Council and democracy

Croydon schools put the arts at the heart of learning

Four schools picked up the prestigious Artsmark Gold award (Atwood Primary School, Kingsley Primary School, Ridgeway Primary School and Nursery, and St Giles School), with another four schools picking up the Silver award (Bensham Manor, David Livingstone Primary School, St Mary's Catholic Infant School and Wattenden Primary School).

The award celebration took place at the Royal Festival Hall on Monday 23 June. To mark the occasion, Children's Laureate Michael Rosen performed a specially-commissioned poem, which was presented to the schools with their award.

Cabinet member for children's services and adult learning, Councillor Maria Gatland said: "Congratulations to those schools who received the award for the first time, and those who continue to maintain high standards of art provision in schools."

Moira Sinclair, Executive Director of Arts Council England, London, said: "Great art inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better and children and young people's engagement in the arts and creativity can be highly transformational. It is for this reason that Artsmark is so important. It is a recognition of real commitment by a school to creativity and to the significant role that arts can play in the learning and development of our young people.