A Bolton school has won a prestigious award after being recognised for providing a creative environment for its students to thrive in.
Staff and students at Beaumont Primary School in Ladybridge are celebrating their recent win of Silver Artsmark status.
Artsmark is the creative quality standard for schools, accredited by Arts Council England and awarded to schools which actively champion high-quality art and cultural education within their curriculum.
Culture and creativity are said to increase pupils’ confidence, critical thinking, communication and literacy skills, thus improving attainment and bringing core subjects to life.
Arts lead at the Wendover Drive school, Kelly Sullivan, said: “We have worked hard in the past three years to really look at how to improve on and expand our arts provision in school.
“The Covid pandemic provided us with some obstacles on our Artsmark journey but we have been successful in achieving our intended goals.”
Head teacher Stacey Postle said: “As part of our Artsmark journey we wanted more children to be able to access arts opportunities through clubs and extra-curricular activities.
“By making changes to our school timetable we have been able to get more children participating in opportunities such as drama classes, instrumental tuition and arts and crafts clubs.
“Another great success has been making links with local schools – our Jubilee celebration day partnering with Ladybridge High School, gave Year 5 children at Beaumont and Year 7 children at Ladybridge the opportunity to come together and perform a drama piece linked to the timeline of the life of Queen Elizabeth II.”
Speaking about the event, pupil Zain Ali said: “I didn’t think I would enjoy it at first.
"But once we started I really got into it and I even made up and performed my own song, everyone cheered after it and I felt happy and proud!"
Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, said: “I would like to congratulate Beaumont Primary School on achieving Artsmark and welcome them into our growing family of Artsmark schools.
“To become an Artsmark school, Beaumont Primary School had to demonstrate its dedication to the arts.
“It has put together an ambitious plan which will ensure that each of its pupils is given the opportunity to explore and build a love of the arts that will remain with them as they go through adult life.”
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