The Artsmark Award is accredited by Arts Council England and supports schools to develop and celebrate arts and cultural education, putting creativity and wellbeing at the heart of the curriculum. This is the second time we have been awarded Platinum status, an award that very few schools attain. We were delighted to receive the following feedback from the Artsmark assessor:

"The arts continue to transform the lives of your students and their families. Your relentless focus on leaving an arts legacy shouts out loud and clear that the Arts are here to stay at Riverside! Your many partnerships are having a positive impact on your students, giving them a wide range of experiences and exciting learning opportunities. For instance, your partnership with Rose Bruford has enabled your students with even the most complex medical needs and those at early stages of cognitive development to become performers, how fantastic. Students are given opportunities to become involved and take ownership by being able to select which elements and model of the Arts Award they wish to pursue. The Belonging Agenda is using the Arts as a vehicle to not only embrace individuality but, to also celebrate diversity and draw the community together. It was great to read of the Family Project where 12 diverse families representing a range of backgrounds came together with their children to rehearse and perform in the Performing Arts Hall. This is to be commended and a practice that should be shared with other settings. Your arts offer ensures it is relevant to the needs of your students, inclusive and challenges misconceptions. Your determination to show what can be achieved through the arts by SEND students is a strong driver in achieving your aims. Your work with Rose Bruford music graduates has helped these practitioners understand how the Arts can be shaped to engage students with a range of SEND needs. You are playing a key role in supporting future creative practitioners to help them understand what works best with SEND students in delivering the Arts by giving lectures at the Royal Academy of Dance and Trinity Laban and working with Rose Bruford to shape a new curriculum for their arts students. Give yourselves the credit for all that you do". 

Dr Darren Henley CBE, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, said: “I would like to congratulate Riverside School on their Artsmark Award. Becoming an Artsmark school demonstrates that through offering a broad, ambitious, and creative curriculum, every pupil can develop character and resilience, increasing their knowledge, curiosity and skills that will remain with them through to adult life.”

Please CLICK HERE to view our Expressive Arts Video Gallery where you will find over 50 films showcasing our work in the Expressive and Performing Arts over the past eight years. We can promise you that there will be many, many more exciting projects to follow …