As home educators, we’re always on the lookout for flexible, enriching alternatives to traditional exams, especially when it comes to nurturing our teens’ passions. For creative teens, the Trinity College ART Award is an absolute gem! It's a fantastic alternative to IGCSE Art for home-educated students, offering all the benefits of formal recognition without the rigidity of traditional exams.
Incorporating the Trinity College Arts Award into home education has been a game-changer for us, especially as an alternative to the more rigid structure of IGCSEs. The Arts Award, which offers five levels—Discover, Explore, Bronze, Silver, and Gold—gives home-educated teens the opportunity to develop their artistic and leadership skills across a wide range of disciplines like visual arts, drama, and music.
One of the key reasons we chose this for our daughter is the flexibility it offers. Unlike traditional exams, there’s no strict timeline or exam date, meaning your child can work on their projects at their own pace. This is great for home-educated students who thrive in less structured environments or who might find the pressure of exams overwhelming. The award allows for creativity to flourish without the deadlines that often come with GCSE or IGCSE courses.
The Trinity College Arts Award is such a versatile program, especially for home-educated teens, because it allows young learners to work on projects that suit their individual interests and passions. Let’s break down some practical examples of how you could approach different levels of the award.
Bronze Award Example: Visual Arts
For a Bronze Arts Award, your teen could focus on painting or digital art. A project could be something like creating a series of paintings inspired by nature walks or a digital illustration portfolio. Along the way, they would:
- Document their process, including research into techniques or famous artists for inspiration.
- Share their work by holding a small exhibition at a local gallery or online, which could also double as public speaking practice when discussing their work.
Silver Award Example: Performing Arts
If your teen loves drama, they might choose to create a short performance or direct a play with other local home-educated students. For the Silver Award, they would:
- Take on more responsibility, like organizing rehearsals and writing or adapting the script.
- Reflect on their process by creating a behind-the-scenes blog or video diary.
- Showcase their work by performing at a community event or putting it online, gaining valuable feedback from their audience.
Gold Award Example: Music Composition and Performance
For the Gold Award, teens working on music could compose original pieces and then perform them publicly or online. This might include:
- Composing a piano piece and recording the journey of creating, refining, and performing it.
- Leading a music workshop or collaborating with other musicians to share what they’ve learned.
- For this level, they could also explore the business side of music, maybe even producing an EP or performing at a local arts venue—building skills that could be useful if they want to pursue a career in the arts. Plus, they’d earn UCAS points to help with university applications.
Photography for Any Level
Another idea might be a photography project. A teen could document local landscapes, a family trip, or even something as simple as changes in their garden through the seasons. They’d:
- Learn about different techniques and equipment.
- Use online platforms like Instagram or a personal blog to share their work.
- They might also put together an exhibition or create a photo book to showcase their best pieces.
Exploring Cross-Disciplinary Arts
If your child enjoys multiple disciplines, they could combine them! For example, for a Silver or Gold Award, they could create a project that mixes art and poetry—like creating a series of illustrated poems or painting a mural based on a favourite book.
This kind of cross-disciplinary work encourages deeper thinking about how different art forms complement each other and helps build a broader skill set.
Entrepreneurship Example: Jewellery Making
For those interested in both business and art, something like jewellery making would be a great project. They could:
- Create unique pieces inspired by their favourite art movements (think Art Deco or Renaissance styles).
- Set up a small online shop, gaining experience in entrepreneurship, marketing, and customer service.
- Present their work in local craft fairs or online galleries—developing their leadership and communication skills.
What’s the Cost?
While the award does come with some costs, there are plenty of affordable options. Some organisations offer discounts or even free support for students to complete their projects, and there are often local funding opportunities available. It’s always a good idea to check with your local council or educational bodies to see if they provide any assistance.
For us, the Arts Award has proven to be the perfect alternative to traditional qualifications like IGCSEs. It’s a program that nurtures creativity, builds leadership skills, and provides teens with the opportunity to earn a recognized qualification—all without the pressure of exams. Plus, for teens who want to take their creativity into further education, those UCAS points can be the cherry on top.
So, if you’re a home-educating parent looking for a flexible, engaging alternative to IGCSEs, the Trinity College Arts Award could be just what you need!
Disclaimer: All recommendations provided are based on personal opinions and experiences. We do not receive any compensation or benefits from the links or products mentioned.
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