Creative Industries (Gateway Level 1)

This is a part-time course taught on one evening per week at our Peterlee campus and is for learners wanting an introduction to the Creative Industries through one of three distinct pathways:

• Creative Crafts
• Music Technology
• Photography

All three pathways focus on developing fundamental skills through a variety of creative projects and alongside this you will explore employment opportunities in the sector.

Projects will centre around the pathway you have chosen and are designed to develop your knowledge, technical skills, creative thinking and production.

Sessions are delivered in the studio spaces to ensure you are working with industry-relevant materials and equipment. Tutors are industry specialists and can guide you with first-hand and relevant knowledge.

You will build a portfolio covering your creative journey and produce final products. 

After successful completion of the Level 1 course, learners could look to apply for entry level jobs within their chosen area, or more commonly return to study at a higher level.

After studying on the Level 1 course, learners can progress to a Level 2 in either:

• Creative Crafts
• Music Technology
• Photography

Alternatively, the college also offers full time programmes in Art & Design, Media and Music, where a more in-depth focus on the skills, knowledge and experiences are covered.

A keen interest in the pathway you are wanting to study in, the ability to communicate through written and spoken English and for music technology and photography, a basic understanding of maths.

Please note that our introduction to Creative Industries course is only available to adults above the age of 19. For those who are below 19, we offer Art & Design, Creative Media Production & Technology and Music Performance & Production.

3 GCSEs with grades 3 or above (including Maths and English)

Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.

Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.

You will create a portfolio of evidence which will include practical work in the form of photographs, craft items and music samples and tracks, as well as your chosen method of recording the journey, which could include vlogs, blogs, typed, handwritten and annotated photographs.

Your portfolio will be assessed internally by your tutor before being approved by an External Moderator. The Moderator will visit at the end of the academic year, which may mean there is a delay between you completing the course and to you receiving your certificate.

The course starts in September 2026 and will run on a Tuesday evening.

The course will run over 20 weeks. Once a month, all three pathways will collaborate together, with the majority of the sessions being delivered within the individual pathways.