ladder of progress
Since 1994, the Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society has offered a structured assessment framework known as the CLAS Ladder of Progress.
The Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society has established the CLAS Ladder of Progress, a structured assessment system, to assist individuals of all levels, from beginners to Fellows, in their journey of improvement. Whether you’re seeking occasional workshops to enhance your skills, accreditation at a certain standard, or aiming for tutor accreditation, this resource accommodates your goals.
Entry on the CLAS Ladder of Progress can be made at any level – whatever is appropriate for you.
This ranges from:
- Having your calligraphy compared to national standards with the award of a Certificate of Calligraphy.
- Working toward a CLAS National Diploma in Calligraphy at Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. Please note, the diploma is not a course but an assessment procedure and is intended for students of calligraphy in the Western tradition based on the Roman alphabet.
- Becoming a CLAS Fellow.
the national diploma
You can choose to pursue one of the diploma levels primarily on your own or collaborate with a local tutor and group. To support students in completing the requirements for a National Diploma in Calligraphy, CLAS provides a Diploma Preparation Course (formerly known as the Ladder of Progress Course) that can be arranged by a tutor or group to assist students in reaching their objectives.
Please note that the National Diploma assessments are exclusively available to CLAS members starting from 2021. For modular submissions, membership is required for all years in which you submit work for assessment.
about the assessment
We use criteria and categories at all levels of achievement for a Certificate or Diploma in the CLAS Ladder of Progress. We explain these criteria to students in advance for each level of assessment. The assessors assign marks to the criteria.
For instance, there are key points related to each hand. These include:
- the construction of letters
- pen angle
- x-height
- spacing of letters and words
- consistency of family characteristics among the letters (such as the shape of the letter ‘o’ and related forms like arches starting in the correct places)
- the use of colour in layout and design to enhance the interpretation of words
Assessors allocate marks from a maximum value to clearly show strengths and weaknesses. They provide feedback on the marking to candidates for all CLAS assessments.
Over the years, students of calligraphy from all over the world have submitted their work for marking and assessment by CLAS Fellows. This benefits each student, giving them a goal to work towards having their work assessed at an international level. CLAS assessors take time and great care to provide essential helpful feedback for each student to make progress and improve.
Over the years many students of calligraphy all over the world have submitted their work for marking and assessment by CLAS Fellows. Each student benefits from having a goal to work towards and their work is assessed at an international level. Though time consuming for the assessors, their feedback is essential for a student to progress and improve.
become a part of CLAS
Join CLAS today for exclusive benefits including the Edge magazine, CLASnews updates, discounted course and competition fees, exclusive diploma access, free entry to our annual exhibition, invitations to exhibit, and discounts on calligraphy items from L Cornelissen and Son.