The Artsmark Award is the only creative quality standard for schools, accredited by Arts Council England. It supports schools to develop and celebrate arts and cultural education, putting creativity and wellbeing at the heart of the curriculum. Artsmark ensures every young person can be creative and access a diverse, high-quality cultural education.

To achieve their Artsmark Gold Award, Chew Valley School had to develop their arts and culture provision to embed a broad and ambitious curriculum. This was achieved by creating an overall plan that was committed to and delivered across the whole school. The school was supported by Real Ideas Bridge Organisation in planning and developing their objectives and worked alongside the school at various stages to support their Artsmark Gold Award achievement.

The Artsmark assessor commended Chew Valley School on “a strong arts foundation built from your previous Performing Arts Specialist Status and establishing arts and cultural provision that makes sure all young people have opportunities to perform, see live performances, and to create and evaluate artworks in a range of media.”

On receiving the award, Headteacher Gareth Beynon said: “We are delighted at Chew Valley to have been awarded the Gold Artsmark Award which recognises the tremendous work which has gone on to support and develop the Performing Arts throughout our school. The commitment of our staff coupled with the wonderful talent and dedication of our students has enabled this area to continue to flourish as a key part of our educational offer”.

Dr Darren Henley OBE, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, said: “I would like to congratulate Chew Valley School on their Artsmark Gold Award. Becoming an Artsmark school demonstrates that through offering a broad, ambitious, and creative curriculum, every pupil can develop character and resilience, increasing their knowledge, curiosity and skills that will remain with them through to adult life.”