisation, with their contact details, that describes their view of the project/partnership and its impact. (max 300 words) It is particularly important for sustained partnership to be well maintained, planned for and measured to ensure that your college, staff, learners and the artist/arts organisation are getting the best possible on-going experiences. Evidence may include videos or photographs The quote from the artist/arts organisation should identify their opinion of the quality of the partnership how they were supported by the organisation, why/if they thought it was successful (impact) How has the arts organisation benefitted and developed their practice through working with the college or Where investment in professional development training is provided to staff and combined with at least two hours work with the same group of learners Strategic development 2.9 Looking back at your application, can you now identify what your particular strengths are and any areas for improvement for the arts offer/provision in your college? Identify and describe: a) three areas of strength b) at least one area for improvement, and your next steps in achieving it (max 200 words across a and b) Examples of strengths or areas for improvement could include: the breadth and range of arts based courses on offer the quality and range of arts resources and/or opportunities the profile and role of the college s arts offer with the local community the quantity and quality of links with artists and arts organisations the systems in place for monitoring and evaluation of particular arts Looking back over your answers should be a helpful process, as the whole application is designed to be an audit. The process should help you to identify where you have reason to celebrate and where there is still work to do. Building and maintaining a great arts offer/provision is an on-going process; there are always areas that can be developed further Please read back on all of your examples and answers throughout the application in considering the answer to this question. a) The descriptions of your strengths should be brief but very clear and each one should be distinct. (e.g. different art forms or covering different areas) b) Area/s of improvement should be described with clear and realistic next steps for achieving it/them 10
subject areas or arts initiatives. 2.9 Gold (additional question for Artsmark Gold) a) In three years time, how will your college have significantly raised the quality of its arts offer? b) What is your action plan in order to get there? a) Briefly outline your vision for your arts offer/provision in three years time (max 200 words). b) Describe your 3 key steps to achieving this (including building upon effective/successful initiatives or partnerships) (max 300 words). This will be an area for specific review on an annual basis Artsmark is designed to be developmental. Setting yourself achievable ambitions for the future will help your college not only maintain its excellent offer/provision, but also strive for improvements. When a setting looks forward to its role and responsibility in the next few years, it is important to respond to any changes in learner cohort, regional education and employment demands, as well as the facilities, staff and natural growth of offer/provision from learner aspirations. Arts Council England is developing a set of quality principles for arts and cultural education in collaboration with the arts sector. This may be useful when identifying what quality looks like for your college. (See links in the Network resource library) Use all answers in the application discuss with colleagues before considering the answer to this question Be specific and clear. Your college s vision should focus on improving the quality of provision, building upon successful arts projects and links to industry and higher education A full action plan is not required but the three steps should clearly show what you will do to work towards the vision identified. It is important that any targets / aspirations are measurable so that you can monitor progress throughout the next three years. Ambitions should be demonstrably different from achieving improvements individual areas 11
All applications must be submitted online, via the application portal. You must be registered with the Artsmark Network in order to access the portal. This resource outlines the criteria, questions, the purpose of each question and offers guidance on how each answer is assessed. It does not replace the application online form. 12