Creative Careers Graded Programme
The world's first accredited creative careers programme for young people aged 5 - 18 years.
A new style of qualification that builds a young person's passion and interest in their creative opportunities as they grow.
Giving teachers and students freedom to produce their own creative content to target school priorities.
A creative programme that can be taught to all school students aged 5 - 18, regardless of their interest and career ambitions.
Validated by U.K based awarding body GQAL, preparing for Ofqual regulation.
Whilst the creative industries themselves are a huge part of most national economies, ‘out of the box’ thinkers and creatives are needed in every walk of life. Creative Ed International's Creative Careers Graded Programmes provide the necessary transitional skills needed by all young people as they mature and build their aspirations.
Introduction
The creative industry is a huge sector of income and employability globally. Creative Ed International (CEI) have recognised that whilst there are many technical programmes available, there is a need for a new, fresh, knowledge-based programme that can be delivered to young people, that raises awareness of this sector and the opportunities available within this industry. All whilst teaching the myriad of transitional skills that creative activities provide.
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The captivating themes within the Creative Careers Solo Examinations and Cast Commendations embed the knowledge learning around an exciting practical task. These tasks can be worked into a school’s day-to-day curriculum or operations, for example, in school plays or assemblies. Private arts schools can use this programme to complement and add industry knowledge to a practical technique syllabus or end of year showcase.
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CEI programmes have been accredited by the Graded Qualification Alliance (GQAL) to assist teachers and centres to be able to offer their students a recognised, U.K regulated, supportive programme to enhance:
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Creative thinking and life skills.
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Learning about creative career options.
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The recognition and use of their transitional skills.
Countries around the world rely on the creative economy to produce jobs and growth, to stimulate innovation, to fuel tourism and to promote culture
The focus on creativity has improved results across the school, not just among the musically gifted.
Programme Structure
This programme is a series of eight stair cased levels, called grades. Starting at age five years, students can join this learning journey at any stage. Each grade incorporates creative thinking, knowledge of employment opportunities and job roles within the creative industry. Learning is based around a creative performance project that is flexible to the aims, resources, culture and religion of the schools and institutions. For example; schools may wish to follow the complete programme using public speaking or sample other art forms such as acting, singing, dance, poetry, spoken word, or commercial and film experiences like photoshoots or TV advertising.
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The Creative Careers Graded Programme offers two pathways:
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Solo Examinations
The Solo Examination pathways are accredited by U.K based awarding body 'GQAL'. Made up of a series of eight stair cased grades, in which the candidates are examined individually.
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Cast Commendations
The Cast Commendation pathway is CEI's non accredited group programme. It consists of eight levels starting with short group performances, progressing to a full scale production. Students will learn how to work as a team and produce a practical performance from concept to delivery.
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With no set work to learn in either pathways, the CEI Creative Career Graded Programme provides creative freedom to both student and teacher, making it easy fit into busy timetables and allowing space for different cultural nuances and social priorities.
Programme Strands
Theatre
Industry
The theatre industry strand teaches students about the variety of job roles on and off the stage whilst taking part in a practical creative project. The practical element can in the form of acting, singing, dancing, spoken word, poetry or public speaking.
Commercial Dance Industry
The commercial industry strand teaches students about the different employment scenarios a commercial artiste may find themselves in whilst taking part in a practical creative commercial dance project. The practical element must be performed in a commercial dance style.
Coming Soon!
Classical Dance Industry
The classical industry strand teaches students about the variety of roles found within the classical industry whilst taking part in a practical creative classical dance performance. The practical element should be performed in a classical dance style.
Coming Soon!
How can this programme benefit your educational environment?
Further or Higher Education
A structured youth programme catering for all abilities and interests that can be used off the shelf to enhance access and participation programmes as either short bite, intensive, or overtime support programmes for access to creative sector courses. Grade 8 (level 3) can be run as a summer school to prepare potential students’ access materials for FE/HE course destination applications.
Mainstream Private and State Funded Schools
Careers and industry information, advice, creative mind engagement, confidence and life skill development, aligned to international baccalaureate CAS therefore offering a dual award for the same time spent, school careers information priorities. Or a way to add an affordable stream of creative activity or arts into your school, working with time constraints, government priorities, financial and resource boundaries.
Part time, Extracurricular and Community Settings
Flexible and workable as tools for achievement and engagement / access. Short bite support for all educational environments to address social priorities, engage young people and provide alternative educational structure with accreditation points.
Full or Part Time Performing
Arts Schools
To use as a qualification tool to expose students to the wider scope of careers in the arts and creative sector. Can be used as a support mechanism in tandem with other technical graded programmes, to give context to the exercises and tasks students perform for examinations, recitals, or competitions. It also works to retain senior students in part time schools and supports students’ college destination preparation.
Programme Aims
CEI's suite of Creative Careers Graded Programmes aim to inspire and develop young people's creative instinct and ambition. The programme not only educates students about the wide range of employment opportunities available in one of the fastest-growing global sectors, but also teaches key employability skills for all walks of life..
Students are guided through eight stair cased grades developing their planning, problem solving, communication, self evaluation and various transitional skills for example, budgeting and project management.
Each grade is centred around a fun creative project which highlight the different job roles that the creative industry has to offer. The stimulus for the practical presentation is inspired by the title of the grade for example, grade four in the 'Theatre Industry' strand is titled 'Theatre Future'. Here the candidates are required to produce a practical presentation centred around futuristic ideas and the integration of Artificial Intelligence within theatre, alongside conducting independent research into the future of theatre. This can either be produced individually or as a whole class project.
The programme is aimed at developing creative skills to be used in ALL industries through existing creative mediums. To encourage and inspire creative thinking in all walks of life.
You can't use up creativity. The more you have the more you use.
Dr. Maya Angelou
Approved Centre Status
Schools are required to register as a CEI Approved Centre to deliver any CEI programmes. This is to ensure that the centre has considered its viability to deliver the programmes to its students in a safe and inclusive environment. Approved Centre Status allows acccess to teach CEI's complete suite of programmes.
Prospective CEI centres select their approval package based on the number of students that are currently enrolled at the school, complete an online application form and pay for their registration fee. After the payment and application form has been received, the CEI quality assurance team will begin to assess the application. The team might be required to contact the centre if there is any missing information or they require further evidence to officially approve the centre application, CEI want you to become a centre as much as you do and want work with you not against you.
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The approval application covers your ability to work within our policies, health and safety arrangements and to the quality standards, to ensure a competent and inclusive delivery. Once the CEI examinations office has received the application and are satisfied that the centre meets the required criteria, the centre will receive a welcome email with an 'Approval Welcome Pack'. The welcome pack will include an Approved Centre Status e-certificate, a digital approval badge, a useful contacts sheet and a link to register your students for each grade.
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An annual renewal fee will be taken from the account details attached to the centre's account, this annual payment acts as a renewal declaration. Should a centre decide to cancel their approved status mid subscription, CEI will close the centre account and no further payments will be taken. CEI does not provide a pro-rata refund for mid subscription cancellations.
1-99 Students
150
Every year
+£50 One time registration fee.
For schools with under 100 students enrolled. Register to gain 'Approved Centre Status'.
Valid until canceled
100 - 299 Students
250
Every year
+£50 One time registration fee.
For schools with 100-299 students enrolled. Register to gain 'Approved Centre Status'.
Valid until canceled
300 - 599 Students
350
Every year
+£50 One time registration fee.
For schools with 300-599 students enrolled. Register to gain 'Approved Centre Status'.
Valid until canceled
600+ Students
450
Every year
+£50 One time registration fee.
For schools with over 600 students enrolled. Register to gain 'Approved Centre Status'.
Valid until canceled
Registration Process
1.
Apply for Approved Centre Status
Select the approval package for the size of your school. Complete application form and submit your payment.
2.
Wait to Recieve Your Approved Centre Welcome Pack
Our quality assurance team will review and process your application, after review you will receive an email containing your Approved Centre Welcome Pack. You will also receive physical Approved Centre Certificate in the post.
3.
Register Your Students as CEI Candidates
After you have received your approved centre number you can then log into the centre shop to select the number of candidates you would like to register for each grade. After submitting the required amount of grade registrations and payment has been received, an order confirmation will be sent to you via email. A secondary email will be sent, with a link to access your candidate information form for you to complete and send back. Once the exams office receive the candidate registration information form, we will cross reference your candidate information form with your invoice and candidate numbers and relevant teaching materials will be sent digitally, including Teacher Delivery Guides and Student Workbooks for each grade. It is up to the centre how they will to use these teaching materials, some centres may want to use them digitally and others can print them. You will need your student's candidate numbers to enter them for examination.
You are now ready to teach and inspire the next generation of creative thinkers and innovators!
Approved Centre Welcome Pack
Following successful centre approval, the school will be sent a CEI Approved Centre Certificate via post. You will also receive an electronic welcome pack via email. The electronic welcome pack will contain:
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CEI Approved Centre E-Certificate
A digital copy of the physical certificate. The certificate will demonstrate that your centre has passed through the quality assurance process and is deemed to have the correct policies and working practices to deliver any CEI programmes in a safe and inclusive environment.
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CEI Approved Centre Digital Stamp
A small image that can be used on all your centre's marketing materials and platforms for example, website, socials and letter heads.
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Information on How to Access Your Account
Information on how to use your account, its features and what the next steps are to be able to access your Teacher Delivery Guides and Student Workbooks.
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A Contact Sheet for Relevant Support Areas of CEI
A list of useful contact emails and telephone numbers will be provided should you need to speak to a relevant department or person at CEI.
Research is showing that creativity isn't just great to have. It's an essential human skill - perhaps even an evolutionary imperative in our technology-driven world.
Definitions
Below are some definitions of terms used on this page.
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Student Workbook
This workbook is sent to you via email after candidate registration to give your students in any format you find the most suitable, some might use it as an electronic resource, others might want to print it. Full of interesting, age appropriate information around each grade work theme, the student is taken on a journey of tasks that lead up to and support their final examination at each level. This workbook is not assessed and can be taken into the examination to support the students’ performance. The student workbook works in tandem with the teaching delivery guide and can be used in parts or as a complete autonomous working tool, for independent student activity.
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Teacher Delivery Guide
This guide is a teaching resource that will enable you to deliver the programme in your classroom or studio. It is full of useful references, information, guidance and suggestions of tasks and related activities to get the best outcomes for your students. The guide works in tandem with the tasks and information detailed in the student’s workbook for each grade. The benefit of the delivery guide being sent electronically is that it gives you freedom to work with it, for example printed in a folder for you to make teaching notes on, or on a tablet / computer.
Entering Candidates for Examination
Due to the international reach of CEI programmes, we run a completely remote examination process. All examination material must be filmed and uploaded to our secure examinations portal. Our online video submission method eliminates the additional admin and hospitality elements involved in hosting an in-person exam session at your venue. See below the simple process for entering your students for examination.
1.
Select the amount of examinations you will be uploading
Log into your centre account, head to the centre shop and select the amount of grades you are entering and how many students are taking each grade. After you have checked out and we have received your payment, you will be sent an invoice for your order.
2.
Enter your students' information into the exam booking form
Shortly after receiving your invoice you will be sent an examination booking form. You simply enter the examination students' name, date of birth, CEI candidate number and which grade they will be entering. This form is then cross referenced with your invoice by the CEI exams office and an email will be sent with how to upload your students examination materials to the secure examinations portal.
3.
Upload your students' examination material
Following the instructions provided in your confirmation email, upload your students' examination videos to the secure portal. One of CEI's highly trained examiners will mark and grade the assessment material, the marks will then pass through our robust quality assurance process and be sent onto the awarding body, 'GQAL' for certification. Certificates will be sent to the centre via post. The sooner you upload your students' material, the sooner you'll receive your results.
DISCLAIMER: Creative Ed International Ltd does not provide any guarantee of success in our education programs, and we do not assume liability for any potential loss of earnings incurred by schools or individuals participating in our programs. While we strive to deliver high-quality educational services, individual outcomes may vary, and success depends on a variety of factors beyond our control. Participants are encouraged to make informed decisions and manage their expectations and delivery accordingly. Creative Ed International Ltd shall not be held responsible for any financial consequences resulting from participation in or delivery of our programmes.