Pupils and staff at Greenwood Primary and Nursery School, Kirkby, are celebrating after receiving a prestigious Artsmark Award, which is celebrating 20 years of arts, culture and creativity in schools.

The award, accredited by Arts Council England, supports schools to develop and celebrate arts and cultural education, putting creativity and wellbeing at the heart of the curriculum.

To achieve its Artsmark Award, Greenwood, an academy within the Flying High Partnership, developed an arts and culture provision to embed a broad and ambitious curriculum. It was supported by The Mighty Creatives. 

The Artsmark assessor commended Greenwood, stating: “It is always good to read of the positive impact the Artsmark journey has on individual settings and in Greenwood Primary and Nursery School’s case, the curriculum has been overhauled so that the development of knowledge and progression of skills for the foundation subjects is now clearly planned. There is a clear plan for art in the overall design of the curriculum.” 

Deputy headteacher Sarah Gilbody, who works closely with arts partners Captivate, Notts Inspire Music, Inspire Culture & Library Service and the Palace Theatre, Mansfield, said: “In 2021 we also became a Nottinghamshire Music Singing Hub School and were nominated for a Music Mark.

“We are a school in an area of high social disadvantage so it’s important to us to offer all our children memorable experiences that add to their cultural capital and enable them to reach for the stars.

“Visits to a West End show, annually going to see a pantomime, to the ballet, museums, galleries, theatre groups in school, working with local artists, organising and participating in concerts with other schools and learning how to play a ukulele are just some of the things our children will do before they leave us.”