Artsmark
10th September 2026
WE HAVE ACHIEVED THE PRESTIGIOUS PLATINUM AWARD!
Cartmel CE Primary School receives prestigious Platinum Artsmark Award
Pupils and staff at Cartmel CE Primary School are celebrating after receiving a prestigious Platinum Artsmark Award.
Artsmark is the only creative quality standard for schools, accredited by Arts Council England. It transforms teaching through creativity, empowering teachers with the skills they need to embed arts, culture and creativity across the whole curriculum, and is proven to support pupil outcomes and wellbeing.
To achieve their Artsmark Award, the school had to develop their arts and cultural provision to embed a broad and ambitious curriculum. This was achieved by creating an overall plan that was committed to and delivered across the whole school.
Over two years, Cartmel CE Primary received professional support through an immersive learning programme from Artsmark’s delivery partner, Goldsmiths, University of London, who are world-renowned leaders in creative pedagogy and cultural placemaking.
The Artsmark Assessor commended the school on its outstanding leadership of arts and culture, stating that creative practice is firmly embedded within strategic planning, governance, staff development and curriculum design, creating a culture in which the arts are valued as an essential part of children's learning and wellbeing.
On receiving the award, Rachel Battersby, Headteacher said: “We are thrilled to have achieved our Artsmark Platinum Award, the highest level we could gain! It is testament to the dedication of our whole staff team. I was delighted that the assessor recognised our commitment to community and collaboration and celebrated all the outreach work we have been doing through our Artsmark journey. The impact of opportunities created on both pupils and staff has been wonderful to see.”
Dr Darren Henley OBE, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said:
“I would like to congratulate Cartmel CE Primary School on their Artsmark Award. Creative activities and cultural experiences enrich our lives, open our minds to new possibilities and help us make sense of the world around us. As an awarded Artsmark school, you’re demonstrating that by offering a broad, ambitious and creative curriculum, your young people will develop character and resilience, increasing their knowledge, curiosity and skills that will remain with them through to adult life.”
10th July 2023
Cartmel Church of England Primary School celebrates Gold Artsmark Award Status.
Pupils and staff at Cartmel Church of England Primary School have been celebrating, after the school was awarded the Gold Artsmark status.
Artsmark is the creative quality standard for schools; accredited by Arts Council England and awarded to schools which actively champion high quality art and cultural education within their curriculum. Culture and creativity increases pupils’ confidence, critical thinking, communication and literacy skills, improving attainment and bringing core subjects to life.
In order to achieve Artsmark Gold status, Cartmel Church of England Primary has demonstrated its commitment to incorporating art and culture into every student’s life and learning, as well as showing ambitious plans for the future. The school will now continue this journey with the support of Curious Minds - the Arts Council England appointed regional agency for creative and cultural education for the North West.
As part of its Statement of Commitment, Cartmel Church of England Primary School highlighted the strengths of its drama, music, and arts provision. With a rich tapestry of engaging and inclusive opportunities already in place, the school built on their strengths in this area and developed new creative skills. During the pandemic, the arts continued with digital programming and showcasing, through an online partnership with CHOL Theatre Company.
Commenting on receiving Artsmark status, Head Teacher, Rachel Battersby said:
“I am delighted Cartmel has been awarded our Gold Artsmark. The staff team have worked extremely hard to run and develop projects within the Artsmark Award journey. It has been noticeable how our children have developed ‘life skills’ through the project, which we shall continue to embed in our teaching across the board. Their enthusiasm and love of learning has been shining throughout the project, increasing their confidence in arts subjects whilst developing relationships with the local community. It really is a fantastic result!”
Congratulating the school on becoming an Artsmark school, Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said: “I would like to congratulate Cartmel CE Primary School on achieving Artsmark and welcome them into our growing family of Artsmark schools. To become an Artsmark school, Cartmel CE Primary School had to demonstrate its dedication to the arts. It has put together an ambitious plan which will ensure that each of its pupils is given the opportunity to explore and build a love of the arts that will remain with them as they go through adult life.”
