Recognising your students for their hard work and celebrating their achievements is important both to you as teachers and to us, at Trinity. This is why we launched our ‘Hall of Fame’ candidate recognition programme, which is now in its second year with our ‘Class of 2024’.
The Hall of Fame gives you the opportunity to nominate a student who has shone in one of our four categories at any point in the year, and candidates can be nominated across a broad range of arts and language qualifications. The nomination categories are:
Achievement- outstanding or high achievement in their qualification results
Do you have a candidate who has really excelled? Perhaps they achieved a high mark within their grade/level (equivalent to over 90%)? Or maybe they have completed all grades or levels of the qualification they have been doing? Perhaps they received outstanding feedback from their examiner?
If so, you could nominate them in the category of Achievement.
An example of a successful nomination for Achievement from our Class of 2024 is:
Since first taking up playing the drums in September 2019, Alfie has taken four Trinity drum examinations. He achieved a Distinction in Grade 1 in 2020, a Distinction in Grade 2 in 2021, a Distinction in Grade 4 in 2022 and a Distinction in Grade 5, with 100% examination result in 2024. This superb set of results over the past four years shows not only Alfie's determination to do as well as he can, but his musical talent.
He works so very hard during his lessons with his teacher, which he funds from his part time jobs, and at home when practising in his bedroom. Over the past four years Alfie has upgraded his electronic drum kit on three occasions, funding each new kit from his evening and weekend jobs.
Creativity - originality, inventiveness, taking a creative approach to their qualification
Maybe your candidate displayed some real inventiveness in their approach or performance? For example, by using improvisation options, or devising own pieces/compositions? Or did they show originality by experimenting or trying new approaches/techniques to create artwork/performances or projects?
If so, you could nominate them in the category of Creativity.
An example of a nomination for Creativity from our Class of 2024 is:
Zayn took his Grade 3 after playing the saxophone for little over a year. Not only did he achieve 96% (21 for each of his pieces) but his 'own composition' was of a particularly high standard showing creativity, maturity and understanding of both instruments and the melodic and harmonic language.
Overcoming Challenges - qualification success despite difficult circumstances or barriers to access
Some candidates may have to overcome extra barriers or difficulties in order to achieve their qualification and this is important to recognise. These barriers could include special educational needs, physical disabilities, or being NEET. They could also include illness or bereavement, or unexpected challenges such as having to change teachers or losing their instrument.
If you think your candidate has achieved in spite of challenging circumstances you could nominate them for the Overcoming Challenges category.
An example of a nomination for Overcoming Challenges from our Class of 2024 is:
Fran was diagnosed with autism when she was three years old. She had a significant speech and language delay, processing delay and a global development delay. However, despite finding learning difficult Fran works incredibly hard to overcome challenges. Fran loves music and with it has found something she can access and enjoy! She practices regularly and will keep trying until she gets it right - even if it takes days or weeks to perfect. Obtaining a distinction in her Grade 1 Piano gave her a huge confidence boost and taught her that if you work at something, you can achieve!
Personal Development - personal learning or skills development via their exam/qualification
The development a candidate experiences through engaging with one of our qualifications can be measured in a number of ways. For example, they may have experienced significant development in their art form/language skills from their starting point, such as being completely new to their art form/instrument. Or they may have made quick progress through levels or grades of the qualification route they are taking.
Through participating in their qualification, candidates can also develop other skills that aren’t necessarily being tested in their exam but are equally as important. For example, they may have strongly increased their personal confidence, communication, collaboration, presentation skills or project management skills. Or perhaps they learnt totally different skills in order to develop in their art form/language, for example learning to improvise, tackling a new genre, style or technique, or tackling new grammar or language functions.
Other candidates may find that completion of Trinity qualifications has led to other progression/performance opportunities. For example, maybe it supported an application to a conservatoire, or progression to further education, or led into work or work experience opportunities. Perhaps their qualification supported your candidate to audition for significant performance/exhibition opportunities or supported integration into their community/projects.
If you feel your candidate has shown real growth and development, then you could nominate them for the Personal Development category.
An example of a nomination for Personal Development from our Class of 2024 is:
Max was a shy student who often found it hard to communicate with others, and certainly didn’t want to perform in front of people, but through discovering a love of the drums has developed in confidence. Max’s teacher told us:
‘Max found something he can be really proud of sharing, and he is now playing in an upcoming performance in front of over 200 people, adults and children. This is an amazing achievement, as are his exam results, gaining a Distinction at Grades 3 and 4 in a very short time.
The confidence he's gained from learning the instrument and the exam grades confirming his ability is hugely important as he moves up into secondary school. He now is looking to join every performance opportunity offered by the secondary school, whereas a year ago I don't think he'd have had the confidence to do this at all.’
We would love to spotlight your students and their fantastic achievements too, so don’t forget to nominate them for our ‘Class of 2024’!