AQA COURSES

2016/17

AQAs are a programme of nationally recognised accreditations, which provide recognition and tangible benchmarking for a wide range of achievements. As such, they are prized by employers across the country, as well as by students who gain both pride and confidence from attaining a nationally-respected award.

Zinc has created a unique syllabus, under the AQA Unit Award Scheme, which allows us

to offer Entry Level, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 accreditations. Learning is tailored to

each individual student, which builds confidence, self-esteem and emotional well-being.

All courses focus on communication, creativity, problem solving and teamwork.

Being under the AQA umbrella allows us to:

be completely flexible in terms of what, when and how learning can be accredited;

help students progress to further study, training, employment and independent living;

motivate, encourage, engage, support and raise self esteem; and

reward achievement that otherwise might go unrecognised.

Courses we offer include:

Employability

The Biz—devise, produce, perform

Catering

Drama

Film making

Dance—new for 2016

Visual art

Photography—new for 2016

Why AQA?

About Zinc

Zinc is an arts and education charity occupying a Victorian school in Ongar, Essex.

Although it benefits from being located in a wonderful historic building, Zinc’s education

programmes are the antithesis of those from the Victorian era. At Zinc, the emphasis is on

individuality, attainment and enjoyment, with students encouraged to learn at their own

pace, achieve their goals, and explore the world through the creative arts as well as

words and numbers.

Zinc works with people of all ages and abilities, with specialisms in working with children,

young people and adults who are disabled, learning disabled or mental health service

users, and those who find difficulty reaching their full potential in mainstream education.

We create inclusive opportunities for participants to be engaged creatively, motivating

individuals to achieve their full potential.

As well as the AQA programme, Zinc offers a wide

variety of fully accessible courses and workshops,

including the Zinc Summer School, drama work-

shops and bespoke programmes for a wide variety

of organisations. In addition, we also offer

community entertainment such as our Pantomime

and Firewalk, and a variety of weekly courses and

events that range from yoga and life drawing.

Have you tried the Zinc Café yet?

Within Zinc there is a café serving

tasty lunches, tempting homemade

cakes and warming hot drinks. The

perfect place to relax , have meet-

ings or wait for AQA students to

finish their class.

Free WiFi.

Term dates and eligibility

These programmes are for anyone aged over 16 years old. No previous experience

with the course subjects or involvement with Zinc Arts is necessary to join.

The 2016/17 term dates are:

Autumn term: w/c 19th September—2nd December. (Half term: w/c 24th October)

Spring term: w/c 16th January —31st March. (Half term: w/c 13th February)

Summer term: w/c 24th April—7th July. (Half term: w/c 29th May)

Want to know more about the Zinc Arts Accredited Qualifications? Contact our AQA

Team on 01277 365626 or aqa@zincarts.org.uk

Zinc AQAs can be funded through personal budgets: the money received (from the Council and other funding streams) to spend on Self-Directed Support (SDS). In order to get a Personal Budget, students need to be eligible to receive support from the Council. They must complete their local authority Self Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), and any other requirements specified by their local authority. If you have any questions or would like further information on personal budgets and AQA funding, please contact Dan Burman on 01277 365626.

Following their application, students will be asked to draw up a Support Plan, either on their own or with the help of another (e.g. a broker, family member, social worker, friend, etc.). This enables them to write down the important information about themselves and what they want to achieve in life. Zinc can provide guidance and information to potential students on which courses may suit them best. Simply contact us to arrange a meeting or request further details.

Course funding

Pricing:

Each term of an AQA course costs £555,

with the exception of The Biz, which is £585.

Please contact us to discuss further payment options.

Courses: Business skills

Our Employability course focuses on the real-life skills you need to make the transition

into employment. Be it voluntary, an apprenticeship or paid work, we provide you with the

training you need to achieve your goal.

The course covers a wide variety of skills, many of which are things that people wish they

had learned in school before they started work! It also focuses on empowering people to

discover their own strengths and learn how to highlight these in a variety of situations.

Build your confidence, practice your interview techniques and leave with a certificate that

demonstrates your full range of skills and capabilities to potential employers.

Learn all the skills required to work in a busy café

environment, in a course that offers a unique insight

into the catering world. You will be planning,

preparing and serving a full menu, practicing your

baking skills and covering all of the essentials in a

supportive and professional kitchen.

Leave the course with a new level of confidence,

whether you wish to pursue a career in the food

industry or gain a new level of independence.

You will gain a City and Guilds Food Hygiene Certifi-

cate as part of your qualification, and work-based

learning is also available.

CATERING

EMPLOYABILITY

Explore your creative talent here at Zinc Arts. Experience Dance, Acting, Directing

and Performing; whilst working as a team to bring your shows to life through set,

costume and stage designing and creating.

The Biz focuses on the skills involved in creating a performance. Participants are

encouraged to develop their roles and responsibilities in a supportive environment.

The course supplies the opportunity to engage in the learning, practising and im-

plementing of creative skills covering areas such as: Dance, Acting, Script Writing,

Prop Making, Costume Design, Directing and Performing.

During the term, participants will collaborate with professional creative artists in or-

der to inform their learning and contribute towards the makings of their show. At

the end of each term, members of The Biz will perform and present their skills

through the showing of the production they have been working to friends, family

and members of the public.

At Zinc Arts we support our students in their learning, making sure they are devel-

oping and engaging at a rate and level best for them. Our unit levels start at Entry

level progressing through to Level 3.

Courses: Business skills

THE BIZ

Courses: Arts

Ever wondered how your favourite film was made? Come along to our film

making course and learn all about the different techniques employed to take a

concept from script to screen.

We give you practical, hands-on experience with a camera, lighting and sound

equipment and editing software. Whether you dream of being the next big

Hollywood star or Stephen Spielberg then our course is for you.

Everyone can be an artist. Come and explore the world of art and design through practical projects at Zinc. The course has an emphasis on the exploration of different art forms and the techniques used to create them, with students completing a number of different practical art projects. Produce work in the style of world-renowned artists, and learn the techniques to ensure you can create pieces that reflect your creative vision.

FILM MAKING

VISUAL ART

Have you got an artistic

eye? Are you ready to

capture memorable

experiences? Learn the

skills to take the best

snaps at our new

photography course!

New for 2016.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Courses: Arts

DANCE

Are you always tapping your feet to the music? Do you have an ear for rhythm?

Learn and build your skills from the experts on our new music course.

MUSIC

Want to learn some new moves? Expand your skills and build your confidence

ready for performance in one of Essex’s best equipped dance venues.

Students will learn a range of techniques and skills that enable them to build

complex sequences. This will be achieved through a range of dance activities and

exercises. Students will build up endurance and strength through the exploration

of different warm-up techniques during weekly classes.

You will learn a new language of

expression, through the use of the

body, allowing you to effectively

convey emotion and build

interpersonal skills. You will also

contributing to the performance

of work at community events.

What do our students say?

Case study

We had one student, who was on

the Autistic spectrum, who joined our

Visual Arts class because he loved

art. Before he came to us, however,

he was compelled to only ever draw

dogs. Through attending the Visual

Arts class, he was able to gain the

confidence to create a diverse port-

folio of work, including a variety of

different art forms such as pointillism

and surrealism. These images show

just a small percentage of what the

student has created in class.

Imagine what other areas of creative

expression also became open to

him. In every session of Visual Arts,

the tutors aim to challenge and help

students develop their artistic skills

further.

“I feel so much more confident about my own abilities after

completing my course.”

“The Biz was amazing—I really want to run my own theatre one day!”

“I was really worried about learning something new, but the

teachers made it really fun and it didn’t feel like learning!”

“I’ve learnt so much and I know I’ll stick by what we’ve learnt forever.”

“It gets more fun every week!”

Tolpuddle House

Tolpuddle House is a unique, purpose-built supported housing service. It is designed to help people move

towards independent living, and build work and other life skills.

Tenancies are offered to adults aged 18+ who need supported

housing. All tenants receive a tailored package of support,

accommodation and the opportunity to develop new skills at Zinc.

The programme involves between two and five days of education,

training and / or supported employment which includes accredited

courses in arts, catering, hospitality, housekeeping, independent

living, essential life and employability skills.

Experienced staff are on hand to help residents set up and maintain their home, manage their finances and

choose the work and learning programmes to suit them. They also ensure that residents can join a wide

network of support groups and services and get involved in the community. When residents are ready, staff

will also help them to find a permanent home.

For more information, telephone 02085222000, or email allocations@east-living.co.uk

Features of Tolpuddle House:

The development is within walking distance of the

bus stop, high street, library, and local supermarket.

It has nine self-contained flats, some of which are

wheelchair accessible.

Flats are part-furnished, inclusive of white goods.

Tolpuddle House includes five one-bedroom flats for

individuals and four two-bedroom flats for

individuals sharing, or those with a live-in carer.

“The help I get means a lot, it’s useful

for when you move on, you can adapt

and use the things you’ve learnt in

your new home: how to cook, how to

budget, how to go shopping, how to

live healthily.”

- Margaret, former resident.

Will you be one of next

year’s graduates?

For more information on studying at Zinc,

please contact:

AQA Team

01277 365626 or aqa@zincarts.org.uk

Zinc, Great Stony, High Street, Chipping Ongar, Essex, CM5 0AD: a registered charity (no 1035444) and a company limited by guarantee (no. 02866315) registered

in England and Wales at the above address. VAT registered no. 151869194 With thanks to Roy Strutt for his photography. http://www.strutt.org/