Bradon Forest School Wins Arts Mark Gold Award

Bradon Forest on show in Bristol, left to right, year 10 students Sam Ritchings, Joe Theobald, Andy Stott of D*FROST, Charles Salmon, Mike Marsh, David Procter, Mike Fergie, Holly from the Northern Lights Gallery, Ed Muir. Not featured but also displaying work are Luke Gregory, Lewis Quinn, Sasha Izadpanah, Jessie Twyman.

Bradon Forest School in Purton has recently become one of only 476 schools nationally to achieve the prestigious 'Artsmark Gold' status.

The Arts Council of England's Artsmark Award recognises schools that demonstrate a commitment to providing opportunities across all art forms from drama to music, design to literature, dance to sculpture. The scheme encourages schools to work in partnership with artists and arts organisations.

Len Spiers, headteacher at Bradon Forest, said, "I am delighted that the Arts Council has recognised Bradon Forest's progressive, well balanced arts education programme which enables students to work with a variety of artists."

Julia Maunder, assistant headteacher was equally delighted, saying, "we have a long tradition of excellence in the arts at Bradon Forest. Staff give of their time willingly to foster a love of their subject and this award recognises that commitment. A number of young artists are exhibiting their work publically this month at the Northern Lights gallery in Bristol as part of the D*FROST exhibition so this award tops an excellent month of opportunity for them."

As we move towards submitting our bid to become a Specialist School for Performing Arts this October, we hope that receiving this award will encourage local businesses and organisations to come forward with offers of support to help us meet our sponsorship target of £50 000."

Sir Christopher Frayling, Arts council of England chairperson said, "every young person should have a basic entitlement to participate in and experience the arts. The schools receiving Artsmark today display a commitment to providing young people with a wide range of activities that we believe all schools should strive for."

D*FROST is a collective of professional artists featuring graffiti style art. Artists from D*FROST came to the school last October as part of the two day collaboration event of professional artists and GCSE students. They were so impressed with the students' work that they asked the students to create a website as a forum and teaching aid to show the work and assist other budding young artists. This is now live and accessible at www.thawed.co.uk for young artists to contact us and have their work shown.

D*FROST then asked the students to join them in an exhibition at the Northern Lights Gallery. The show runs to 25th June.