Partnering with film experts for a world-first course
In 2022, the global film and video industry grew by nearly 12%, to a value of $273 billion. With this unprecedented boom in creative arts comes the exciting opportunity for emerging careers that have never existed before. However, it is often difficult for today’s students to envisage the routes to get there or even what these careers might involve. And, while academically sound, many further education courses do not adequately prepare young people for these real-life future job paths or equip them with skills fit for the future.
At ACS Hillingdon we are addressing this issue head on by offering our students the opportunity to work alongside some of the brightest brains in the film industry as part of our world-first course, Digital FX, which uses the framework of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Career-related Programme. Launched in August 2022, the first cohort of students have embarked on the unique Digital Arts course, developed in collaboration with the film industry, which ensures they are better equipped to kick-start exciting careers in the industry.
Our Digital Arts students benefit from collaboration with highly regarded industry specialists and mentors
from the Creative Media Studios Institute based in the nearby Pinewood Studios in Slough, where Hollywood films such as James Bond, Star Wars and Jurassic Park have been produced. The partnership with Creative Media Skills enables our students to participate in a wide-range of modules and develop important industry skills, including screenwriting, film production, set design, VFX and animation and costumes and make up, all skills that are highly valued by employers.
The variety of skills covered on the course aim to help young people to understand the breadth and scope of potential careers in the industry, which extend far beyond the ‘front-line’ careers typically associated with film and theatre, to a vast array of ‘back-stage’ roles where there are significant skills shortages and, therefore, many opportunities.
Gaining practical experience is essential for students who are hoping to secure jobs in the film industry, which has always been a very ‘hands-on’ sector. This, so far, has been a major success of the Digital Arts course. Not only have our students been given the opportunity to learn in an innovative, industry learning environment, but they are doing new and exciting things whilst being surrounded and educated by inspiring experts who have real-life experience and advice to share.
However, it is not all lights, camera, action – the course has real value for both the students who have career goals in the industry as well as for those who are not quite sure what career they wish to pursue, but know they enjoy coding, animation, game development and visual effects. The Digital Arts course offers a rigorous further education option that prepares students academically and to be career-ready, no matter where they go next.
ANDY GROARK IS HEAD OF CREATIVE ARTS AT ACS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HILLINGDON
It’s a really interesting course; we’re doing a lot of things that you don’t usually get to do in the classroom and which I’m personally interested in. Even before the course, I was really into game design and animation, but I didn’t have a way to further my skills and didn’t have any idea of how I could build a career based on it. I’ve since had the opportunity to work within the field of animation and learn from people actually in the industry
