National Society for Education in Art and Design

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National Society for Education in Art and Design

We offer, for a single subscription, the extensive benefits of membership of a professional association, a learned society and a trade union.

The National Society for Education in Art and Design is for everybody interested in art, craft and design education - Just click to join or visit our linktree for further information https://linktr.ee/nsead The National Society for Education in Art and Design is the leading national authority concerned with art, craft and design across all phases of education in the United Kingdom.

04/09/2026

Welcome back to a new academic year!

2026/27 is going to be a year of change for many NSEAD members - and our subject and profession as a whole. Whether you are starting a new job, contemplating changes in curriculum or just welcoming new groups, classes and cohorts, the joy of education is that it is always moving forward.

It's exciting and energising – but demanding.

Just remember - NSEAD believes in you. We’re here to support you with resources, events, training, publications and more. And for our Trade Union members: prompt, expert advice and representation if you need it.

We’re looking forward to a year of collaboration, creativity and learning - we hope you are too!

13/08/2026

⬩A-Level Results 2026⬩

Today, A-Levels results for learners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were released. Art and Design remains one of the most popular A-Level subjects, where students continue to achieve higher grades compared to other subjects, but the trend of falling entries continues.

We’ve been collating and analysing the data, and will share a link to our full report soon. In the meantime, here are our key takeaways for 2026:

• The number of A-Level entries for England, Wales and NI has risen overall across all subjects, but has decreased for Art and Design.

• Regional disparities in take up and attainment persist. Where you live affects how likely you are to study Art and Design, and how well you will do.

• The attainment gap between students achieving A* grades in Art and Design compared to all other subjects continues, with students achieving almost double the number of A* grades in Art and Design compared to all other subjects.

• The difference in attainment between the state and independent sector remains high, but the gap has narrowed slightly.

• The gender gap remains a concern, but has not widened this year. The proportion of entries in Art and Design for male and female students remains stable overall, with a bigger gap in Wales and NI.

• There has been an increase in boys achieving A* grades in Art and Design, in line with higher attainment for boys across all subjects.

• Girls attainment remains stable.

04/08/2026

Wishing the very best of luck to everyone receiving their exam results today and in the coming weeks!

Whatever the outcome, remember to take a moment to celebrate all your hard work 🎉

30/07/2026

⬩NSEAD Believes in You⬩

Well done to all our members on their hard work and achievements during this academic year.

From everyone in the NSEAD team, we wish you a restful and restorative summer break, and look forward to seeing you in a few weeks for another year of creativity, care and courage!

28/07/2026

⬩Raw Marks Survey Report 2 | Recommendations⬩

Our second Raw Marks survey report includes a series of recommendations for examination boards and policy makers, based on the feedback of respondents.

To improve to process of giving Raw Marks to Art and Design candidates, NSEAD recommends:

• That the requirement to give Raw Marks for Component 2, the Externally Set Assignment, is removed. Many teachers respected the positive impact of giving Raw Marks for Component 1, but respondents also suggested that Art and Design teachers shouldn’t be required to give Raw Marks for work that takes place in exam conditions.

• Provide recommended timelines for the Raw Marks process and reviews. Some reported that the timeframe between sharing marks and submitting them to an awarding body requires courses to be completed earlier than planned and adds pressure to already tight marking schedules. The absence of clear guidance and exact timelines was seen to contribute to inconsistency between centres.

• Examination officers should manage the process of giving Raw Marks and arranging reviews.

• Give Raw Marks to students only after moderation has been completed.

• Ensure that Raw Marks guidance is up to date, clear and accessible to students and parents. There were many calls to remove all outdated Raw Marks information and to introduce standardised communication templates – this would support schools in providing clear and consistent information to parents and students who often misunderstand the purpose of the review process.

• Provide training for anyone sharing Raw Marks or completing reviews.

• Introduce annual data collection and reporting of Raw Marks reviews, and carry out a full review and consultation of the process. Only NSEAD has undertaken systematic data collection for the Raw Marks process on Art and Design teachers since its introduction nine years ago. A thorough subject-specific review and consultation by policy makers, and ongoing data collection is essential to understand the impact and efficacy of this process for both teachers and students.

📖 Read the full report 👉 https://www.nsead.org/news/newsroom/raw-marks-survey-report-2/
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23/07/2026

⬩Raw Marks Survey Report 2 | Findings⬩

Our second Raw Marks Survey Report was published in June 2026. Here, we continue to share highlights from the report – continuing with our key findings.

Overall, Art and Design teachers reported that the process of managing Raw Marks impacts on workload and wellbeing, for both teachers and students.

The process adds pressure to tight marking schedules, and many respondents described that the process has shortened time for course work and teaching.

Raw Marks are given to candidates at the end of the course, after standardisation but prior to moderation. For candidates this is just before, or during, other public examinations.

Survey responses also hinted at discrepancies across the sector, with grammar schools having the most reviews and the most likelihood of a review leading to changes in marks. This higher proportion of mark changes could be an indication of parental pressure in grammar schools.

The need for clear, subject-specific, and more consistent guidance was often suggested. Standardised guidance and communication materials would reduce confusion and ensure greater consistency across centres.

Art and Design teachers are uniquely required to give all Raw Marks to each candidate. AI tools and previous years’ grade boundaries are being used by pupils and parents to wrongly convert Raw Marks to grades, and reviews are being used to ‘play the system’ and gain additional marks.

The majority of comments express a desire for the process to be simplified, better supported, and removed in part (particularly the Externally Set Assignment) – or removed entirely.

📖 Read the full report 👉 https://www.nsead.org/news/newsroom/raw-marks-survey-report-2/
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09/07/2026

⬩Available Now - iJADE Volume 45.2⬩

Volume 45.2 of the International Journal of Art and Design Education is available now online.

This summer, delve into articles exploring contemporary art, craft and design education research from across the globe, including:

• ’Designing for Sustainability: Emerging Professional Roles and Capabilities for Designers in the 21st Century’ (Kessler & Rieger)

• ‘The Bauhaus as Education Model: Enduring Design and Powerful Knowledge’ (Johnson & Oates)

• ‘Toward Hybrid Studio-Based Learning Environments: A Sociomaterial Exploration of Design Education’ (Perold-Bull)

• ‘Stitching Serenity: Exploring Theories of Well-Being Through Embroidery’ (Lahti & Fernström)

Read online 👀 https://www.nsead.org/publications/ijade/ijade-volume-45-2/

This issue includes eight open access articles which are free for everyone to read.

Want more? 👉 NSEAD members enjoy full, free access to the complete iJADE digital library.

Cover image: Evolution of embroidery work, photographs by the student (2022)
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07/07/2026

⬩NSEAD Summer Gathering 2026 | Part 2⬩

🎉 Celebrating community, creativity and outstanding achievement!

The second half of our Summer Gathering at The National Gallery celebrated our community: the strength, care, passion, resilience and creativity of our members.

Huge congratulations to our 2026 NSEAD Award winners, who have championed our subject, challenged boundaries, inspired change and demonstrated innovation across the sector:

🏆 President's Award for exemplary practice
• Kevin Dalton-Johnson

🏆 Workplace Champion Award
• Jade Alana Ashton
• Nicola Smith

🏆 Patron’s Empowering Change Award
• Lansbury Lawrence Primary School (Kerri Sellens)
• Nitya Paul

🏆 Community Luminary Award
• Shape North (Kathy Coates-Mohammed & Stephanie Bartholet)
• Clare Stanhope

🏆 The Big Landscape Award for innovative curriculum design | Sponsored by Royal Ballet And Opera Schools
• Sophie Ascough

🏆 Learning Innovations Award | Sponsored by Art UK
• Ian Thompson

Congratulations also go out to all our highly commended recipients, and a special thank you to this year’s judging panel – Andy Ash, Faith Bebbington, Tina Corri, Emily Gopaul, Mary Myatt, Neil Pinder and Christopher Samuel – for kindly giving their time and careful consideration to all the nominees.

⭐️ Senior Fellowship of NSEAD
We are also delighted to congratulate Dr Claire Penketh, who was awarded Senior Fellowship in recognition of her contribution as principal editor of the International Journal of Art & Design Education.

To close the day, NSEAD President Andy Ash shared a powerful reminder for us all to carry into the summer break:

‘The people we are celebrating here are not simply doing excellent work in their own classrooms, schools, communities and institutions. They are contributing to something bigger. They are helping all of us understand what quality in art and design education looks like… So, today is not simply about recognising individual achievement. It is about recognising the power of collective contribution.’

Thank you to everyone who joined us in raising the profile of our community, our subject, and its learners.

NSEAD Awards headline sponsor: Specialist Crafts

Images: NSEAD Summer Gathering & Awards, The National Gallery, 20 June 2026. Photography by Dan John Lloyd.

01/07/2026

⬩NSEAD Summer Gathering 2026 | Part 1⬩

Our Summer Gathering on Saturday 20 June 2026 was a day full of connection, creativity and celebration. We can’t possibly sum it up in a single post - so we won’t!

🤝 Connection & Creativity 🎨

Continuing our National Art & Design Education Conference theme of ‘Creative Curriculums: Care, risk and courage’, the Summer Gathering brought together art and design educators from across the UK at the National Gallery’s Roden Centre for Creative Learning.

A major takeaway from both the online conference and the in-person gathering was the importance of community. As NSEAD President Andy Ash said during his closing remarks at the Awards ceremony, ‘today is not simply about recognising individual achievement. It is about recognising the power of collective contribution.’

We love the photo of Andy (C) with Emma Sutton (L) and Marlene Wylie (R): NSEAD Presidents future, present and past.

Space to create ᝰ🖌

The day was a brilliant opportunity to get creative: special thanks go to the learning team at the National Gallery, who hosted stimulating workshops in the gallery spaces - giving delegates the chance to immerse themselves in creative practice, learn new skills and feel inspired.

⭐️ Celebrating our partners

A huge thank you to our headline Awards sponsor, Specialist Crafts, for their generous support - including gift bags for every attendee and prizes for the Award winners! We were delighted to announce that Specialist Crafts will be working with us as our Community Growth partner, working with us to develop NSEAD’s regional hubs.

We also want to extend our gratitude to our individual award sponsors, Art UK and Royal Ballet And Opera Schools, for championing the incredible practice that the NSEAD Awards celebrate.

Keep your eyes peeled for Part 2, where we’ll be shining a spotlight on our 2026 Award winners! 🏆

Photography by Dan John Lloyd (2026).

25/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us online for the National Art & Design Education Conference on Thursday 18 June.

Delving into the theme, Creative Curriculums: Care, risk and courage, the day was jam-packed full of insightful, timely presentations and inspiring, creative workshops. We hope that you all enjoyed it as much as we did.

👉 Missed out? Don’t worry, we’ll be sharing how you can access recordings from Sessions 1 and 2 soon - and in the meantime here are some key quotes from the day to spark your interest.

The conference was followed by an in-person gathering at the National Gallery on Saturday 20 June, providing an opportunity for connection, creativity and celebration - including the 2026 NSEAD Awards ceremony. We’ll be sharing more about this day and our winners soon - watch this space!

⭐️ Thank you to all our speakers and workshop leaders throughout the day! ⭐️
Dotted Line Theatre

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