Students and staff at St Gregory’s Catholic College in Bath are celebrating after receiving the prestigious Gold Artsmark Award, recognising the school’s outstanding commitment to arts and culture.
The award places the school among a select group of institutions across England recognised for embedding creativity and cultural learning across the curriculum.
Arts Council England’s Artsmark is the only creative quality standard for schools. It supports teachers to develop creative approaches to learning, helping schools integrate arts and culture into everyday teaching while improving student wellbeing and outcomes.
An assessor praised St Gregory’s as a “vibrant, fun and exciting place to be”, noting that the school’s commitment to arts and culture is “having measurable effects on both staff and students”.
Particular praise was given to the school’s arts-led ethos and its creative use of drama within PSHE lessons to explore themes such as social justice and friendship.
Student voice and leadership also played a key role in the award. The assessment highlighted the KS5 ambassadors programme and the leadership roles students take in major productions, including Mary Poppins and the Elements Festival.
The school was further commended for its thoughtful approach to equity, diversity and inclusion, along with the way participation and attainment gap data is used to measure the impact of creative learning. Inspectors also praised the professional development opportunities offered to the performing arts team to strengthen specialist teaching skills.
Melissa George, Headteacher, said, “The arts aren’t a nice-to-have. They’re where our students find their voice, take risks, surprise themselves and each other. Watching a shy Year 7 command a stage, or a student use drama to make sense of something that matters to them – that’s not something you can put in a textbook.
“This award belongs to every student who threw themselves into it, and to the brilliant teachers who created the space for them to do that. We are immensely proud of this award and the extraordinary dedication of those who helped secure it.”
Claire Richards, Head of Performing Arts, added, “What this award really reflects is what happens in our classrooms and on our stages every day – students being given the space to be creative, articulate and brave. Our team works tirelessly to make that possible, but it’s the students who make it real.”
Dr Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, commented, “I would like to congratulate St Gregory’s Catholic College on their Gold 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.”
He added that by delivering a broad and creative curriculum, the school is helping young people develop resilience, curiosity and skills that will stay with them throughout their lives.
