We have achieved the Artsmark Silver Award!
Our Statement of Commitment and Statement of Impact has been assessed and we are pleased to share this feedback from our assessors with you:
‘You have made a good start to your Artsmark journey. The setting up of an Artsmark Team made up of a governor and representatives from EYFS, KS 1 and KS 2 has helped to raise the profile of the Arts across the school. It has also meant staff have points of contact for support. You have managed to achieve a broad and balanced curriculum whilst addressing the catch-up curriculum caused by the pandemic by combining different areas of the curriculum and using extra-curricular/enrichment days and celebration days to deliver the Arts. As enrichment sessions now form part of the school day, all pupils have access to the Arts, creating memorable experiences for all. Focused weeks such as Creativity Week and Aspirations Week and celebratory days such as Diwali Day, Chinese New Year, The Jubilee and King’s Coronation further help to raise the profile of the Arts. Do you have embedded schemes of work that develop progression of knowledge and skills across the school and do the schemes of work and curriculum plans reflect what quality in the arts and cultural curriculum means to your staff? Your partnership with Rochdale Music Service enables you to offer instrumental lessons in ukulele, violin and the school band and you actively seek to invite arts industry professionals into the school to talk to the children. You have not allowed budgetary constraints to deter you from this endeavour, and have instead invited local artists into school during Aspirations Week to talk about careers in the creative industries. You have also made links with the Arts Department at your local High School and the other schools in your trust to share ideas and resources. You might want to explore future collaborations with local art galleries and museums. Many have special school programmes that you could possibly access digitally if it is too expensive to travel to these venues. Children have opportunities to display their talents by performing and showcasing their work in the St Andrews Art Gallery. The newly formed Year 6 Arts Council has allowed some children to take ownership over the Arts at school as they take on a number of roles such as curators, tour guides for exhibitions and hearing the views of children to assist with future plans. You might want to explore how all children could take ownership of their engagement and personal progression within the Arts. Is this an area you might want to develop in the future? It was great to read that staff are given time to share ideas and that you have identified the need for staff to receive CPD in the Arts. Could you call upon the support of your local High School’s Art Department for this or could you ask Rochdale Music Service to support you? When you have visiting arts professionals into school to work with the children, could they provide CPD through workshops for staff? We look forward to hearing where your Artsmark journey takes you next.’
Artsmark
Arts Council England