PUPILS and staff at Alderbury and West Grimstead Primary School were celebrating last week, after gaining a Arts Council England gold Artsmark award.

In the latest round of Artsmark awards, 263 schools around the country have achieved silver awards and 476 gold status.

Artsmark recognises schools that demonstrate a commitment to providing opportunities across all artforms, from drama to music, design to literature, dance to sculpture.

The scheme also encourages schools to work in partnership with artists and arts organisations.

Jennifer Pitcher, headteacher at Alderbury and West Grimstead School, said: "I am delighted that the Arts Council has recognised our work in arts.

"The whole staff team works very hard with both curricular and out-of-school activities, to ensure that the children have the option to be creative in a wide range of media, at the same time as teaching and learning the more academic subjects".

"We have a very wide range of activities taking place in our school.

"In particular, we have currently arranged for a series of ten workshops on drama, in partnership with Salisbury Playhouse.

"We take every opportunity to be involved with musical initiatives, led by such organisations as the Salisbury Chamber Orchestra and the LEA.

"The whole school joined in again this year.

"We have held a Tudor dance day and use dance with ribbons regularly, because it develops children's manipulative skills ready for writing".

Sir Christopher Frayling, Arts Council England chairman, said: Every young person should have a basic entitlement to participate in, and experience the arts.

"The schools receiving the Artsmark today display a commitment to providing young people with a wide range of arts activities that we believe all schools should strive for".