Traditional core school subjects don’t always engage young people, which is where more vocational qualifications such as Arts Award or The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award come into their own.

Arts Award is a great way for young people aged 11-25 to explore their creativity and gain a nationally recognised qualification. The Point is an approved Arts Award Centre and many of our artists are trained advisers so we can deliver the qualification on site. The award has three levels; Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Two groups of young people from Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) in Doncaster worked towards their Bronze award last year. This entry level award asks pupils to:

• Explore the arts as a participant and an audience member.
• Identify and research an arts hero or heroine.
• Take on an arts apprenticeship where young people share a skill with other young people and staff and take on the role of ‘artist’.

All the young people entered passed and got really positive feedback from the moderator about the level of skill and reflection shown in their creative portfolios.

Arts Award celebrates creativity and as such encourages young people to use a variety of methods to record and evaluate their work. This is particularly useful for those who are reticent to write and who are perhaps not used to reflecting on their own learning. Photography, audio and film were all used to great effect and enabled to young people to make use of their new skills.

This year pupils from three Doncaster PRUs will tackle their Bronze Award. We are also offering the Silver Award to those keen to extend their qualifications.