Hethersett Academy receives prestigious Artsmark Gold Award

Pupils and staff at Hethersett Academy are celebrating after receiving a prestigious Gold Artsmark Award.  

Artsmark is the only creative quality standard for schools, accredited by Arts Council England. It transforms teaching through creativity, empowering teachers with the skills they need to embed arts, culture and creativity across the whole curriculum, and is proven to support pupil outcomes and wellbeing.   

To achieve their Artsmark Award, Hethersett Academy had to develop their arts and cultural 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.  

Over two years, Hethersett Academy received professional support through an immersive learning programme from Artsmark’s delivery partner, Goldsmiths, University of London, who are world-renowned leaders in creative pedagogy and cultural placemaking.  

The Artsmark Assessor commended Hethersett Academy and said: 

“The arts curriculum has been adapted to give students greater opportunities to experience a range of arts; students in Years 7, 8 and 9 now explore illustration, three-dimensional design, printmaking, digital media and photography alongside drawing and painting. At KS4 students are offered a range of arts GCSEs – Fine Art, Photography, Textiles, Graphics, Music, Drama and Performing Arts. 

 

Students are empowered to make their own creative decisions and pursue their interests. 

 

Your curriculum has been adapted to ensure all students are given the opportunity to experience a range of arts experiences and techniques and you offer a wide range of arts qualifications. You have deployed the arts to ensure inclusivity of all groups of students using a personalised approach where appropriate and enabled the growth of LBQT+ school clubs.” 

On receiving the award, Jane Diver, Principal at Hethersett Academy said:  

“We’re extremely proud of achieving our Artsmark Gold Award. We are committed to delivering a high-quality arts and cultural education. Our Artsmark journey has transformed our school by further expanding the breadth and depth of our offer across the visual and performing arts, which in turn improves our children’s life chances and develops them into well-rounded young adults.”  

Dr Darren Henley OBE, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said:  

“I would like to congratulate Hethersett Academy on their Artsmark Award. Creative activities and cultural experiences enrich our lives, open our minds to new possibilities and help us make sense of the world around us. As an awarded Artsmark school, you’re demonstrating that by offering a broad, ambitious and creative curriculum, your young people will develop character and resilience, increasing their knowledge, curiosity and skills that will remain with them through to adult life.”