Login to access your Arts Award pages

Special dispensation

What is special dispensation?

Special dispensation is the process of requesting authorisation for either, or both, of the following:

  • Young people who are outside the stated age limits for Arts Award to be moderated
  • Young people to not be present at a standard or joint moderation

Special dispensation is separate to requests for reasonable adjustments, for which more information can be found here.

Young people who are outside the stated age limits for Arts Award

Arts Award’s national qualifications support young people up to the age of 25 to develop as artists and arts leaders. A young person can be aged up to 25 for Arts Award Discover and Explore, or aged 11 – 25 for Bronze, Silver and Gold Arts Award at the time of moderation.

Special dispensation can be requested if:

  • All levels - One or more of the young people in a cohort will be 26 at the time of moderation (or date of Discover certificate order)
  • Bronze, Silver, Gold only - One or more of the young people in a cohort will be 10 at the time of moderation

In both cases the adviser must present a valid reason for the request and the young people who are granted special dispensation must be enrolled alongside a cohort who are within the stated age limits for Arts Award.

To request special dispensation for young people who are outside the stated age limits for Arts Award, please download and complete the Special Dispensation Request Form and send to moderation.team@trinitycollege.co.uk.

Please note, it is very unusual for special dispensation to be granted in any circumstance other than those detailed above. If you are intending on offering Arts Award to an individual who will not, at the time of moderation/certification, meet the above criteria, we strongly advise that you contact us before you start delivering. 

Young people to not be present at a standard or joint moderation

At standard and joint moderations, the moderator is allocated time to speak to some of the young people who are being moderated. We ask that:

  • 25% of the cohort (up to a maximum of 10 young people) are present to meet the moderator
  • Where cohorts number 80 or more, 15 young people are present to meet the moderator

It is up to the adviser to choose which young people will attend the moderation. Where possible, the moderator will meet young people across a mix of levels or projects, however this is at the adviser’s discretion and not compulsory.

Special dispensation can be requested if:

  • None of the young people can attend the moderation
  • Less than 25% (or required number) of the young people can attend the moderation

To request special dispensation for young people to not be present at a standard or joint moderation, please email your Trinity contact or moderation.team@trinitycollege.co.uk with your centre name and number, moderation date, and the reason for your request.

As long as a valid reason is presented, and the Arts Award team is notified before the moderation takes place, special dispensation for young people to not be present at a moderation will automatically be granted.