We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the prestigious Silver Artsmark Award, accredited by Arts Council England.
Artsmark is the only creative quality standard for schools, designed to transform teaching through creativity. It empowers staff with the tools to embed arts, culture and creativity across the curriculum, supporting student outcomes, personal development, and wellbeing.
To achieve this recognition, we enhanced our arts and cultural provision to ensure a broad and ambitious curriculum for all students. This commitment was delivered through a whole-school approach and a clear vision for arts education.
The Artsmark Assessor commended Cockermouth School, stating:
“All pupils can access a consistent range of arts and cultural provision through work with local and national arts and cultural organisations in school and on visits outside the classroom which leads to showcasing in school and the local community. Your strengths are your ethos and values, your offer within school both through the curriculum and in extra-curricular activities, your emerging leadership through new strategic posts, and how you are measuring impact.”
Mrs Sam Tinkler, Director of Curriculum Enrichment and Engagement at Cockermouth School, said:
“We’re extremely proud of achieving our Artsmark Silver Award. We are committed to delivering a high-quality arts and cultural education. Our Artsmark journey has transformed our school through its quality principles, reinforcing our belief that education is about more than academic results. These opportunities have enabled our students to live our values — aspire, enjoy, include, respect, and community — every day. This journey, shaped by ongoing reflection, ensures our ethos is not just stated, but lived.”
Dr Darren Henley OBE, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, also praised the school:
“I would like to congratulate Cockermouth 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.”
We are proud to see the arts continue to thrive, enriching students’ learning and strengthening their connections with the wider community.
For more information about the Artsmark Award, visit www.artsmark.org.uk.
