Warwickshire News Mine

Assisted by Warwickshire County Council’s Arts in Warwickshire Education, the schools gained recognition for showing commitment to the full range of the arts. They received their awards, along with winners from thirteen other West Midlands local authorities, at the regional Artsmark celebration event at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Ash Green School, Henry Hinde Infant School, North Leamington Community School and Arts College, Shottery St Andrew’sCofE Primary School and St Nicholas CofE Primary School all achieved the Artsmark Gold.

Artsmark Silvers were handed to Campion School and Community College, Kenilworth School and Sports College, Newburgh Primary School, Nicholas Chamberlaine Technology College, Stratford-upon-Avon Grammar School for Girls and The Dassett CofE Primary School.

Bridgetown Primary School and St. Augustine’s Catholic Primary School were both awarded Artsmark.

Last week’s celebration event featured performances from pupils at schools who had won the award last year. Pupils from Harris School, Kineton High School and Ash Green School and Arts College took to the stage.

Young people from these schools, along with pupils from Brooke Special School, Round Oak School and Support Service, Manor Park Community School and Welcombe Hills School also worked behind the scenes on displays, lighting, sound and front of house.

The event was produced by Birmingham-based Fierce Earth, who worked in collaboration with the county council and the Royal Shakespeare Company for six months on the ceremony. It involved six 15-year-olds from Warwickshire and Birmingham schools who were appointed ‘young consultants’ to give them an overview of all aspects of a professional production.

Cllr Alan Farnell, Leader of Warwickshire County Council, attended the event. He said: “Artsmark is a national award scheme in its eighth year and the West Midlands is one of the highest achieving regions in England.

“The theatre was alive with the vitality and enthusiasm of these young people.
I was very proud to be part of the celebration and thank the schools and young people for the credit they brought to themselves and the county.”

Artsmark is a national award scheme managed by Arts Council England that recognises schools with a high level of provision in the arts. The award scheme is open to all schools in England - primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units, both maintained and independent.
By gaining an Artsmark, a school shows its commitment to the wider development of young people and teachers and to raising the profile of the arts in the school and local community.

Link to WCC