Thomas Gainsborough School breaks new ground in arts education

A secondary school’s renowned commitment to the arts has been hailed after they achieved the prestigious Artsmark Platinum award for a record fourth time. 

Staff and students at Thomas Gainsborough School, in Great Cortnard, have been saluted for adopting a school-wide arts culture which sees staff and students work closely together in the classroom and beyond.

It is the first time any school has earned four Platinum Artsmark awards since it was relaunched 10 years ago.

Helen Yapp, headteacher, said: “The whole school is very proud to achieve this recognition – something that epitomises our ‘Excellence for all’ motto.

“It’s really important that our school recognises every individual student and embraces the arts in both their education and to help them take it into their adult life.”

The award praised the school’s new student-led “creative council” which works with staff to look at future projects and TGS’s commitment to supporting others as a lead school for the Norfolk and Suffolk Music Hub.

The school’s achievements also saw them star in a promotional video about Artsmark and the value of the arts – alongside just two other schools in the country.

Ed Clark, the school’s Artsmark lead and assistant headteacher, added: “The arts in the UK are world-leading, worth £126 billion to the economy, and providing millions of jobs and careers. As such, by awakening our students to their value and potential, we are enabling them to go into a contemporary world of work which requires creativity and innovative thinking. 

“The recognition of being the first school in the country to receive the highest Platinum award four times is both a source of great pride and also a reminder of the value of our continuing work.”

In achieveing the award, the school was recognised for its work in collaborating and partnering with outside agencies including multiple galleries and performance venues and cutting edge scientific research groups such as the Protein databank in Europe and the Human Cell Atlas. 

The school also received the heritage schools award for a cross curricular art and history project exploring the silk heritage of Sudbury.