Celebrating Artsmark: Transforming teaching and learning through the Arts
As an Artsmark Assessor it has been my privilege to read hundreds of accounts from schools describing how Artsmark has been instrumental in helping them harness the transformational power of the arts. I read about how the programme is enriching learning experiences and developing more confident young people. This Celebration Week offers a chance to celebrate how Artsmark has made a lasting impact on the role of the arts in education.
The transformational power of the Arts
The arts have a unique ability to transform lives. A wealth of research shows that engaging in creative activities can boost students’ confidence, enhance their communication skills, and promote overall wellbeing. Beyond academic learning, the arts provide a space where young people can express themselves, explore new ideas, and develop a deeper sense of empathy and connection with others. In schools, arts education plays a vital role in building skills that prepare young people for success, both personally and professionally.
Artsmark plays a key role in bringing this potential to life. By providing a framework that encourages schools to place the arts at the heart of their curriculum, Artsmark has empowered educators to see the arts as more than just an add-on. Instead, schools are encouraged to view creativity as an essential part of a holistic education, where every student can benefit from the opportunities that the arts provide.
How Artsmark supports transformation
One of the strengths of Artsmark is its flexibility. Recognising that each school has unique needs, the framework allows educators to tailor their arts provision to fit their students’ interests and their local context. It creates unique pathways that increase the chances of participants succeeding. This has inspired schools to think strategically about how the arts can address broader educational goals, such as supporting wellbeing or building community connections.
In my role as an Assessor, I have seen first hand how schools use the programme to innovate and adapt their arts provision. Schools often collaborate with local artists, creating projects that go beyond the classroom and enrich the wider community. These collaborations help students see the arts as a pathway to new opportunities and foster a culture where creativity thrives.
Evidence of impact
A crucial part of the Artsmark journey is reflecting on the impact of arts initiatives. Schools are encouraged to gather evidence that demonstrates how their arts activities have improved student engagement and wellbeing. This emphasis on evidence helps schools showcase the value of their efforts to parents, governors, and the broader community. It also ensures that arts, culture and creativity remain a sustainable part of school life, rather than a temporary initiative.
For example, at Hadrian Primary School in South Shields, pupils developed specific roles and responsibilities aligned to the school development plan providing them with the chance to speak about collective concerns, ideas and aspirations for the arts. The student led Arts Council successfully bid to the Local Cultural Education Partnership to employ a visiting artist.
Foxwood Academy in Nottingham used arts-rich teaching to transform the quality of learning for children with special needs. For example, role-play and acting was a mainstay across the school, especially for those with Autistic Spectrum Conditions. Drama techniques were used extensively in English, Drama and IT as well as the Preparation for Adulthood Curriculum. And this transformed levels of engagement among young people and boosted their confidence and personal capacities.
The Royal Free Hospital School in London transformed teaching practices by boosting leadership among their teachers and learning support assistants. They collaborated with other settings, sharing examples of arts-rich practice for a wide range of complex learner needs with their peers across the borough of Camden.
A lasting legacy
As Artsmark looks to the future, its mission - to make arts, culture and creativity a central part of every child’s education - remains as relevant as ever. With the increasing demand for creative skills and resilience in a changing world, Artsmark is well-positioned to continue supporting schools in using the arts as a powerful tool for growth and development. Over the past two decades, Artsmark has shown that when schools embrace the arts with intention, the results can be truly transformative - for students, educators, and communities alike.
