How to Apply
Applications for the 2025 cohort will open in January 2025. To keep up to date with this programme and the rest of the Arts Outreach offer you can sign up to our newsletter.
Once applications are open, you will be invited to share a short personal statement about how you feel you would benefit from attending our programme.
Each year 30 places are available on our residential programme. If we receive a significant number of applications, we will apply the following criteria to identify the applicants we would like to prioritise:
- Applicant works in a high priority school for the University of Leeds Access and Participation Plan.
- Applicant is not a current PGCE student/trainee teacher;
- Applicant teaches at a state or academy school;
- Applicant’s school is located in Yorkshire, North East, North West or the Midlands;
We will also consider the quality of applicant’s statements by assessing how clearly they express their need and potential benefit.
Unsuccessful applicants will be added to the waiting list and contacted if/when places may become available.
If you have any questions about how we handle applicant data, you can read the Educational Engagement & ATC privacy notice.
Reasons why you might apply
We have found these themes to be common in the statements previous applicants have put forward. They may help you think about the ways the residential programme could benefit you.
Professional Development and Skill Enhancement:
Many applicants have expressed a desire to refine their teaching skills, explore new methodologies, and learn from experienced professionals. Are you looking for opportunities to expand your knowledge base, gain fresh perspectives, and develop confidence in your ideas?
Networking and Collaboration:
Many applicants are eager to engage with like-minded educators, share ideas, and build networks within the art education community. Do you recognise the value of collaborating with your peers, and want to experience the joy of connecting with people in a position similar to you?
Curriculum Development:
Several applicants have wanted to enhance their curriculum by integrating art history into it, exploring new mediums, and through developing innovative teaching approaches. Do you want to create purposeful and engaging experiences for your students that develop their ‘cultural capital’?
Addressing Challenges:
Numerous applicants have highlighted specific challenges that they face in their own unique teaching context, such as engaging disadvantaged students, increasing cultural diversity in the curriculum, or addressing gender imbalances in subject uptake. Are there challenges you are facing that the residential could help you with? Could it be an opportunity to gain insights and strategies for addressing these challenges effectively?
Student Engagement and Empowerment:
Nearly all of our applicants have expressed a commitment to supporting their students’ creativity, critical thinking, and cultural understanding. Do you want to find new ways to inspire and empower your students through meaningful art experiences?
Personal Growth and Inspiration:
Many applicants see the residential as an opportunity to reinvigorate their practice and reconnect with their own artistic pursuits. Are you motivated by a desire for personal growth, creative rejuvenation, and a rekindling of your passion for art and teaching?