The Northern School of Art

What The Northern School of Art does

The Northern School of Art is a UK statutory charity and specialist further and higher education institution operating across two campuses in the North East of England. Founded in 1870 (as Middlesbrough School of Art, with the Hartlepool school established in 1874, merged as Cleveland College of Art & Design in 1979, and rebranded under its current name in 2018), it provides art and design education spanning ages 6 through Master's level. The Middlesbrough campus (a £14.5M purpose-built facility opened in 2021) delivers further education for ages 16-18 including A-Levels, UAL Diplomas, and Access to HE. The Hartlepool campus delivers higher education including 14+ BA (Hons) degrees across disciplines such as Acting, Animation, Film & TV Production, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Photography, and Visual Effects, plus MA postgraduate programmes. The institution also operates The Northern Studios, a commercial TV/Film production subsidiary co-developed with Tees Valley Combined Authority and Hartlepool Council, and runs community programmes including Saturday Club, Arts Award, and the Rock Pools Creative People & Places initiative.

The institution generates revenue through three primary streams: (1) Further Education funding via the Education and Skills Funding Agency for 16-18 year olds; (2) Higher Education tuition fees regulated by the Office for Students; and (3) commercial TV/Film production activity through The Northern Studios. It maintains dual regulatory distinction with Ofsted Outstanding (continuous since 2009, third consecutive in February 2025) and TEF Gold for full-time higher education provision (held since 2017, retained 2023). It is the only specialist FE/HE art and design provider in the North East of England and one of only two specialist arts institutions in England with TEF Gold. Graduate outcomes are strong, with 96%+ of graduates in employment or further study within six months. Governance is provided by a 17-member Corporation Board led by Professor Stuart Bartholomew CBE, DL as Chairman, with Dr Martin Raby OBE serving as Principal and Chief Executive.

The institution is actively pursuing institutional transformation, having applied for Degree Awarding Powers in May 2022 and for university title in 2025, with the stated ambition to become a university for the creative industries. A statutory consultation on a planned group restructuring by 2028 would separate the institution into an HEI (The Northern School of Art in Hartlepool) and a Specialist FE College subsidiary (The Northern College of Art in Middlesbrough). The Northern Studios is positioned as the central catalyst for a £37M screen industry growth programme in the region, anchored by the £19M Production Village development in Hartlepool.

Name

The Northern School of Art

Legal name

The Northern School of Art

Website

https://northernart.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1870

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Northern School of Art is a UK statutory charity operating specialist further and higher education art and design programmes across two campuses in Middlesbrough (FE) and Hartlepool (HE), serving students aged 6 through Master's level. It also runs The Northern Studios, a commercial TV/Film production subsidiary, and is the sole specialist art and design provider in the North East of England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialist Art and Design Education (Further and Higher Education)

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Colleges (Theatre, Dance, Musical Theatre) (EDAHAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fine Arts Colleges (Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking) (EDAHAJAA), Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK)

Keywords

• Specialist art design education
• Further higher education
• Creative arts degrees
• Vocational art training
• Postgraduate creative study

Headquarters

HQ city

Middlesbrough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Further Education Funding: Funded through Education and Skills Funding Agency for 16-18 year old further education students. Part of the statutory further education sector regulated by the ESFA and Department for Education.
2. Higher Education Tuition Fees: Higher education programs charge tuition fees regulated by the Office for Students. Fee information is published annually as part of Access and Participation Plan requirements.
3. The Northern Studios Commercial Operations: Commercial TV/Film production studio subsidiary generating revenue through film and television production activities. Created in partnership with Tees Valley Combined Authority and Hartlepool Council.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Northern School of Art is a specialist further and higher education institution providing art and design education across two UK campuses. It offers a complete creative education pipeline from Saturday Club (ages 6–16) through A-Levels, UAL Diplomas, Foundation Diploma, Access to HE, BA (Hons) degrees in 14+ creative disciplines, and Master's programmes. The school also operates The Northern Studios, a commercial TV/Film production subsidiary, and delivers outreach programmes such as the Rock Pools Creative People & Places initiative.

Product overview

The Northern School of Art is a specialist further and higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of creative art and design programmes. The institution operates two campuses: Middlesbrough (FE provision for ages 16+) and Hartlepool (HE provision for ages 18+). Its educational products span A-Levels, UAL Diplomas, Foundation Diplomas, Access to HE, BA (Hons) degrees across 14+ creative disciplines, and MA postgraduate programmes. The institution also operates commercial subsidiaries including The Northern Studios (TV/Film production facilities) and runs outreach programmes including Saturday Club for children ages 6-16 and the Rock Pools Creative People & Places initiative. The portfolio ranges from introductory creative education through to degree-level professional training and postgraduate study, forming a complete pipeline of creative education provision.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Northern Studios: Commercial TV/Film Studios in Hartlepool created in partnership with Tees Valley Combined Authority and Hartlepool Council, supporting the development of screen industries in the North East.

Products and services

• BA (Hons) Degrees Full-time honours degree programmes in 14+ creative disciplines including Acting, Animation, Costume Interpretation with Design, Fashion, Film & TV Production, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Modelmaking & Props, Photography, Set Design, Textiles, Visual Effects, and Design & Digital Marketing. Delivered at the Hartlepool campus for students aged 18+.
• MA Degrees (Masters) Postgraduate master's programmes including MA Design History, MA Creative Design Enterprise, MA Directing & Performance Practice, and MA Design Practice. Designed for graduates seeking advanced creative industry qualifications, delivered at the Hartlepool campus.
• A-Level Courses A-Level qualifications in creative subjects delivered at the Middlesbrough campus for students aged 16–18, including Art & Design and related creative disciplines.
• UAL Diplomas University of the Arts London (UAL) accredited diploma programmes at Level 2 and Level 3 in various art and design disciplines for students aged 16–18 at the Middlesbrough campus.
• UAL Foundation Diploma in Art and Design Pre-degree foundation programme in art and design for students aged 18+, providing a bridge between further education and higher education or employment in creative industries.
• Access to Higher Education Level 3 Access programme for learners aged 19+ designed to prepare mature students for degree-level study in art and design. Winner of the 2021 Sue Scheilling Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Student Experience.
• Saturday Club Creative workshops for children and young people aged 6–16 held at the Middlesbrough campus on Saturdays, introducing artistic skills and creativity at an early age. Includes the National Saturday Club for ages 13–16.
• Silver Arts Award Silver Arts Award qualification for young people aged 14–16 delivered as part of the Saturday Club programme, providing recognised accreditation in creative arts.
• The Northern Studios Commercial TV/Film studio subsidiary of The Northern School of Art, providing industry-standard production facilities and serving as a catalyst for screen industry development in the North East region. Created in partnership with Tees Valley Combined Authority and Hartlepool Council.
• The Northern Film Festival Annual film festival celebrating student and alumni work in film and moving image, showcasing creative talent from the institution.
• Theatre Productions Student theatre productions and performance events offering practical industry experience in acting, production design, costume, and stage management for BA Acting and production students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96%+ graduate employment or further study within 6 months of graduation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Tees Valley Combined AuthorityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Major strategic partner for The Northern Studios commercial TV/Film production facility. Contributed to development of production infrastructure in Hartlepool. Key partner in £37m screen industry growth programme for the North East. Co-funder of The Northern Studios alongside Hartlepool Council.
• Hartlepool CouncilflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Strategic partner in developing The Northern Studios commercial TV/Film studios and the £19m Production Village. Partnered to develop and realise The BIS creative workspace. Long-term strategic partner for higher education and economic development in Hartlepool.
• The Northern StudiosflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Commercial TV/Film production studio subsidiary of The Northern School of Art. Created in partnership with Tees Valley Combined Authority and Hartlepool Council. Central to catalyzing screen industry growth in the North East and supporting the Production Village development.
• UCAScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial application processing partner for undergraduate degree programs. Handles application tracking, decision processing, and Clearing operations for higher education admissions.
• Rock Pools (Creative People & Places)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree-year Creative People & Places programme for Hartlepool, funded by Arts Council England. The Northern School of Art serves as consortium lead providing overarching leadership. Focuses on areas where involvement in creativity and culture is significantly below national average.
• Schools and Colleges Across the RegioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOngoing educational partnerships with secondary schools and colleges for student recruitment, workshops, and creative career outreach programs. Supported by Northern Creative Network linking with art and design teachers across the region.
• MoorepayminorOthersSchool's payroll provider for employee compensation processing and HR administration.
• Middlesbrough Creative PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in creative development initiatives for the Middlesbrough area, supporting broader creative industries growth in the Tees Valley region.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-northern-school-of-art

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Northern School of Art