Great Art college for 14 year old in the UK

Is Steiner something you'd consider? It's not something I have experienced directly but I do know parents who have a similar outlook to you who have chosen it and been happy.

OP i have just seen that your son has an array of special educational needs

i think you need to pause about making this move unless absolutely necessary

It is true to say however that going to college and then uni without a whole bunch of GCSEs is possible. But to do that a student will need to start at level 1 at college (ie first year GCSEs - often in a class full of non motivated/badly behaved kids) and then level 2 and then 2 years of level 3. So will possibly age out of 16-19 funding pathway and will have to pay to fund their studies (if not studying subjects the govt think are useful - ie art, sport, music isnt "useful" so isnt funded in the way that eg childcare, business studies is) (To start at college on level 2 they need some GCSEs)
The student also has to take and retake Maths and English GCSEs until they pass (a funding requirement) and beyond that some unis will accept art students without GCSEs as long as they have other qualifications (eg Level 3 art and design)

I have a DS who is into Manga and I think AI created Manga is pretty good so if you are hoping to find an AI proof career for him that may not be it

Hello greenyellowturtle - I home edded my own kids from ages 5-16. I have to agree with another who has said that if your kids are only studying maths english and science they will struggle to join a secondary school at ages 12 and 14. Particularly having not grown up here. It will be such a huge culture shock as well.

Almost all secondary schools will have an art department that will suit for those ages so I wouldnt focus on that (goodness knows why people on this thread are suggesting places that are great for performing arts!)
80% of current jobs will no longer exist in x years time............ pmsl dont be ridiculous. And if that is true do you seriously imagine there will be work for talented manga artists?

m. I think it's worth remembering that 80% of current jobs will soon no longer exist,

Your 14 year old will be looking for work in 6 years. You think 80% of current jobs will no longer exist in 6 years time?

why has he only been studying english maths and science? that is a very restricted education and he will struggle joining year 10 in this country

I'm not being awkward pointing all this out. I have an autistic son who was to music what your son is to art. Extremely advanced in one particular area of music, obsessed with it and not wanting to do anything else.

We managed to get him through the minimum GCSE's in order for him to do a Level 3 Music Btec and he is now in his 2nd year of conservatoire. (and already working professionally on national and regional theatre productions alongside).

I found the link. https://www.cityofbristol.ac.uk/under-16s/

It is designed for those in elective home education or Alternative Provision but it makes clear that the core GCSE subjects are the responsibility of the student's alternative education provider.

Without the GCSE's the student will only be able to progress onto the Level 1 or Level 2 art courses aged 16 which are at a very low level. They will have to continue studying maths & English until they pass.

Level 1 and 2 nvq courses still have a requirement to take English and Maths gcses(or level 2 Functional skills) alongside and to progress to level 3.

As a minimum schools and colleges up until the age of 18 cannot get funding unless a student is taking or has already passed maths & English GCSE's. That is why if a student fails their maths or English GCSE and then goes to college they HAVE to study for a resit. It is also the law for state schools in the UK to follow the Key stage 4 curriculum which includes compulsory maths, English and at least double science. We cannot even take on a 16 year old plumbing apprentice at work without Maths & English GCSE's unless we send them to college to do their resit.

My daughter went to specialist vocational school from the age of 11 for ballet/dance. All students still had to study at least 8 GCSE's (most did 9) and they did their vocational specialism on top of that.

Are you sure about that? perhaps you could provide a link.

Or the Scottish GCSE equivalent if you decided to live there.

As PP have said, he absolutely needs GCSEs to progress anywhere in the UK education system! I assume he would be going into Year 10?

His future employability will require the basic gcse passes. Bear in mind no matter how talented he is, and he needs a proper portfolio to demonstrate this, he will be competing with those who have academic qualifications and skills.

He can't miss out on GCSEs unfortunately. He needs to get the minimum at least (which is usually 5 including English and Maths).
It would be hard for a college to accept him without having the GCSEs first.

He is 14 and no matter how talented and fixed on a career as a Manga artist he is he will need a back up so he needs to do Art as 1 of his GCSE's.
Also Art GCSE is not completely free choice, there is a curriculum that he will need to follow.
My advice would be to find somewhere to live that ticks your boxes, look for a school that has spaces (often a challenge) with good GCSE art provision and then post GCSE look for a 16+ course that focuses on what he wants to do, or even do A levels and look after that.
He is unlikely to be able to just do art at only 14, he needs a more rounded education

Yes, sorry not to make that clear in my post, but it’s mentioned as one of the gateways into a full degree, and the GCSErequirements include maths whereas the animation degree I linked only insisted on English.

BOA offer a Visual Art & design pathway. https://www.boa-academy.co.uk/key-stage-4/choose-your-pathway/visual-art-and-design

The art foundation degree you mention is not a degree, it's a one year pre-degree course, usually for 18-19 year olds, an excellent stepping stone between art at school and studying art full time at university. It is offered at many colleges across the country, not only at UAL.

I’m an art teacher; if he does art gcse or a level he must understand that he won’t be able to do anime all the time, especially if he wants to get a high grade. You can bring in elements here and there and perhaps focus on techniques such as animation. I have suggested that students with similar interests focus on the detailed watercolour backgrounds used in Studio Ghibli films for instance; this gives them an opportunity to show off their skills.
I have had a few students who only wanted to focus on Anime over the years and it caused issues, so he must start the course with his eyes open. Some realism is needed for the higher grades in Fine Art and Art, Craft and Design.
I don’t teach it, but it might be worth looking at Graphic Design (the art spec rather than the DT spec.)

He needs to understand he must do ordinary subjects as well for at least a couple of years.

Suggest he starts by looking at entry requirements for animation degrees. While his art skills are the most important he’s still going to need some GCSE passes. EG https://www.uca.ac.uk/study/courses/ba-animation/

And for the art foundation degree https://www.arts.ac.uk/subjects/communication-and-graphic-design/pre-degree-courses/ual-foundation-diploma-in-art-and-design#application-process