Pupils and staff at Torquay’s Shiphay Learning Academy have been celebrating a prestigious award.
The school has received an Artsmark Platinum Award as it marks a ‘momentous year’ for the programme and its 20 years of delivering arts, culture and creativity in schools.
The Artsmark Award is the only creative quality standard for schools, accredited by Arts Council England.
It supports schools to develop and celebrate arts and cultural education, putting creativity and wellbeing at the heart of the curriculum.
Artsmark says that it ensures that every young person can be creative and access a diverse, high-quality cultural education.
To achieve their Artsmark Award, Shiphay Learning Academy had to develop their arts and culture provision to embed a broad and ambitious curriculum.
This was achieved by creating an overall plan that was committed to and delivered across the whole school.
Shiphay Learning Academy was supported by Real Ideas Organisation in planning and developing their objectives. RIO worked alongside the school at various stages to support their Artsmark Award achievement.
The Artsmark assessor commended Shiphay Learning Academy on their ‘commitment to arts and culture (which) is based on a deep understanding of the value of cultural capital for your pupils, staff and staff well beyond your setting’.
A delighted Kate Lee, who is Head of School, said: “We’re extremely proud of achieving our Artsmark Platinum Award. We are committed to delivering a high-quality arts and cultural education and we look forward to continue to grow with Artsmark.”
Dr Darren Henley CBE, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, said: “I would like to congratulate Shiphay Learning Academy on their Artsmark Award.
“Becoming an Artsmark school demonstrates that through offering a broad, ambitious, and creative curriculum, every pupil can develop character and resilience, increasing their knowledge, curiosity and skills that will remain with them through to adult life.”