Students drawing in school art room

Enter for Explore/Bronze/Silver/Gold

Latest Update (24/04/2025): Paper Certificates Are Back!

For orders submitted from Thursday 1 May 2025, we are returning to issuing paper certificates for Explore, Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. You will no longer need to submit your young people’s email addresses. For certificate information, visit artsaward.org.uk/certificates.

⇒ Quick Reminder: Recent Changes (from Dec 2023)

To make things simpler, we introduced a few improvements at the end of 2023:

  • The adviser assessment report form has been replaced with a simple marksheet.
  • Young people should only be entered once portfolios and adviser assessments are fully complete.
  • Centres no longer need to book moderation in advance.
  • Moderation is no longer required every time a centre enters young people.
  • If moderation is required, it now happens online via our portfolio submission platform.

These changes are still in place and help streamline the process for centres and advisers.

Overview

Arts Award Explore, Bronze, Silver and Gold are regulated qualifications meaning that centres entering young people for these qualifications must provide the advisers’ internal assessments to Trinity.

You can enter young people year-round—just ensure:

  • Their portfolios are complete.
  • Adviser assessment is finished.
  • You’re ready to submit their marks and details.

Moderation is not required for every cohort. If selected, your centre will be notified and must have the portfolios ready for online moderation.

Visit our Moderation page to learn more.

How much does it cost?

Explore/Bronze/Silver/Gold qualifications are subject to our per-person fees. The paper certificate and moderation, where required, are included in the qualification fee payable for each young person. For full information and large group discounts see our Qualification fees.

Before you enter young people

Before entering young people, make sure:

  • Portfolios are fully completed and assessed by an adviser trained at the appropriate Arts Award level.
  • All portfolios are ready for online moderation, in case moderation is required.

Toolkit reminder: Use the latest version during delivery and assessment. The current editions are the 7th edition for Bronze/Silver and Gold (2023). Download the latest toolkit.

 

How to enter young people for Explore/Bronze/Silver/Gold

⇒ Step 1: Complete the Enrolment and Marks Spreadsheet

Download the Enrolment and Marks Spreadsheet and fill in each young person’s details and marks.

⇒ Step 2: Submit Your Completed Spreadsheet

Choose one of the following submission methods:

 

 

What happens next?

You’ll receive the invoice and moderation confirmation as follows:

  • Email submissions: The invoice and confirmation of whether your centre will be moderated or not on this cohort is sent to the email address used to send the enrolment spreadsheet within 5 working days.
  • Portal submissions: The invoice is sent automatically via email to the person who submitted the enrolments and your centre’s Finance contact. Confirmation of whether your centre will be moderated or not on this cohort is sent via separate email to the person who submitted the enrolments within 5 working days.

Invoices are generated per order, and any group discounts are applied at this stage.

For moderation information, visit our Moderation page.

Note: Keep a record of each young person’s marks and a sample of portfolios or arts logs for at least 3 years. We recommend keeping:

  • A 10% sample, or at least 5 portfolios
  • Digital copies are fine—originals are not required

When will certificates be issued?

  • If moderation is not required, certificates are issued in paper format within 4 weeks of submitting your entries via the portal or email.
  • If moderation is required, please allow up to 8 weeks.

Find out more about Arts Award certificates.

 

Useful links

Arts Award Centre Map

Arts Award Shop

Book Training

Centre portal

Complete your centre registration and enrol young people