AS stars of stage and screen called for every child to have "access to the arts", a school in Bolton is ensuring young people in the borough enjoy and benefit from the enrichment such subjects bring.

Bolton School boys' division has been awarded the Platinum Artsmark Award, reflecting that its arts and cultural provision is of the "highest possible standard" ­— and benefits not only its pupils but those studying in other schools in the borough.

The school received the award as Benedict Cumberbatch, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Lenny Henry highlighted the importance of putting arts on the timetable, which were said to be under threat in state-schools.

In a statement they said "A creative arts-rich education promotes social mobility, wellbeing and personal fulfilment" ­— with Mr Lloyd Webber denouncing financial cuts in the sector at an event staged at the Royal Albert Hall by the Prince of Wales and his charity Children and the Arts.

Samuel West, who visited Bolton recently to present an award to the council for championing arts and culture, said: "Creativity in schools is in freefall," and pointed to a fall in arts GCSEs.

But at Bolton School arts and cultural provision is flourishing at Bolton School boys' division as illustrated by the Platinum Artsmark.

The school was praised for the range of its arts and culture offer to pupils in its school and beyond by the Artsmark assessment panel, with assessors stating: "You have extended your already excellent partnerships with arts providers and have established links that will see you strongly influencing provision for the arts beyond your setting."

Examples of the school's work include working with the Octagon Theatre. The Arts Centre was a venue for the Octagon’s Reveal Festival this year, with 600 primary school pupils attending "Penguins", a show about family diversity commissioned by Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Stonewall, and the school offered related drama continual professional development for primary colleagues.

The school is part of the Arts Council’s Local Cultural Education Partnership programme.

The school’s Director of Creative Learning and Partnerships Naomi Lord said: "We are very proud to receive this level of recognition for our work in school and with the wider community. It represents our ongoing commitment to arts and cultural education at a governing body level and to the provision of opportunities that stretch our whole school setting.

"Our pupils are offered equal opportunity to influence, lead, experience and evaluate a broad range of high-quality arts and cultural activities across a wide range of media. We enjoy strong partnerships with arts and cultural organisations and the long-lasting positive impact of this collaboration is evident across school life. We are looking forward to establishing our position as a regional and national opinion former within arts education, as further progress to the leadership role we have established locally."

Commenting on the importance of putting arts and culture on the timetable, Sue Hincks, headmistress of the girls' division, said: "At Bolton School we prize children’s ability to participate in theatrical, musical and other artistic productions.

"We believe that children’s confidence develops when they feel themselves flourish creatively."