June 13, 2023 01:11pm
The Victory Academy rejoices as they are awarded Platinum Artsmark for the second time!
The students and staff at The Victory Academy in Chatham are ecstatic to be receiving the prestigious Artsmark Platinum Award for the second time. Artsmark is the only creative quality standard for schools and education settings accredited by Arts Council England. Artsmark supports schools to develop and celebrate arts and cultural education, putting creativity and wellbeing at the heart of the curriculum and ensuring every young person can be creative and access a diverse, high-quality cultural education. The Platinum award is the highest level of Artsmark award that can be achieved.
In order to achieve their Artsmark Platinum Award, The Victory Academy further developed and embedded arts and culture into their broad and ambitious curriculum. They connected learning across subjects, including arts-based projects, Arts Award and Academic qualifications.
As part of their arts journey, the school also offers the national Arts Award, which saw a significant number of Year 8 students receive their Bronze qualification earlier this year. During their assessment, the Artsmark assessor commends the school for "extending your creative qualifications offer (including offering the Arts Award), and increased student engagement in Arts subjects. The Artsmark framework shapes the school’s transition and Summer School programme, ensuring a smooth start to children’s secondary education."
The Principal of The Victory Academy, Michelle Smith, said “I am delighted to see that the creative effort, hard work, and dedication from our staff and students has been recognised with this award. We are extremely proud that we have been awarded the Platinum Artsmark award for the second time!”
Since achieving the Platinum award in 2018, The Victory Academy has continued to enhance their artistic catalogue and has now joined the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Associate Schools programme, implementing RSC rehearsal room pedagogies into the curriculum and appointing RSC Ambassadors to strengthen pupil voice in the Arts. Student leaders in the school also actively deliver CPD to teachers internally as well as within local primary schools. Both of these actions were recognised in the assessor’s report.
On receiving the award, Mandy Gage, Director of Education who leads on cultural development across the Trust, said, "Victory has a high quality of cultural education at its foundation and I am delighted to see this continue as the school grows and flourishes.
“At TSAT, we believe in the value of cultural education and encourage all of our schools to embark on Artsmark journeys. The Victory Academy is the flagship of Artsmark within the Trust, setting a fantastic example for our schools, having received the Platinum Award twice!
“Congratulations to everyone involved for this phenomenal achievement."
As part of the assessor’s feedback, the school was provided with guidance and advice on which steps to take to progress and become an even stronger advocate for the arts. "We look forward to hearing how your arts work keeps going from strength to strength, and we would love to hear in more detail about some of your next creative projects you undertake with arts and culture professionals—perhaps with your new artist-in-residence. Good luck!"
Dr Darren Henley, OBE, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, said, "I would like to congratulate The Victory Academy on their Artsmark Award. Becoming an Artsmark school demonstrates that through offering a broad, ambitious, and creative curriculum, every pupil can develop character and resilience, increasing their knowledge, curiosity, and skills that will remain with them through to adult life."
