The journey towards Artsmark Gold for River Beach has been long and peppered with challenges thanks to Covid-19, however the work put to embedding arts, culture and creativity across the curriculum really paid off when Ofsted came calling! Sandra Ackerman, Arts Specialist Teacher, talks about their deep dive into art.
At the beginning of the 2019/20 academic year, our school was very aware that we were in an Ofsted window and had been for some time. We had begun to develop and establish documentation to support our approach to a broad and balanced curriculum. Halfway through the first term of 2019, we got the call.
I clearly remember my stomach dropping feeling when I was told that Ofsted had chosen Art as a subject for a ‘deep dive’ in our most recent inspection.
As this sunk in, I began to think about how we could demonstrate our approach to this part of a balanced curriculum. Ofsted came during a period when we were fully immersed on our Artsmark journey. We’d submitted our Statement of Commitment and were well on our way to completing the Statement of Impact. I really believe that our strategic planning using the Artsmark framework, and preparing our Artsmark documentation, gave me the confidence to demonstrate our approach to embedding art across the whole curriculum.
This included the progression of skills document and a learning map we use for planning art provision across all year groups. Working towards Artsmark helped demonstrate how we’ve raised the profile of the arts in school and keeping all staff involved and confident through the CPD we offer. This helped garner their enthusiasm and expertise.
On the Day
The timetable of the day had me meeting with the Her Majesty’s Inspector to talk about Art - a lovely person who tried to put me at my ease by suggesting I ate my lunch while we spoke, to which I replied, “It’s not really an eating kind of day”, as I nervously sipped some water!
Our Artsmark documents became my props as I answered the Inspector’s questions. She wanted to know how they translated into action in the classroom. For example, talking through the planning to delivery process. Then we visited art lessons in two different year groups. Here, she was able to see our vision in action. She commented on the consistent approach and progress that was evident from year to year. She noted that as the subject leader, the children knew who I was and that I would help them as well as their own teacher. The inspector moved on to interviewing a selection of staff, whereby she asked questions relating to art in school. I am immensely proud of them for listening and enthusiastically participating in art-related staff meetings so that they were able to demonstrate to the Inspector how the whole school is on board to deliver a broad and ambitious curriculum through our arts provision.
We are so lucky at River Beach to have such a talented, committed team who strive every day to give our pupils experiences of the world around them through arts and cultural opportunities. These include incorporating drama as a stimulus in English and using visual arts, dance and music in History lessons that deepen pupils’ understanding by placing events in context.
Next Steps
We are delighted to have achieved Artsmark Gold status in July 2021 but know that the journey is far from over. With the projects we are currently developing or are involved in, we have set our sights on Platinum.
While Covid may have limited some experiences for us over the last two years, we have fully embraced the freedom we now have to collaborate with outside organisations such as Chichester Festival Theatre and Pallant House Gallery.
We have established our art studio with me in post as an arts specialist teacher. This is an exciting project whereby all pupils can develop projects and learn skills that a classroom environment does not always allow.
Through our team of Arts Ambassadors, pupils across the school are beginning to know that their work is not only recognised and appreciated by their teachers but also by their peers. Our enthusiastic team recently worked with Beccy at Arun Inspires - an Artswork organisation working to advance cultural opportunities for the young people in our area. They were able to help select artists to work on a local project that will have a fantastic visual impact on the town.
Advice
What advice would I share with a subject leader navigating a deep dive into any curriculum subject? Be prepared, have your documents to hand and throw your heart and soul into demonstrating how passionate you are about your subject and the enjoyment, progress and outcomes that the children show in it!
