Access to Creative Education in Scotland (ACES)

Access to Creative Education in Scotland (ACES) is a national Widening Participation (WP) project, funded by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). The project aims to support eligible S4-S6 pupils in local Scottish state secondary schools who are considering pursuing degrees or careers in art, design, or architecture.

These visual creative degrees require more than just good exam results from school.

ACES is a multi-exit programme. We will work with you to support your creative development, explore your future options, and help you create a competitive application.

We will also support you with impartial advice and guidance in choosing and applying for a visual creative degree that is right for you.

Application support

ACES Edinburgh staff will support you through all stages of pre-application; including subject choices and portfolio preparation. We will also help you through the application process for art, design, and architecture degree programmes.

• One-to-one pre-application guidance for you, your family and advisers
• Advice and guidance for your subject choices and extra-curricular requirements
• Opportunities to meet current students

Events

We run a variety of events throughout the year for ACES pupils in S4-S6. Our events aim to give you insight into the different subjects, the range of careers in the Creative Industries, and opportunities for you to improve and widen your skill set.

All of our activities are free of charge for registered pupils and we will provide all materials for you to use.

You can find out what events and support are open for booking by reading your ACES newsletter (which is sent to all registered pupils unless you unsubscribe) or by following us on Instagram @ACES_Edinburgh.

The ACES year typically includes (subject to change and may include additional events):

• June - Graduate Show visits (S4-S6)
• July - Summer School (S4-S6)
• August-October - Information Sessions around applying to creative degrees, personal statements, and portfolios (S5-S6)
• August-January - Portfolio Preparation Programme (typically S5, S6)
• September-October - Drawing Club (S4-S6)
• October - Subject Taster Sessions (S4-S6)
• November-March - Portfolio Feedback Sessions  (typically S5, S6)
• January - Interview Workshop (typically S5, S6)
• February - Information Sessions around degree choices (S4-S6)
• February-March - Gallery and exhibition visits (S4-S6)

We support young people interested in studying something within the subject areas art, design, and architecture. That includes the degrees listed below. If you're interested in a subject that's not listed and you're not too sure, get in touch.

ACES Edinburgh works with eligible S4-S6 pupils attending state secondary schools in:

• Edinburgh
• The Lothians (East Lothian, Midlothian & West Lothian)
• Scottish Borders
• Falkirk
• Stirling
• Clackmannanshire

If you attend a state secondary school in any of the above local authority areas AND meet any of the below criteria, you will be eligible to sign up for ACES Edinburgh:

• you are Care Experienced; or
• you live in a Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile 1 or 2 postcode area; or
• you are a Young Carer; or
• you are estranged from your family; or
• you are a refugee or asylum seeker; or
• you are entitled to or are in receipt of Free School Meals (FSM)

Criteria explained

Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile 1-2

You can use the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation to find your postcode category.

Use the link below and follow the steps:

Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation

1. Type your postcode into the ‘area finder’ box on the left

2. Click ‘GO’

3. Hover at the bottom of the yellow marker that appears on the map

4. If the ‘current data zone’ box on the right of the screen states ‘Quintile 1’ or ‘Quintile 2’ then you are eligible to register with the project.

Young Carer

We define a Young Carer as a young person who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member.

This means caring for someone, who due to illness, disability, mental health issues, or an addiction, cannot cope without your support.

Estranged

Estranged students are usually without the financial or emotional support of their family due to a breakdown in the relationship.

Do I meet the criteria?

If you are unsure whether you meet any of our criteria, please contact us directly and we will happily help you.

Register to join

You can register to join ACES Edinburgh by completing our online form:

Register to join Access to Creative Education in Scotland (ACES)

Event booking

Once you are registered with ACES Edinburgh, you can use the form below to book onto our events:

Book your place at an ACES event

If you attend a state secondary school in another area of Scotland, you may be eligible to sign up with another ACES partner.

Please use the links below to find out more about the ACES partner that is closest to you:

• Glasgow School of Art
• The University of Dundee
• Robert Gordon University

We have put together some resources for all pupils interested in pursuing a degree or career in art, design or architecture. You can access these for free, regardless of eligibility for ACES.

ACES resources