71185-52Seven Swindon schools have made outstanding achievements in the arts. They have won national recognition from the Arts Council for their commitment to music, dance, drama, art and design.
Churchfields and Bradon Forest Schools were both given the highest award of the Artsmark Gold.
The honour will strengthen their bids to become specialist visual and performing arts colleges and bring in hundreds of thousands of pounds in extra funding.
Schools had to show they provided out-of-hours opportunities for students and professional development of staff, as well as developing partnerships with arts organisations and the wider community.
Churchfields headteacher Steve Flavin said: "I am absolutely delighted we have received this award. It recognises the high quality of performing and visual arts work, which is a strength of the school."
David Calder, the head of performing arts at Bradon Forest School, in Purton, said: "Every single night we have 50 to 60 pupils voluntarily staying back to take part in activities. We are absolutely chuffed to bits."
Other schools in the Swindon area to have been commended by the Arts Council are: Bishopstone Church of England Primary School Artsmark Silver; Nyland School Artsmark Silver; Oliver Tomkins Infants School Artsmark Silver; Ruskin Junior School Artsmark Silver; The Commonweal School - Artsmark
Bhavani Vadde
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