We received the Gold Artsmark Award from Arts Council England, following a two-year process in which the school demonstrated its commitment to creative subjects ranging from Music, Dance, and Drama, to Art, Photography, Design, and Philosophy.

“We had to submit a Statement of Commitment, which outlined all of the areas we, as a school, wanted to develop for our students within the Arts,” said Pete Cuss, Head of Year 10 at Springwood, which is part of the West Norfolk Academies Trust.

“My role was co-ordinating the areas for development, and communicating this to staff and students. I also wrote the reports that were submitted to Artsmark.

“All of the Arts faculty staff were leaders in the operational aspects of our journey, hosting workshops, collaborating with industry professionals, organising trips, and enhancing the Arts provision in their own department.”

Wider school involvement was also introduced through our new Cultural Touchstone Initiative, which has included popular topics such as GameBoy design, with sessions delivered by form tutors. The scheme has proved so successful that there are plans to extend it to the Trust’s other high schools.

“Each form tutor in the school has played a part in the Cultural Touchstone curriculum that we have designed as part of our journey,” continued Mr Cuss. “This was designed to enrich the wider knowledge of our students in the Arts, but delivered in form time.”

Other introductions have included a new Key Stage 4 Music Technology course, and an annual Arts Award Evening, while students have also enjoyed a visit from the Detective Theatre Company, as well as more than 25 hours a week of extra-curricular groups, and Art/Photography trips to Seoul and Korea, en route to achieving the Gold Artsmark accreditation.

“This is an important award, as it is nationally recognised,” added Mr Cuss.

“It is a good way for us to review, reflect, and refine what we do at Springwood within the Arts, and keeps us up to date for our students.”