CREATIVES & PARTNERSHIPS

Royal Opera House Design Challenge.

Our students are no stranger to this prestigious design competition! The annual Royal Opera House Design Challenge invites students from colleges and universities across the UK to compete in four categories: Set Design; Costume Design; Hair, Wig & Makeup Design, and Marketing Strategy & Design.

Did you know?

In 2023, Lewes Student Sam Howard (left of photo) was joint winner of the Costume Design award for his work based on the character ‘Sarastro’ from The Magic Flute by Mozart.

Creative industries include:

Advertising & Marketing ·

Architecture · Crafts · Design ·

Fashion · Film, TV, Video, Radio & Photography · IT, Software & Computer Services · Publishing ·

Music · Performing Arts · Digital

Sam said, “It’s been a really great opportunity to try something new. I’ve never sewn before, and to actually go ahead and win this gives me confidence that I can go on and pursue different pathways in the future like costume, theatre and film. I’ve always had an interest in character design and concept art - designing these characters’ costumes has been really great!”

Creative UK.

We are proud to be the only FE college in the South East to be members of Creative UK. As an ESC student, you will get FREE individual membership to Creative UK. Our students have access to exclusive tools, tips and resources on starting a career in the creative industries and can take advantage of informative events, fun workshops and peer-to-peer coaching.

Art Venues.

We are excited to be working with leading local venues such as the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill, The Towner Art Gallery in Eastbourne, Hastings Museum and Hastings Contemporary to provide creative opportunities for our students. These venues provide an attractive option to students looking to gain experience in the creative industries.

Wave Leisure Partnership.

At our Eastbourne campus we are proud to deliver Sports lessons in a uniquely designed co-located studio space and state-of-the-art gym environment.

This unique partnership with Wave Leisure lets students experience a working professional sports environment as part of their course. This collaboration is cutting edge in delivery and leading the way for the learning of the future.

Discounted

Wave Leisure memberships are available to ALL students!

SCAN HERE TO... check out our Sports Park facilities.

Did you know?

ESC Lewes Dance & Performing Arts alumna, Martha Canning, debuted her performance, ‘Getting to Know You’ at the Spiegeltent venue at Brighton Fringe.

Creative Competitions.

We have worked with leading personnel from the creative industries to launch competitions for young people and students in the College and local area.

In recent years we have launched competitions in collaboration with world renowned artist, Stephen Wiltshire, and creative writing guru, John Agard - providing students with the opportunity to present their creative talents and win exciting prizes!

Hastings United & Skiltek.

Our successful Hastings Football Academy in collaboration with Skiltek Sport is partnered with Hastings United FC, making it an attractive option for Sport students.

In recent years we have celebrated continued student success through the Football Academy. Former students Jack Bates and Benn Ward have gone on to play football for Derby County and Burnley respectively!

Did you know?

Skiltek Sport has partnered up with Lancaster FC based in Pennsylvania, USA in a new initiative that offers student athletes the opportunity to study and play sport in the USA.

Creative Theatre.

Each year, secondary school students from across East Sussex are invited to take part in Creative Theatre, which sees them spend a day with the Theatre Royal Brighton technical team and our tutors and students. Our tutors run creative masterclasses covering set design, drawing techniques and special effects make-up.

We want you to feel safe at college and we have a team of wellbeing and safeguarding specialists at each campus to support you throughout your time with us.

Personal Development & Wellbeing.

Our Personal Development & Wellbeing Team can provide support with any issues you may be facing during your time at college (whether college-related or external), or any situation where you feel you are not safe and need help. Our Personal Development & Wellbeing Tutors are available to offer practical support and advice to those struggling with challenging issues.

Diversity.

We respect and promote diversity and recognise the value that disability, gender, race, sexuality, faith, culture, age and background brings to our lives and work. We strive to produce a working and learning environment that is safe and free from all forms of discrimination.

Health.

The Additional Learning Support team can help you to manage any health conditions that might impact on your learning, and provide guidance and support to your teaching teams as well. Whatever difficulties you may be experiencing, our commitment to support your learning is our main priority and we will do our best to help you get back on track.

Safeguarding.

We work closely with a wide range of external agencies to ensure that all young people are protected from any kind of abuse. Please visit the College website for further information on our safeguarding policy and the Safeguarding Team.

Additional Support.

If you require any additional help with your learning, the Additional Learning Support (ALS) and library team are here to help you. Our highly trained team meets the Matrix Standard for providing excellent Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) and Careers support. We’re serious about mental health and wellbeing and want you to feel good. We host a range of events, such as our Stress Awareness Month activities, to help you relax and focus before busy revision and exam time.

We prioritise building strong partnerships with parents, understanding that parental involvement plays a crucial role in a student’s educational journey. Through engaging welcome events and informative parents’ evenings, we ensure that parents feel welcomed and involved in their child’s education.

What is Further Education (FE).

Your young person is on the brink of embarking on an exciting new chapter in their educational journey known as “FE” or Further Education. FE offers them the opportunity to delve deeper into their passions and interests beyond school. It’s a chance for them to specialise in specific areas or industries that truly captivate them.

They can pursue Technical and Professional courses like Diplomas and T-Levels, which provide practical knowledge and skills. Alternatively, they can opt for a more hands-on approach through an Apprenticeship. Another pathway is to explore three A-Level subjects that align with their academic aspirations.

All of these routes are the next step in helping your young person prepare for work or university. FE is free to all young people starting a course if they are aged 19 or under on 31st August prior to them starting college. However, there may be additional costs for kit, uniform and trips.

Come & Visit Us.

We host a number of open events throughout the year at each of our campuses. This is a fantastic chance for you to visit with your young person, have a look around, chat to our tutors and get to know us a little better. Don’t worry if you can’t make it to one of our events, you can also book a campus tour!

Choosing the Right Course(s).

There are many qualifications to choose from at East Sussex College. Your young person may already know what they’d like to study, but don’t worry if they’re still undecided. Our highly qualified team can talk through all the options - looking at things like predicted grades, personal interests, and future goals. Our careers advisors are also on hand to guide and recommend next steps after college.

Safety & Wellbeing.

The safety and wellbeing of our students has always been our top priority. When your young person starts their journey with us, they will be allocated a personal tutor who will be their main contact for any questions, concerns, or problems.

Our Safeguarding team ensures that your young person is safe and protected. Our wellbeing mentors provide a safe space for students to seek advice and support about any issues they may be facing, whether college-related or something more personal.

Additional Learning Support.

If your young person requires any additional support then our Additional Learning Support (ALS) team can help. They’re an incredibly important part of our college and can help with things such as learning difficulties and disabilities, inclass support, and assistive technology.

Financial Support.

Students joining us from school, aged between 16 and 18, won’t be required to pay any course or exam fees.

There may be some additional costs for courses such as uniform, materials and equipment or trips, but students may be eligible for a grant or bursary. This topic can be discussed in greater detail during your young person’s interview or at enrolment.

Maths & English.

If your young person didn’t manage to achieve a Grade 4 in GCSE Maths or English, then they will be able to retake them at college. Depending on their grade and the outcome of a short assessment, we’ll be able to enrol students on the right level of course ensuring they can work towards gaining either a Functional Skills or GCSE qualification.

Education & Inclusivity for All.

As a college, we continually strive to ensure our college environment promotes diversity, respect, and inclusivity.

We collectively recognise the value that disability, gender, race, sexuality, faith, culture, age, and background brings to our college. We strive to produce a work and learning environment that is safe and free from all forms of discrimination. As a student of ESC, your young person is expected to treat others with respect.