Riverside School in Barking has earned a prestigious Platinum Artsmark Award to the delight of staff and pupils.
Artsmark is the only creative quality standard for schools, accredited by Arts Council England. It supports them to develop and celebrate arts and cultural education across the whole curriculum, bringing learning to life for children and young people.
The Barking school has an outstanding arts offer which includes Riverside View Arts Hub that supports local schools and a Cultural Arts Lead who drives and develops arts and cultural provision across all phases.
“I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to ensure young people have access to the very best arts education, whose lives are happier and more fulfilled as a result."
Headteacher, Andrew Roberts, said: “We’d like to thank our key partners who supported us to enable the highest quality arts provision and outcomes for our young people – Studio 2909, ENO, LBBD CEP, Bow Arts and A New Direction.
“Each of these organisations supported us with superb leadership and expertise in arts education on our journey, and we are so much richer for this collaboration and the opportunities it presented.
“I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to ensure young people have access to the very best arts education, whose lives are happier and more fulfilled as a result."
“Thanks particularly to the Director of Cultural Arts, Soren Ramsing, whose stanch promotion of arts education combined with his amazing ability to network and collaborate with so many partners is instrumental in achieving high-quality arts experiences.”
The school received praise for actively promoting arts and cultural industries as genuine career choices and highlighting opportunities to experience working alongside industry professionals through Creative Careers events.
Councillor Evelyn Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement, said: “Congratulations to everyone at Riverside School on receiving this prestigious award.
“I am delighted that the school’s commitment to cultural education has been honoured in this way.”
Commenting on the school’s arts provision, an Artsmark officer wrote: “Through your partnerships with the Barbican, ENO, FUEL and Bow Arts, your children and young people have continuous access to a wider range of challenging arts and cultural experiences that are stretching their knowledge, skills and understanding.”
For the next stage in its arts development, Riverside School plans to begin fundraising to build a multi-million pound Performing Arts Centre next to the school within the next three years. This would be a state-of-the-art facility with a concert hall, dance studios and theatre for use by students and the wider community.
The school are urging anyone who is interested in being part of this exciting development to get in touch with them.
Image credit: FBMArchitects