Continuing our celebrations to mark 20 years of Arts Award, Ade Ikoli, Arts Award Lead at Hopewell School in Barking and Dagenham looks back over his delivery of Arts Award and how the qualifications ‘recognise every step of a young person’s creative growth, not just the final outcome’.
When I first began teaching Creative Media, I quickly realised that many of my students needed a qualification that could flex to their interests, celebrate their individuality, and meet them where they were. Arts Award did exactly that.
For the past decade, I have delivered Arts Award across five different schools, including alternative provision settings, pupil referral units, and now Hopewell School. Each school has had its own challenges and character, but one thing has remained constant: Arts Award has unlocked potential in students who once believed education was not for them.
At Hopewell School, an independent special school for children and young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, Arts Award is woven through our Creative Media curriculum. Our work is deeply personal and therapeutic. We focus on the whole learner, supported by a team of teachers and therapists who help students develop both creatively and emotionally. The Arts Award framework allows that journey to be visible, measurable, and meaningful.
Creativity through technology
Our students learn through doing. In Creative Media, that means combining imagination with the latest digital tools. We explore everything from photography and film editing to 3D modelling, virtual reality, animation, sound production, and game design.
Lessons become opportunities for students to experiment with real industry tools. They use DSLR cameras, Adobe Creative Cloud, VR headsets, green screens, and haptic car simulators. They build virtual worlds, compose music, design characters, and edit their own short films. Through these projects, they develop literacy, problem-solving, collaboration, and presentation skills.
For many, this is the first time they’ve felt proud of a piece of work. It’s also often the first time they’ve achieved a qualification. Arts Award makes that possible because it recognises every step of their creative growth, not just the final outcome.
A framework that fits everyone
What makes Arts Award exceptional is its flexibility. I’ve seen it work for primary pupils taking their first steps in creativity, and for older learners producing professional standard digital projects.
I’ve delivered Discover, Explore, Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels, each building on the last and giving students a clear sense of progression. The framework adapts beautifully to SEMH and SEND settings because it values process, reflection, and individuality as much as product.
It’s not just about art in the traditional sense; it’s about creative thinking, self-expression, and resilience. Through Creative Media, students connect art with technology, therapy, and communication. They learn that creativity is not just a talent, it’s a skill for life.
Real success, real stories
Over the years, I’ve supported young people to achieve Arts Award qualifications, many have gone on to study Creative Media, Game Design, or Music Production at college. Some have gained work experience within our own media department, supporting peers with photography, filming, and sound editing.
One student, Ben, created a remarkable virtual exhibition for his Arts Award Gold project, blending history and storytelling through 3D scanning and virtual reality. His innovation earned him a national Engage Award for Creativity and Innovation, and he now studies Creative Media while working part time at the RAF Museum. is a powerful example of how the Arts Award opens pathways to both education and employment.
Every success story is different, but the impact is the same: a sense of achievement, pride, and belief. Watching students who once doubted themselves stand tall and present their work with confidence is the best reward any teacher could ask for.
Support and recognition
Hopewell School has been proud to hold Trinity Champion Centre status for the last two years, recognising our commitment to inclusive, high-quality creative arts education. This status celebrates the creativity, innovation, and consistency that our students and staff bring to every Arts Award project.
Our partnership with Trinity College London and the Arts Award team has been one of genuine collaboration. Their openness, guidance, and willingness to understand the specific needs of our learners have helped us to grow as a school and refine our approach to digital creativity.
The impact of this work has also been recognised internationally. I was honoured to receive the IFIP Global Inclusion Award at BETT London 2025 for inclusion through creative technologies, and to be named a 2025 Pearson National Teaching Award winner for Transformational Use of Digital Technology. Both awards are a reflection of how the Arts Award framework empowers schools like ours to make learning meaningful, modern, and accessible for every student.
Their ongoing encouragement continues to give me the confidence to push boundaries, combining creative technologies with wellbeing, and exploring how VR, AR, and digital storytelling can transform arts education for SEMH learners.
A shared celebration
As Arts Award marks its twentieth year, I’m reminded of the thousands of stories like ours happening across the country. Stories of young people who discover their voice, their confidence, and their future through creativity.
Image by Hopewell School:
Ben’s Arts Award Gold project centred on museum curation and digital storytelling through VR presentation, where he designed and directed a virtual exhibition inspired by military design. As part of this, he led a professional green screen photo shoot using authentic RAF flight equipment and models for his promotional posters.
Ade said:
'For me, this image perfectly embodies the impact and importance of Arts Award, showcasing how it opens real opportunities and celebrates creative growth. It truly captures the spirit of the 20 years of Arts Award and the positive difference it continues to make in young people’s lives.'