Award marks school’s arts achievements
WADE Deacon high School has attained the Artsmark Platinum award.
This has been the result of nearly two years work which has celebrated all the arts in school – art and design, dance, music, drama, DT and creative i-media.
To secure the Platinum status the school had to undertake an innovation project and prove it that it had had an impact.
The performance department led by Danell Hughes developed a programme to raise aspirations and develop leadership in students of all ages in music and drama:
She said: “I wanted to pursue Artsmark Platinum as a school as I felt we were truly working at that level and wanted recognition for how we work together as a body of staff and pupils within the arts.
“The staff involved encompassed music and drama specifically allowing more growth for additional subjects as the Platinum bid continues to grow.”
“As a faculty we are delighted with this achievement and how it demonstrates the impact we are having on our pupils, school and wider community.”
Commenting on the school’s submission, the Artsmark panel said: ● “Wade Deacon set out to increase pupil leadership in the arts, and they certainly seem to have achieved that.
“The panel were impressed by the structured, robust approach to making this a meaningful development for pupils, and by the trust placed in pupils in terms of codelivery of CPD and peerto-peer support.
“It clearly has a deep impact on the pupils involved.”
One of the Wade Deacon pupils involved in the programme said: “After joining the music leadership team, I have become more confident in my own musical ability.
“Most importantly, however, I have felt a part of a team that I truly believe can achieve anything that they put their minds to, and have wanted to make that team proud by continuing to push myself in all areas of my abilities, most notably in music.
“I have pushed myself in a range of ways but have also extended that pride to my GCSE music lessons, and have wanted to push my coursework grades as high as I can get them.
“Because I wanted to make the team proud, I have been able to push myself further.
“It would have taken me a lot longer and I wouldn’t have felt as confident in my own abilities if I had not been part of this leadership team.”
The panel added: “As a platinum Artsmark school, Arts Council England celebrates your commitment to arts and cultural education at a governing body level, the opportunities established across your provision and the leadership you are demonstrating in this area.
“Your children and young people are offered equal opportunity to influence, lead, and experience and evaluate a diverse range of high quality arts and cultural activities across a broad range of media and you are able to contribute to development opportunities in these areas for both your own staff and others.
“You have strong partnerships with arts and cultural organisations and can evidence positive impact of this collaboration.
“Your children and young people have an opportunity to continually develop their knowledge and understanding of arts and culture and you are working to further develop the leadership role you have established.”
Sean Moran, the school’s assistant vice principal and leader of the Creative Arts, said: “As you can imagine we are extremely proud of this accolade.
“There has been much talk of how much the Arts in education has dwindled in recent years, however in Wade Deacon we have always understood how creative subjects can provide enriching experiences for young people.
“The opportunity to develop creative thinking and express themselves artistically has never been stronger.”