Oldham-based Lyndhurst Primary and Nursery School has been awarded The Artsmark Award having demonstrated an ongoing commitment to quality and diversity in arts and culture.
The Artsmark award, accredited by Arts Council England, is the only creative quality standard for schools and education settings.
Their aim is to ensure every young person can be creative and access a diverse, high-quality cultural education.
Having begun the journey in December 2017, the school had to achieve many targets which were set by Curious Minds – the Artsmark team.
Joanna Dudson, the school’s Art lead, was acutely aware that even before beginning the journey, the school was independently well on its way.
To achieve the award the school had to raise the profile of the arts across the curriculum whilst also deepening the awareness across the school of how it could engage pupils more positively in their own learning journeys. Artsmark fed into the school’s vision of #shaping the future, #making memories and #ready for life perfectly.
Despite a global pandemic landing in the middle of their progress, the school did not let it impact their journey. Joanna continued to develop the curriculum and activities with the children around this by adopting a more flexible and adaptive approach.
The activities adopted during the lockdown period meant that the students not only met the criteria for Blue Peter Badges, but also the Green Badge for awareness of the environment, conservation, and nature. This award entitled the children to free entry into top attractions across the UK.
Commenting on the journey, Joanna Dudson said: “We are really pleased to have achieved this award; at Lyndhurst we value all aspects of learning. Creativity supports all areas of development, as well as supporting emotional and mental wellbeing while creating learners for life.
“A real highlight in the process, aside from the Blue Peter badges, was utilising the music specialist at ‘Voices Music Foundation’ to teach music through singing. This allowed the children to develop their motor skills, confidence, rhythm, teamwork, and coordination.
“All the staff at Lyndhurst were involved in the process towards the award, so to receive it has solidified our school wide community.”
Lyndhurst Primary and Nursery School forms part of the Focus-Trust – a charitable primary schools trust which is based in the North West of England and West Yorkshire with a vision of providing great schools at the heart of communities where children thrive, achieve and succeed.
