We've achieved Artsmark Gold!

We are delighted to have received 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. 

Mrs Whately, former Head of Art, led our journey to the Gold Award and it was fantastic to be able to share this news with her.

To achieve our Artsmark Award, we developed our 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, we 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 LCS, stating that: “Your school is founded on arts practice, and your first Artsmark journey has developed the benefits of arts and culture for staff, pupils and the wider community.  You have a well-established range of arts and cultural provision both in school and through work with local arts and cultural organisations, which leads to showcasing in the local community.”

On receiving the award, Sue Hannam said: “We’re extremely proud of achieving our Artsmark Gold Award.  We are committed to delivering a high-quality arts and cultural education.  Our school was founded to provide education to the choristers of Lichfield Cathedral, a tradition that stretches back over 800 years.  Now we are a thriving school of more than 500 pupils ranging from age 2 to 18, including 36 choristers and 10 sixth form choral scholars who still sing services throughout the week in the Cathedral.  Given this heritage, our strengths in the performing arts are hardly surprising, but we embrace all creative opportunities both within and outside the classroom as a way to engage and transform the lives of our pupils and those of pupils in schools across the West Midlands through outreach programmes.  Our Artsmark journey has transformed our school by enabling us to fully understand how arts and culture are interwoven throughout the fabric of school life, and just how much joy and creativity they inspire.  We know the pathway forward in developing our creative and performing arts, and are aiming to achieve the Platinum Award next.”

Dr Darren Henley OBE, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said: “I would like to congratulate Lichfield Cathedral School 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.”