ARTSMARK
The PHACE partnership supports and encourages schools and education settings on their Artsmark journey
As well as recognising schools that are making the arts come alive, the Artsmark award is a valuable tool for enriching a school’s arts provision, whatever the starting point. It provides schools with access to enviable networks of leading cultural organisations that will enable them to use the arts to engage and develop happy, self-expressed and confident young people and inspire teachers.
Any school can apply. Find out more
ARTSMARK STORIES
HELTWATE SCHOOL
Heltwate is a mixed, Special school in Peterborough offering education for 5-19 year old pupils with Moderate to Severe Learning difficulties. They are an Artsmark Gold awarded school.
“Our Artsmark journey has allowed us to focus our attention on developing and continuing the wide range of arts opportunities that we current provide for our learners at Heltwate School. We’ve also invested time and dedication to ensure the arts are embedded across the curriculum. As a result of our commitment to the Artsmark, we’ve developed several whole school events across the years, where the arts have merged with other curriculum areas to enthuse, motivate and excite learners. We also now have yearly artists in residence in school, who generally complete whole school, cross curricular projects with input from all of our students. We love Artsmark!” Kim Phillips, Assistant Head Teacher
“Artsmark has really breathed life into the arts lessons and activities students are offered at Heltwate. Staff have thought more creatively about engaging students with a whole range of activities from dance festivals, school arts projects, choir performances and drama. It would be difficult to find a lesson that didn’t showcase an element of the arts at Heltwate” Mrs Alison Ashworth, Assistant Head Teacher
WEST TOWN PRIMARY ACADEMY
West Town Primary Academy is a vibrant inner city school in Peterborough. It offers an excellent arts and cultural education, and opportunities for it’s pupils to celebrate their artistic learning within school and through festivals and competitions over the year. The school uses it's Artsmark Silver award and Arts Award to provide an environment where pupils are able to achieve within the arts.
“We deliver Arts Award Discover through our year 2 curriculum theme:‘Land Ahoy’ and Arts Award Explore through our year 5 theme: ‘Rainforests’. We also deliver Arts Award Explore to KS2 Arts club after school through a theme of ‘Our Stories’ which will be alongside another partner school.
In terms of what it gives us, we can already see children taking ownership of their own learning and exploring the arts through a variety of mediums, with teachers pulling together to provide a wide range of enriching experiences for the children.
Arts Award complements our Artsmark journey as we continue to develop our already established links with other organisations. We are currently creating a bespoke enrichment day for our year 2 children with a local Director to benefit both our children, as well as our staff.” Catherine Brooks, Arts Specialist, West Town Primary Academy