Hartlepool's West View Primary School lands major national award from Arts Council England
A Hartlepool primary school has landed a major national award for its commitment to the arts and culture.
West View Primary School is celebrating after receiving the prestigious Artsmark Gold Award, which is accredited by Arts Council England.
In their feedback, Artsmark assessors said: “West View Primary School has made significant strides in embedding arts and culture as part of its core identity, creating a richer, more equitable curriculum for all pupils.
“You have a bespoke curriculum for art and music and have set up an arts team which is building a shared understanding of what quality in the arts curriculum means for your school.”
They continued: “Partnerships with arts organisations have combined with inclusive clubs like Glee and recorder to create a range of opportunities that are truly accessible, supported by the school’s commitment that no child pays for clubs and that trips are heavily subsidised.”
Rachael Johnson, a West View class teacher and art and design lead, said: “We’ve been working towards the Artsmark Gold Award for the last couple of years and we are absolutely delighted to receive it
“The award demonstrates that the arts and culture is embedded throughout the school and is testament to the wide range of opportunities which we offer to our children.”
West View is one of 10 primary schools across Hartlepool, Teesside and County Durham under the umbrella of Ad Astra Academy Trust.
Trust chief executive Andy Brown said: “Art is an important part of the school curriculum and this award shows that West View is excelling in many areas.”