IT has become a beacon for the arts and creativity in Huddersfield.
Colne Valley Specialist Arts College is drawing on the area’s rich creative heritage to take students on a journey to pursue and develop their artistic talents.
It will see students taking a major role in next month’s Slaithwaite Moonraking Festival.
And 16 students from the college and from other schools across the district are studying for the innovative Creative Arts and Media Diploma SPACE2CRE8.
The diplomas give 14 to 19-year-olds practical, hands-on experience as well as classroom learning.
They are the equivalent of five GCSEs and are designed to help young people develop the knowledge and skills employers and universities want.
Diplomas in 14 subject areas are currently available in selected schools and colleges.
The diploma is being taught with Kirklees Collegiate and local arts company Satellite Arts and is based at The Watershed arts centre in Slaithwaite.
Teachers Sky Burton and Fiona Coe lead the programme and students from Almondbury, Fartown, Moor End, Castle Hall and Mirfield Free Grammar Schools take part in addition to those from Colne Valley.
Suzanne Hamilton, assistant headteacher at Colne Valley, said: “We are really reaching out to our community and using the strengths of our arts specialism to give students the opportunity to pursue and develop their creative and artistic interests and talents through professional arts practice.
“We are already several weeks into the course and it is already a huge success.”