An incredible set of results caps a year where Hereford College of Arts was also rated Outstanding by Ofsted. 38 percent of all final-year students achieved the top grade of Distinction in today’s results, improving on last years’ excellent results.
Students will now go on some of the most competitive creative courses in the country for example.
The University of the Arts London, Glasgow School of Art & the London College of Music. A significant proportion of students have also selected to continue at HCA and join one of our internationally-renowned degree courses.
With a Distinction equal to three A*s at A-Level (168 UCAS points), a number of students are choosing to pursue other academic routes going into fields like teaching and linguistics.
Many others students take the experience they’ve gained from learning through real-life projects and start their careers right away.
Vice Principal of Further Education, Xaviere Hughes said:
“Each year it is fabulous to see the journey that our students go on with us at HCA. The class of 2024 has been a passionate, driven and really connected group, and I am delighted that we have seen an extraordinary sense of personal commitment and ambition with these students.”
“The world needs creative minds like never before and I have no doubt that this year’s progressing students will go on to use their skills and their talents to make a positive impact on our ever changing the world.
“I am thrilled for the students who have worked so hard to gain places at university all over the UK and I am also really pleased to see so many of our students choosing to carry on their studies at HCA in our degree programmes and other courses. It is a pleasure to have more time to share in their progress and achievements as they develop and refine their creative practices at HCA”
This year, Ofsted inspectors awarded HCA an Outstanding grade in all areas – and this has translated into immediate increases in interest in its courses, with applications to post-16 programmes up by nearly eight percent.
In Art, Design and Communication, 45% of all final-year students achieved a Distinction. It was also a strong year for students on the Foundation diploma in art and design – a one-year qualification that students can take after A-Levels or completing their Extended Diploma to build their portfolio, or UCAS points, while having tuition fees funded by the Government.
This year, nearly 90 students took the Foundation or Portfolio courses and 37% achieved a Distinction grade.
Mrs Hughes added:
“Every day we see how fast students develop when they learn through a subject they are passionate about in in an environment where they are free to explore their creative discipline.
“We were delighted that the Ofsted report recognised that the college has created a supportive and safe environment for young people to thrive and to be themselves.
“Creative education is not only a gateway to an extraordinary range of careers within the creative industries but opens up a world of other opportunities; it develops core skills and competencies required across many different areas of work that will help students thrive in a volatile, changing landscape. It is a privilege to be at the core of this highly personal educational journey for our students”.
If you are interested in finding out more about HCA’s post-16 courses, the next Open Day is on 19 October.
There are still some places available to start on one of HCA’s 13 degree courses this September. To find out more about the courses, and how to apply through Clearing, email outreach@hca.ac.uk or call the college’s Registry team on 01432 845 304 they will talk you through the process, and answer any questions you have.
