Shropshire schools are celebrating their success in the national Artsmark Award with 39 schools having received this special award.

The Artsmark award is a national award scheme awarded by the Arts Council and is a benchmark for arts education provision. This last round of awards (round 10) was the final round after 10 years. The scheme is being redesigned by the Arts Council with a possible new structure in 2011.

The aim of the award was to encourage schools to increase the quantity, range and types of arts provision available to children and young people. It also provided more opportunities for young people and helped further arts partnerships between schools and the arts sector.

Shropshire is now placed at fifth out of fourteen local authorities in the West Midlands, in a league of numbers of schools to have achieved Artsmark status, which is a dramatic a rise from next to the bottom of the table in 2006 when only eight schools had achieved the award.

In the last round of awards 16 schools received the award or were re-awarded an Artsmark award including 13 primaries, 2 secondary and 1 special school. Schools could apply for and achieve Artsmark Gold, Artsmark Silver and Artsmark. The four curriculum areas recognised are art, drama, music and dance and overall 16 schools have achieved the gold Artsmark and 16 have achieved the silver Artsmark award.

In the West Midlands 1,437 schools have now achieved the award and are only beaten by the North West and the South East.

Councillor Aggie Caesar-Homden, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services at Shropshire Council said: “This is a fantastic achievement for all of the schools and their community. I would like to congratulate them in their success.”

She added: “The impact of achieving the award is considerable. It has helped to raise self esteem and pride amongst pupils, raises the school profile within the community and provides increased opportunities for staff professional development. This success is a direct recognition of the good practice and enjoyment that takes place in Shropshire schools at both primary and secondary level.”

For further information, call Karen Howell, School Improvement Adviser (Art and Design and Design and Technology) on 01743 254535
For media contact, call Laura Northwood, Communications and Marketing Officer on 01743 252348