Lincroft Academy receives prestigious Artsmark Platinum Award
Pupils and staff at Lincroft Academy are celebrating after receiving a prestigious Artsmark Platinum Award. Artsmark Platinum is Arts Council England’s highest award for schools and education settings that champion cultural education. It celebrates settings that embrace the arts across the curriculum, influencing other educational organisations and bringing them to life for children and young people. In order to achieve their Artsmark Award, Lincroft Academy, rated Good by Ofsted and part of the successful Sharnbrook Academy Federation, had to develop their arts and culture provision to embed a broad and balanced curriculum. This was achieved by creating an overall plan that was committed to and delivered across the whole school. Lincroft Academy was supported by the Royal Opera House Bridge in planning and developing their initial objectives. The Royal Opera House Bridge worked alongside the school at various stages to support their Artsmark Award achievement. Sally Manser, Head of Royal Opera House Bridge, said: “We’re delighted that Lincroft Academy has been awarded Artsmark Platinum, in recognition of their achievements in developing the arts and culture in their own school and championing creative and cultural learning in their wider community. Through Artsmark, Lincroft Academy will continue to incorporate art and culture into every pupil’s life, learning, knowledge and understanding, helping them to build skills, resilience, confidence and character. On receiving the award, Lincroft Academy Principal, Mark Duke said: “We’re extremely proud of achieving our Artsmark Platinum Award. We are committed to delivering a high-quality arts and cultural education and we look forward to continue to grow with Artsmark.” Iain Denning, Executive Principal of Sharnbrook Academy Federation, said: “This is a fantastic accolade for Lincroft Academy. All schools within Sharnbrook Academy Federation focus on helping our students achieve not only strong results in the academic subjects but on providing a broad, high-quality education across the arts. Lincroft Academy is a superb example of this.” Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said: “I would like to congratulate Lincroft Academy on their award. As an Artsmark school, Lincroft exemplifies how the Award can help schools to achieve a broad and balanced curriculum, ensuring that each of its pupils is given the opportunity to explore and build a love of the arts that will remain with them as they go through adult life.” For more information or images, contact Tracy Bannister,tbannister@saf.org.uk