Ade Ikoli, Head of Creative Media and Creative Technologies in Education at Hopewell School in Essex describes Arts Award as an ‘educational passport’ and explains how the qualifications have enabled his students to open doors to new career or educational pathways.
Hopewell School is an independent special school dedicated to nurturing and empowering children and young people with EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plan), SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) needs, and additional learning challenges.
At Hopewell School, creativity is at the heart of everything we do. Through their Creative Media lessons (where they are working on their Arts Award) our students access a personalised and inspiring journey that transforms their artistic interests into real-world opportunities. Whether at Explore, Bronze, Silver, or Gold level, the framework empowers students to develop creative and leadership skills that go far beyond the classroom.
From music production and podcasting to virtual reality and 3D design, our students don’t just study the arts, they live them. Read more in this blog post.
A personalised approach to creativity and the arts
Our purpose-built Creative Media Studio is designed to deliver cutting-edge creative experiences using the latest industry technologies. Students are encouraged to explore their own interests, experiment with new tools, and develop their unique artistic voice. The studio offers high-spec equipment that supports a wide range of creative disciplines, including:
- Game design and world building using next-gen consoles and PCs
- VR architecture and flight simulation
- 3D model making and AR environments
- 24-track music production and music video creation
- Dynamic podcast production from our esports arena*
- Digital storytelling, scriptwriting, and visual design
*Our esports arena serves as a dynamic creative hub where students design and develop characters, stories and computer games. These creations are then tested and reviewed in our podcast studio, fostering a comprehensive environment for storytelling and interactive gaming development.
This wide-ranging access gives each student the chance to work in their own creative space, making work that is deeply personal and future focused. Every project is tailored to individual interests and learning needs, ensuring every student is engaged and inspired. Read more in this blog post.
Skills that lead to real opportunities
The Arts Award framework not only supports artistic development—it gives students the evidence and confidence to move forward in life. The creative and technical skills developed through their Arts Award projects enable them to build powerful portfolios, preparing students for their next steps in education and employment.
Hopewell students who have achieved Silver and Gold Arts Awards have successfully progressed onto Level 2 and Level 3 college courses in areas such as game design, animation, music production, esports, and creative media. These qualifications act as educational passports that show colleges and employers what our students can truly do.
Our alumni have moved on to courses at Barking and Dagenham College, Havering College, and Essex College, where they continue to grow creatively and professionally.
Ben’s Story: from VR design to marine engineering
One of our inspiring success stories is Ben, a Gold Arts Award student whose leadership project involved curating a virtual reality exhibition exploring military and submarine design. As part of his research and review work, Ben visited the RAF Museum and later was invited back to do work experience there; an opportunity that directly linked back to his Arts Award portfolio.
While studying creative media at college, Ben returned to the museum for a second work experience placement. The knowledge, independence, and creativity he had developed through his Arts Award project helped him secure a further opportunity where he now works on the Thames River ferries as a marine engineer.
Now, two years on from completing his Gold Arts Award, Ben has since gone on to win the ‘Engage Award’ in the 2025 National Engage Awards in Manchester, for his Arts Award VR exhibition project. His story shows how a creative qualification can build a bridge to a meaningful and exciting future.
Creativity that leads somewhere
At Hopewell School, we don’t just deliver qualifications we nurture artists, designers, makers, and future professionals. Arts Award gives our students a real sense of identity, purpose, and possibility. It proves that creative learning, when combined with the right guidance and resources, opens doors to new pathways.
Our students leave with more than a certificate. They leave with a strong portfolio, a clear sense of their strengths, and the confidence to take their next steps, whether that’s into college, industry, or a creative career. Arts Award isn’t just about art. It’s about ambition, expression, and progress.
And that’s why it remains one of the most powerful tools we use to help young people build their future.
Photo: By Hopewell School. Exploring history through creativity. Ben visited the RAF Museum as part of his Gold Arts Award project, using the experience to curate a detailed Virtual Reality installation inspired by real aircraft and aviation heritage.
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