Vision
Arts Colleges will raise standards of achievement and the quality of learning in their chosen area of the arts for all their students, leading to whole school improvement in performance.
Arts Colleges will nurture within their students a lifelong passion for, and appreciation of, the arts as both participants and discriminating audiences. They will be inclusive by promoting enjoyment of many different artistic forms and encouraging participation in a wide variety of artistic activity for all students.
Arts Colleges will be innovative in finding new ways for learners to learn well. They will identify ways in which the arts can improve learning in other curriculum areas. They will take a lead in using ICT as a means of enhancing learning in the arts and other subjects. They will enable students to work in school with professionals involved in the arts and creative industries and to enjoy artistic experiences outside the classroom.
Arts Colleges will maximise the opportunities for young people to achieve in the arts and gain access to employment, further training and higher education in the arts.
Arts Colleges will be centres of excellence for the arts, sharing resources and developing and sharing leading practice with other schools and their communities. They will be committed to the professional development of staff.
Ethos and key characteristics
Arts Colleges:
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Ensure that learning in the arts is marked by creative rigour and discipline.
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Place high status on vocational courses in the arts. Arts Colleges will want to look at how vocational courses could engage a wider range of students.
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Develop the artistic skills and understanding of teachers and make imaginative use of new technologies as a means of raising the quality of teaching and learning in the arts.
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Explore the potential of artistic activities to enhance learning across all curricular areas and promote high levels of participation in extra-curricular arts activities in the arts.
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Work with other schools and the wider community in sharing facilities, human and other resources with a view to developing learning opportunities in the arts, including through partnership with local, national and international creative industries and arts institutions.
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Involve professionals from the creative industries in school and community activities.
The three broad areas of the arts - performing, visual and media
There are three broad areas of the Arts - performing, visual and media. Schools may either focus exclusively on one of these broad areas or, if they prefer, focus mainly on one or the broad areas but include an element from one of the other two. For example, where the main focus is on performing arts the main focus could be on music and drama and the other element could be art and design. Arts colleges can also choose any combination of the three arts-based subjects.
Further information
There are currently 408 specialist Arts Colleges in England designated as part of the Specialist Schools Programme. In addition 25 schools have been designated in combined specialisms which include the arts and 24 schools have arts as a second specialism.
The link below has a list of all schools that have an arts specialism.
Click here for detailed application guidance.
Click here for a list of Arts Colleges (Excel - 119 KB)
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