Hereford College of Arts is committed to widening participation in the arts by developing links between colleges and other Further Education providers, locally, regionally and nationally. By developing our partnership links we aim to provide activities and events for students from visiting partner/progression colleges to raise awareness of Higher Education and widen progression onto our Higher Education courses at Hereford College of Arts (HCA) particularly students following vocational level 3 courses at Further Education. 

HCA have Progression Agreements in place with the following schools and Colleges:
Bournville College
Cirencester College
City of Bristol College
Coleg Gwent, Pontypool
Dudley College
Gloucestershire College, comprising Royal Forest of Dean Campus and Gloucester Campus
Halesowen College
Hereford Academy
Hereford Sixth Form College
Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College
Ludlow College
New College Swindon
New College Telford
Newent Community School Sixth Form
Plumpton College: Artist Blacksmithing only
South Worcestershire College, comprising Evesham Campus and Malvern Hills Campus
Stratford Upon Avon College
South Gloucestershire College, comprising campuses at Stroud College and Filton College, and Queens Road, Clifton
Telford College of Arts and Technology
Worcester 6th Form College


Objectives of a Progression Agreement:
• Establish closer links with students and staff at the named institution
• Ensure clarity and transparency of information and guidance given to prospective HE students
• Widen the criteria for selection at 18+ and to give credit for achievement in areas of experience additional to the traditional examination performance

Aims of a Progression Agreement:
• Students will be able to identify appropriate progression pathways
• Students will know what to expect from the key stages in the application process
• Students will be able to apply their understanding of entry requirements to guide their work and prepare appropriately for the course application process e.g. the portfolio requirements to the production of their portfolio
• Students will be able to apply their understanding of the interview process to preparing appropriately for the interview

What HCA will guarantee for students applying from progression partner institutions:
Any applicant from our progression partners will be guaranteed an interview and portfolio review. We will normally guarantee to offer a place to any suitable student from the named college who is formally proposed in their application by their tutor and predicted to achieve the following:

• FdA entry: 160 – 200 UCAS points

• BA entry: 200 UCAS points

This offer is conditional to their portfolio or audition being judged to be of an acceptable standard. If the course applied for is considered inappropriate for the student, dialogue with the student and their tutor will be undertaken in order to reach agreement on a suitable alternative course of study.

What we offer students visiting us from our progression colleges:
We offer students from participating institutions a range of experiences and activities to support them in selecting and applying for appropriate courses
• Annual visits by designated staff to the named college to run awareness raising sessions
• Subject specific Higher Education taster days
• Portfolio surgeries and advice on how to prepare for the interview process
• Bridging and orientation courses for prospective students
• Parents’ Evenings and Open days for information, advice and guidance on the range of courses open to them and how to enrol

What we ask of progression partners:
We ask that they guarantee to
• Be responsible for the selection of students for entry to HCA and that students selected meet our entry criteria
• Be responsible for regularly advising the Progression Manager at HCA about progress towards meeting the commitment
• Ensure that students receive support in achieving their goals
• Ensure that student records are made available to HCA staff to confirm students’ attainment and personal development
• Distribute and circulate all HCA literature and course specific material to students and relevant members of staff
• Encourage your students to visit the College to attend workshops, Higher Education taster days, open days and awareness raising events
• Give our designated member of staff the opportunity to visit your institution at least once a year and meet relevant groups of students
• Publicise and promote the Progression Agreement with HCA within your College literature for the duration of the agreement. Click here for a detailed description of all our courses.

Contacts for progression:
If you are interested in talking to us about becoming one of our Progression Partners please contact Helen Vine, Partnership & Progression Manager: 01432 845343 or h.vine@hca.ac.uk or contact Becky Ashman, Marketing and Progression Officer: 01432 845345 or r.ashman@hca.ac.uk