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Leeds Arts University is committed to supporting awareness of, interest in, and access to creative pathways through outreach activity.
Through our Schools and Colleges Liaison, we provide information, advice and guidance for schools and colleges that supports pupil progression to creative arts further and higher education.
Our Widening Participation activity supports participation from those historically underrepresented in creative arts higher education and industries, as part of our Access and Participation Plan.
We offer a range of outreach activities including in-school talks, informative campus tours, attendance at higher education fairs and careers fairs, and opportunities for developing creative practice. Our outreach activity is not limited to school and college groups. We recognise that more informal personal or group visits may be of interest, and will offer these where availability permits to prospective students and their parents/carers/guardians, designated teachers or support workers. We are also happy, where availability permits, to discuss engagement opportunities with local community groups. Please direct any queries to progression@leeds-art.ac.uk.
Talks
We can provide an overview of Leeds Arts University, the variety of courses we offer, our award-winning facilities and the benefits of studying here. Pupils will learn about the range of support available to them during their studies, and take a closer look at the career opportunities available with a creative arts degree.
We can deliver specialised talks for pupils interested in a specific course or subject area. Delivered by course staff, these share details of the course structure, as well as career opportunities and alumni success stories.
For pupils earlier on in the decision-making process, hear about the post-16 and post-18 options available, the benefits of higher education and whether a creative subject is the right decision.
We also provide teacher engagement. We can provide creative subject teachers with further information about Leeds Arts University and the courses available, the opportunity to engage directly with our course staff to learn about a specific course and what students can expect when studying at Leeds Arts University, and can explore opportunities for continuing professional development.
Campus visits
Delivered at our Blenheim Walk or Vernon Street buildings, we welcome pupils on a campus tour which explores the state-of-the-art facilities available. Depending on interest, we can pair this with a course-specific talk and/or workshop.
Delivered by our course staff, we also offer subject-specific workshops which allow pupils to explore and develop their current creative practice. Depending on interest, we can pair this with a course talk and/or campus tour.
Programmes
We also offer a range of programmes for those interested in developing their creative practice, or learning more about creative pathways for the future.
Preparing for Arts University is a programme aimed at pupils in Years 12 and 13 who are considering creative arts higher education. Taking place each September at Leeds Arts University, we can also deliver elements in-school and tailored to the specific needs and interest of your pupils. The programme includes guidance on the application process (including UCAS), writing a personal statement for creative arts subjects, portfolio development and interview skills, student finance, careers in the creative industries and more. For more information, please contact progression@leeds-art.ac.uk.
Offered on the University campus, our After School Club and Easter and Summer Schools are key aspects of our widening participation activity. These programmes provide considerable additional hours of extracurricular creative arts engagement to expand pupils’ creative skills and enhance their portfolio. The After School Club, aimed at pupils in Years 8 to 11, is held three times a year over six weeks of twilight sessions, with a different theme each term. Our Easter and Summer Schools, aimed at pupils in Years 8 to 12, are offered over three days in the Easter and summer holidays. Dates and sign-up information are circulated directly to schools and colleges in the local region we have identified as having high proportions of pupils from underrepresented groups, as outlined in our Access and Participation Plan.
Further information
Our outreach is also offered as part of a regional partnership of thirteen higher education providers, Go Higher West Yorkshire. You can find out more at our open days, or you may be interested in our financial support and the support we offer for disabled students or students with experience of care or estrangement.