ACS Hillingdon's Expressive Arts course: Express yourself

The creative industries are some of the biggest employers in the UK, even reported as growing faster than the whole UK economy in May 2022. Despite this, the creative industries are often undervalued in school curriculums and students and teachers alike claim that existing further education creative and digital courses do not adequately prepare students for the workplace. All too often, students leave school with brains crammed full of facts and figures, but with no practical skills or ability to apply their knowledge.

Setting the stage for education in the 21st century

In West London, ACS International School Hillingdon has introduced a tailored, unique and world-first Expressive Arts course. It has been launched in collaboration with key players in the film industry to ensure students are better equipped to kick-start exciting careers in the industry. The two-year course is delivered through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Career-related Programme (CP), with students completing modules in set design, prosthetics, sound design, VFX and animation.

The school’s partnership with the global film industry means that it can access and benefit from collaboration with highly regarded sector specialists and mentors, including experts from the neighbouring Pinewood Studios in Slough. Pinewood Studios have created some of Hollywood’s most iconic films, including the James Bond, Star Wars and Jurassic Park franchises. The school’s joint approach with the company enables students to participate in a wide range of courses and develop important industry skills, such as screenwriting, film production, set design, visual effects, animation, costumes and make-up.

It is particularly important for theatre students to be exposed to all these disciplines, particularly if they are interested in careers offstage. Unlike onstage roles, where there is a perceived oversupply of talent, there are very few areas of the offstage workforce where there is believed to be an oversupply of skilled workers. In fact, a recent report by Nordicity showed the most significant shortages identified by employers were in technical offstage roles. This is the case both for current and future skills gaps, and with the limitations of existing creative and digital courses, this shortage across the UK is hardly surprising.

Unlike onstage roles, there are very few areas of the offstage workforce where there is believed to be an oversupply of skilled workers

A practical approach

The ‘expressive arts’ industry is very hands on, and learning is achieved by ‘doing’. It is therefore vital for students who are hoping to secure jobs in the field to be able to gain practical experience – both on and off the stage. Imagine dressing a set without ever setting foot in one, or being responsible for sound with no knowledge of the technical equipment used in the industry to record, amplify, enhance, mix or reproduce sound. There is no one better placed to prepare young people for the workplace than the people working there already. ACS Hillingdon’s Expressive Arts course blends theoretical, technical and subject knowledge with practical opportunities, in order to build the attributes young people need to secure and prosper in a wide range of 21st-century careers.

Already, this has been one of the highlights of the Expressive Arts course. Students have reported feeling independent, enthusiastic and more in control of their learning when operating outside of the classroom and inside an innovative, industry-learning environment. Our young people are doing new and exciting things they wouldn’t usually get to participate in within the classroom, as well as being surrounded and educated by inspiring experts who have real-life, on-the-job experience, tips and advice to pass on.

It’s not all ‘lights, camera, action’ though. A lot of hard thought goes on behind the scenes to ensure this course is a valuable steppingstone for students who have career goals in the industry. And for those students who are not quite sure what career they want to pursue, but know they enjoy screenwriting, animation, make-up and visual effects, this is a rigorous qualification that will open doors for them at some of the best universities in the UK and internationally. It is a brilliant further education option that prepares students academically and to be career-ready, no matter where they go next.

http://acs-schools.com/hillingdon/curriculum/film-programmeacs-schools.com/hillingdon/curriculum/film-programme