Park High School Celebrates Prestigious Gold Artsmark Award
We are thrilled to announce that Park High School has been awarded the highly coveted Gold Level Artsmark Award, a national accolade presented by Arts Council England. This recognition celebrates our school’s commitment to embedding creativity and culture at the heart of education, enhancing teaching and learning across the curriculum.
Artsmark, is the only creative quality standard for schools. The programme empowers educators to enrich the curriculum with arts and cultural opportunities, supporting both academic success and student wellbeing. Achieving this award required us to implement a robust plan that integrates arts and culture into every aspect of school life.
Over a two-year journey, our Arts department partnered with Goldsmiths, University of London, to gain professional development and support. Goldsmiths’ expertise in creative education helped us create a dynamic and inclusive arts curriculum.
The Artsmark assessor highlighted several strengths in their feedback, particularly praising our efforts to foster community through the arts. The whole school ‘Arts Festival’, our focus on oracy development through Drama, and our dedication to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) were all singled out as standout achievements. Our work with organisations like A New Direction and Shakespeare’s Globe was commended for using Drama to promote diversity, reducing discrimination, and building stronger relationships within the school.
Headteacher Mrs. O’Dwyer expressed her pride, stating:
“We are extremely proud of achieving our Artsmark Gold Award. This milestone reflects the tireless work of our Performing Arts Faculty and the transformative opportunities provided to our students. From workshops and masterclasses to performances, our Artsmark journey has enriched cultural capital across the school.”
The Chief Executive of Arts Council England, Dr. Darren Henley OBE, also congratulated us:
“Creative activities and cultural experiences enrich our lives and help us understand the world. As an Artsmark school, Park High is offering a broad, ambitious, and creative curriculum that builds character, resilience, and lifelong skills.”
This outstanding achievement reflects the dedication of Mrs. Molloy and the entire Arts department. Congratulations to everyone involved in this transformative journey. We are immensely proud to be a Gold Level Artsmark School!