Well done and congratulations to New Horizons Primary School in Portsmouth, who have been praised for their delivery of an engaging arts curriculum that is ‘having tangible results on pupils and staff’.
The school received the Artsmark Silver Award, the only creative quality standard endorsed by Arts Council England, which is committed to supporting schools across the country in nurturing and celebrating arts and cultural education across all facets of the curriculum, breathing life into learning experiences for children.
Artsmark’s recent recognition of New Horizons Primary School, a proud member of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, demonstrates the school’s drive to foster creativity and expression among its children.
A report accompanying the award stated that ‘pupils access a consistent and relevant range of experiences in school and on visits outside the classroom’ and praised their drive to providing arts opportunities to all.
It said: ‘It’s great to hear about your newly developed music room, arts week with pupil gallery, African dancing and presenting of pupil questions to peers. You are beginning to consider diversity within the curriculum, how can you develop this further.’
Matthew Gudgeon, teacher and music lead at the school, said this award has provided a boost in the school’s confidence that they are doing the right thing for their children, saying:
“The Silver Artsmark award recognises the commitment our staff have to providing engaging arts-focused opportunities to our children, which contributes to their cultural experiences. I’ve been involved in developing our music curriculum, which includes the development of a dedicated music classroom with new instruments, and am delighted to see pupils from all year groups enjoying this space and thriving.”
Rachael Butler, teacher and art lead at New Horizons Primary School, added:
“Engaging in a vibrant arts curriculum is important for every child at New Horizons Primary School. Art is a creative way to explore different skills and techniques, and it provides the chance for our children to express themselves and showcase their passion. I’m really pleased with this Artsmark result and look forward to working with the team on developing our arts-based curriculum further.”
Jack Jones, Head of School at New Horizons Primary School, added:
“Congratulations and well done to all staff involved in helping our school achieve this award. At New Horizons Primary School, we are driven to provide rich cultural capital experiences to every pupil, which is focused on the appreciation of human creativity and achievement, and our curriculum is delivering exactly that.”
