ĀThe Ānanda Group
A college bridge over the River Cam in autumn

Ānanda Academy · Curriculum

Four systems, one age — Hong Kong, UK, Canada, the U.S.

Aligned by age at the September start, not by the names schools print. Preferred doors: CATS Boston at Grade 9, and CSVPA’s Extended Diploma at 16.

Book a consultationCSVPA CambridgeCATS Boston

Preferred: Grade 9 · age 14

CATS Academy Boston

Grade 9 is Year 1 of the U.S. High School Diploma, and college counseling starts here. Grade 8 is the earliest year — a settling year, with CATS Extra if English needs time. Hong Kong F.3 / Canada & U.S. Grade 9 / UK Year 10.

Preferred: age 16, after F.4 / Year 11 / Grade 10

CSVPA Extended Diploma

The two-year UAL Level 3 — the studio equivalent of A-level. IELTS 4.5 and a portfolio. Do not wait for F.6 or a Canadian Grade 12 diploma if the arts path is already clear. Foundation at 17+ is the later door, not the preferred one.

Age at the start of the school year (September). Tap a row.

AgeHong KongUnited KingdomCanadaUnited States
6P.1
Year 2
Grade 1
Grade 1
7P.2
Year 3
Grade 2
Grade 2
8P.3
Year 4
Grade 3
Grade 3
9P.4
Year 5
Grade 4
Grade 4
10P.5
Year 6
Grade 5
Grade 5
11P.6
Year 7UK Year 7 · 11+
Grade 6
Grade 6
12F.1
Year 8
Grade 7
Grade 7
13F.2
Year 9UK Year 9 · 13+
Grade 8
Grade 8Boston Grade 8
14F.3
Year 10UK Year 10 · GCSE
Grade 9
Grade 9Boston preferred
15F.4
Year 11
Grade 10
Grade 10
16F.5
Year 12CSVPA ED preferred
Grade 11
Grade 11
17F.6
Year 13CSVPA Foundation
Grade 12
Grade 12Boston last entry
18University Y1
University Y1
University
University

Hong Kong P.1 sits beside UK Year 2 because England starts a year earlier. Common UK boarding doors: Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+), Year 10 (GCSE). CATS Boston: Grade 9 preferred; if that is missed, Grade 12 September is the last high-school year before university.

Lower secondary · age 13 · UK Year 9 · 13+ · Boston Grade 8

F.2 · Year 9 · Grade 8 · Grade 8

A common UK boarding entry. Year 9, the 13+ door into leading schools. Competitive, and not the typical arts-college door. Earliest CATS Boston year: Grade 8. Time to settle, English to catch up, CATS Extra if needed. The counted High School Diploma still starts in Grade 9.

If they studied in Canada

A Canadian Grade 12 diploma is high-school completion. UK arts bachelor’s degrees — CSVPA included — read a specialist Level 3 portfolio, not the diploma alone. The bridge is a Foundation year (or an Extended Diploma if the student leaves at 16). Quebec (Secondary V, then CEGEP) is a separate conversation; ask us.

After Grade 10 · age 16+

Leave at 16: Extended Diploma, then BA

The preferred UK arts door. Two studio years in Cambridge (UAL Level 3), then a CSVPA BA — or UAL, GSA, Kingston. A Canadian Grade 10 report and a portfolio. IELTS 4.5.

Read the pathway

OSSD / BC Dogwood · age 17+

Finish Grade 12: Foundation, then BA

A Canadian Grade 12 diploma is high-school completion, not a UK arts BA. One specialist Foundation year rebuilds the portfolio to Level 3; then the BA. This is the standard bridge, not a consolation.

Read the pathway

Grades 10–12 at CATS Boston

Stay in North America: Boston Arts Academy

Fashion, fine art, music or theatre on the Braintree campus. Capstone and a public event. On successful completion, a guaranteed place on a CSVPA undergraduate degree in Cambridge.

Read the pathway

Level 3 — the arts choice

In Hong Kong this was called A-level. In the UK it is a family of qualifications. For visual and performing arts, the Extended Diploma and Foundation are the intended routes — not a consolation prize. A Canadian Grade 12 diploma still needs one of these before a UK arts BA.

A-level / IB

Academic, exam-led. Strong if the student already has a clear non-arts university target.

UAL Extended Diploma

Two years, six terms. The gold-standard arts equivalent of A-level — portfolio-first, studio-heavy, and it carries UCAS tariff (Distinction in Year 2 = 168 points).

Foundation Diploma

One year, three terms. Ideal after F.6 / Year 13 / a Canadian or U.S. Grade 12 diploma, when a student needs a specialist portfolio and a confirmed pathway before university.

UCAS, month by month

UCAS is the organisation that connects students to UK higher education. One application, up to five courses. At CSVPA the studio year and the application year are the same year.

  1. 01 · Sept

    UCAS account registration

  2. 02 · Oct

    Initial choices — universities and majors

  3. 03 · Nov

    Complete two mini-projects

  4. 04 · Dec

    One project over Christmas

  5. 05 · Jan

    Submit UCAS

  6. 06 · Feb

    Submit the portfolio

  7. 07 · Mar

    Final Major Project (final grade)

Between October and submission: one-to-one strategy, portfolio tutorials, industry workshops, mock interviews, and university open days. After offers, tutors help choose on major, temperament and style — not league tables alone.

A short glossary

UAL
University of the Arts London — six colleges including Central Saint Martins, LCF, LCC, Chelsea, Camberwell and Wimbledon. Also an awarding body for Level 3 diplomas.
UCAS
The UK’s university application service. One form, up to five courses. CSVPA walks students through every step.
UCAS tariff
Points attached to Level 3 grades. A UAL Extended Diploma Distinction in Year 2 is worth 168 points — above three A-levels at AAB (136).
Foundation
A one-year, three-term specialist year after school, used by arts students instead of (or after) A-level. Portfolio-led.
Extended Diploma
A two-year Level 3, the studio equivalent of A-level. CSVPA’s version is awarded by UAL.
RIBA Parts 1–3
The UK route to the protected title ‘architect’: Part 1 (BA/BArch, 3 years), Part 2 (MArch + placement, 3 years), Part 3 (professional practice, 1–2 years), plus two years’ experience. ARB registration is required to use the title.
EAL
English as an Additional Language. CSVPA provides five hours a week alongside studio teaching.
Level 3
The UK qualification level equal to A-level, IB, BTEC Extended Diploma and Foundation — the standard requirement for undergraduate entry.
AP
Advanced Placement — U.S. college-level courses sat in high school. CATS Academy Boston is on the College Board AP School Honor Roll for 2024 and 2025.
Stafford House
Stafford House Study Holidays — the junior English-language and activity brand of CATS Global Schools. British Council–accredited in the UK. Ages 8–18, maximum class size 16.
OSSD / Dogwood
Ontario Secondary School Diploma and the British Columbia Certificate of Graduation. Both are Grade 12 high-school completion — the door to a CSVPA Foundation year, not a skip into a UK arts BA.
Grade 12 and a UK BA
A North American Grade 12 diploma is not a Level 3 arts qualification. UK art schools — CSVPA included — expect a specialist portfolio year (Foundation) or a two-year Extended Diploma first.

Pathway finder

Where are you now?

Start with the curriculum. Then the year. A considered next step — Boston, a CSVPA year, or a Stafford House summer.

Curriculum

Current year

What you are looking at

Suggested next step

Art & Design Extended Foundation

This is the arts equivalent of sixth form: a broad first year, a specialist second year, and a UCAS tariff that can outscore AAB at A-level. Preferred from 16 — after F.4, Year 11, Grade 10, or MYP 5.

Read the courseTalk it through
Then: why CSVPA

Begin a conversation

Write to the concierge that fits.

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