This is a 4-day Spring School for students in Years 10, 11 and 12 running from 7th - 10th April 2026.

Event details

  • 7 April 2026 - 10 April 2026

    10:00-14:00 (GMT)

    UCA Canterbury

    Apply here

Dates: Tuesday 7th - Friday 10th April 2026

Time: 10:00-14:00 each day

Join us at UCA Canterbury for an opportunity to experiment, make, and explore in a creative higher education setting. Participants will take part in a mix of hands‑on art and design workshops, try out different creative mediums, and build work that can go straight into a growing creative portfolio. Along the way, they will also find out about inspirational artists, develop their own critical voice, and experience the independence of studying in a real creative university environment.

By completing the full 4-day programme, participants will achieve a Bronze Arts Award, a nationally recognised qualification that strengthens CVs, college applications, and future creative pathways. No previous Arts Award experience or levels are needed to take part in this programme.

Workshops will be led by experienced creative tutors, and all creative abilities are welcome to take part.

This Easter School is free to attend, and participants will be provided with a materials pack to support them throughout the project. Lunches are also provided each day.

If you would like to take part in this exciting project, please complete our application form. The deadline for applications will be 11.59 pm on Monday 23rd March.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch at outreach@uca.ac.uk.

Useful information

This activity is suitable for students in Years 10-12 who are studying or have an interest in creative subjects and would like to develop their skills and portfolio. 

The aim of the course is to provide an opportunity for young people to access free art and design tuition from a higher education institution to support them in the development of their portfolio of work, and gain a Bronze Arts Award qualification. It's also designed for students who may not otherwise have the chance to access such an opportunity. This work is funded through the UCA's Access and Participation Plan's commitment as approved by the Office for Students (OfS). The programme is aimed at supporting students who are under-represented in Higher education. For further information and a list of the under-represented groups, please refer to the OfS approach to access and participation.

We welcome applications from all, however priority will be given to applicants who meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • are the first generation in their family to study at higher education level (e.g. Degree, HND, HNC)
  • are currently eligible for Free School Meals
  • come from a neighbourhood with low overall progression rates to higher education (determined by postcode using POLAR 4 data)
  • are from a black or minority ethnic (BAME) background
  • are in, or have lived under local authority care
  • have caring responsibilities for a family member
  • have a disability
  • are studying without the support of family 
  • are an unaccompanied asylum seeker/refugee
  • are from a military family
  • are from a Gypsy, Roma or Traversal community
  • attend a KaMCOP, KMPF or HEON partnered school (a list of eligible schools is included below)
  • live in HEON or KaMCOP target postcode area

This information will be gathered via the application form and will be assessed by the University’s Outreach Manager and Outreach Officer.

If an applicant decides not to accept their offer, they must inform UCA staff via email as soon as possible so spaces can be reallocated where possible: outreach@uca.ac.uk. 

UCA processes data in accordance with the General Data Protection Rules (GDPR). The university's data protection policies and privacy notices can be viewed here.

Refer to the Outreach & Widening Participation Privacy Notice

You have the right to review information held about you. If you would like to do so or to notify us of a change of your details, please email outreach@uca.ac.uk. If, you believe there is no legitimate reason for us to continue processing your data and wish us to delete it, please contact the Data Protection Officer dpo@uca.ac.uk