Art school chiefs to reward outstanding students town-wide after backing the Mail's Best of Hartlepool Awards

The Northern School of Art is backing the Mail's Best of Hartlepool Awards 2019.

The Northern School of Art based in Church Square is throwing its weight behind the awards, which will be presented in a ceremony at Hardwick Hall on Wednesday, December 4.

The annual event is a feel good celebration of the individuals and groups that make us proud to be from the area. The 14 categories include the Student of the Year award, which has been sponsored by the art school.

Other categories include Community Champion, Child of Achievement, Fundraiser of the Year and Green Champion. Nominations are now closed.

Students at the Northern School of Art created this mural for Radio 1's Big Weekend in Middlesbrough in May this year.

The school has played an important role in Hartlepool since it opened in 1874. It is the only specialist provider of creative courses in the North East.

Pat Chapman, The Northern School of Art’s Vice Principal, said: “Our heritage in Hartlepool and our track record of providing a stand out creative education for our amazing and talented students is something we are very proud of.

“We are therefore delighted to be involved with the Best of Hartlepool Awards again this year, which continue to recognise the finest that the Hartlepool community has to offer.

“Supporting and nurturing students is our number one priority so sponsoring the Student of the Year category is a perfect fit for us.

“It is wonderful to be able to recognise and reward a student who has achieved success in their academic life.

“Focusing on and valuing education can be life-changing so it is very important to recognise students who are driven to do their best and those who have succeeded in spite of challenges that would deter most people.”

The school offers degree and postgraduate level programmes and has a rating of Gold in the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF), meaning its students receive some of the highest quality teaching in the UK.

In 2019 the independent survey of student satisfaction, the National Student Satisfaction Survey (NSS), reported that 92% students were satisfied overall with their experience there, the highest score of all similar arts institutions across the UK.

Former students include film director Ridley Scott and Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell.