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Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Extra-curricular activities

Arts Awards?

14 replies

KatyMac · 26/07/2013 19:13

Hi is anyone's DC doing Arts Awards?

DD is and is working on her Silver

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EvilTwins · 04/08/2013 03:26

Hi Katy. I run Arts Award at school. It's fun, and the kids who do it (I have 18 on Bronze & 12 on Silver) enjoy it.

I'm a bit surprised your DD has time for it. Is she doing it through school? I know a lot of the stuff she does anyway will count for it, though.

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KatyMac · 04/08/2013 11:04

She did her Bronze 11/12 with The Garage in Norwich (an hour a week) & is doing her Silver with Artistry Youth Dance in Islington (less) - she is putting on a show in October for Black History Month which is for the Silver & as is being in her Ballet show (also in October) - so she is hoping to finish by Christmas

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NewFairy · 07/08/2013 16:13

Hi just wanted to say thanks for the link for this. I haven't come across these before, but certainly at bronze level I think my dd might enjoy having a go.

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EvilTwins · 07/08/2013 19:29

Find out if she can do it at school - it has to be done via an approved "centre" IFSWIM.

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Inncogneetow · 07/08/2013 19:42

ds2 did his silver this year. He just did things he would have been doing anyway, but logged them, reviewed them, wrote them up etc.

It wasn't particularly time-consuming.

I'm a bit sceptical as to whether these 'qualifications' have any real value, tbh.

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EvilTwins · 07/08/2013 20:24

Other than Gold, which carries UCAS points, I don't think they're seen as "qualifications". Still, nice to have it for CV/ personal statements - same as DoE, Music exams etc

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EvilTwins · 07/08/2013 20:27

Also, should have said, it's a nice way to recognise the achievements & activities of DC who take them.

As an official Arts Award Coordinator, I am also a bit cynical - the centre has to buy the badges/guidebooks (without which DC can't be entered) and then again for moderation. The whole process costs about £40 per entrant at bronze level, rising for silver & gold.

I don't pass that cost on to the students- school covers it.

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NewFairy · 08/08/2013 07:28

Evil - good advice thank you.

According to the website DDs school don't do it, but another local school does. Perhaps it's worth me dropping an email to her school ?drama teacher and asking if they would consider it.

Actually, as I'm typing I have just remembered that the school is putting on a big production next term so they would probably not have the time to set this up too - assuming they were interested in it!

Maybe I will just send an email saying DD is interested in doing it just as a FYI.
Shame really as the production would be an ideal opportunity for working towards the Award.

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tootssweet · 08/08/2013 07:37

I'm also an Arts Award Advisor. If your dc's do any extra-curricular arts activity at a local theatre or arts centre it's worth checking if they offer it. One of the good things about AA is that it doesn't have to be done in school (like the op's dd is doing it through arts organisations)

They do sit in the QCF framework from Explore up so are like a music or dance exam as a pp mentioned. I really like the award & having delivered them in a number of settings I can see the benefits particularly for YP's who are quite creative but get little to no recognition for it.

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KatyMac · 08/08/2013 07:56

DD loved the bronze - it came at a time that academic work was becoming boring & useless to her and it made her realise that writing was necessary. Her folder was the best the examiner has seen - which gave her a massive boost.

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NewFairy · 08/08/2013 08:10

I have just emailed DDs dance school to ask if they might be interested in offering it at some point as they are looking to expand what they do so it might be something they would consider.

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Lancelottie · 18/08/2013 22:35

EvilTwins -- what this about badges and guidebooks? DS1 has the Silver award and DS2 the Bronze, but nary a badge or guidebook has ever been in sight.

DS1 is already a bit miffed that his certificate names his brother's school, not his (as his isn't a centre). If he's missed out on a badge as well he might be double-miffed!

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EvilTwins · 19/08/2013 11:45

If the centre is doing it properly, the kids are supposed to have a guidebook (nothing to get excited about) and an enamel badge (v exciting!) whilst doing it and then the certificate when they're done. The centre has to pay for them though, so it sounds like your DS has missed out because of that Hmm We're doing Arts Award for the first time so the kids wearing the badges around school is good for raising the profile of it all.

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Lancelottie · 19/08/2013 22:26

Ah, thanks ET for the explanation. As DS1 was doing it off his own bat and wasn't at the school acting as his 'centre' I can see that he wouldn't have got a badge.

DS2 (who is at that school) is the type not to notice that everyone else had a badge and/or guide book anyway.

They do have certificates though!

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