Congratulations on your Artsmark Silver Award!

'Like so many education settings Covid added some big challenges to your arts provision and your usual clubs and visits were put on hold for some time, but Artsmark helped frame your thinking and planning which has allowed you to grow your offer again quickly post-lockdown. You have a new member of staff taking a lead on Artsmark, but this has also led to a new growth area for you – visual art. This now lines up with music and drama as areas you have concentrated much of your efforts on. You take seriously your obligations to pupil premium learners, and it was great to read that you ensure places on workshops, courses and visits always include learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. Similarly, in terms of your extra-curricular offer, music, drama, and craft club are now established, focusing on disadvantaged children boosting their cultural capital. You have also engaged an Art Therapist to work closely with targeted children, aiming to improve their wellbeing and behaviours. You have strong plans to connect with local arts venues and to consolidate your gains to date by running three all-school arts themed weeks during 2023. This will be another chance to raise the value and visibility of the arts and to enhance learners' sense of belonging. As you continue with your Artsmark journey it would be good to hear more about CPD and how you are building capacity in-house to offer a strong arts offer week-to-week throughout the year, and also to hear about those local links you plan to make and how they enhance your thinking and ambitions longer term.'