Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate Receives Prestigious Artsmark Award
As one of the leading co-educational private schools in North Yorkshire, Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate (QE) has proudly received the Artsmark Award, a distinguished honour from Arts Council England.
This award underscores QE’s commitment to fostering a rich arts and cultural curriculum for its students, embodying a holistic educational philosophy that brings learning to life through creativity and cultural engagement.
What is the Artsmark Award?
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The Artsmark Award is the only creative quality standard for schools, awarded by Arts Council England. It provides a framework to enrich and celebrate arts and cultural education across schools, ensuring that creative opportunities are available to students at every level. For co-educational private schools like Queen Ethelburga's, achieving Artsmark highlights a dedication to embedding a diverse, forward-thinking curriculum that equips young people with skills beyond traditional academics.
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Achieving the Artsmark at a Co-Educational Private School
To obtain the Artsmark Award, QE underwent a comprehensive development phase that involved assessing and expanding its arts and cultural provision. The school crafted an ambitious strategy emphasising creative learning as a core pillar of its co-educational private school experience. This process involved professional support, staff training, and meaningful partnerships with cultural organisations and school networks, further enhancing the quality and depth of arts education at Queen Ethelburga's.
A Broad and Engaging Arts Curriculum
Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate has long prioritised an arts curriculum that extends beyond standard offerings, covering digital arts, media, photography, drama, dance, and more. The Artsmark assessors commended QE for its wide-ranging qualifications and enrichment opportunities, allowing students to engage with both traditional and contemporary creative disciplines. Among the unique programmes offered, QE has pioneered Esports courses, reflecting the school’s adaptability to evolving fields in arts and media.
Notably, QE has seen an increase in student engagement with arts courses, with 39% of students in Years 9 to 13 participating in specialised arts disciplines. This growth underscores the appeal of QE’s dynamic arts offerings and the positive impact of a well-rounded co-educational private school experience on young learners.
Helen Stephenson, Head of Creative Arts at Queen Ethelburga’s, expressed her pride in the achievement:
“We’re extremely proud of achieving our Artsmark Gold Award. We are committed to delivering a high-quality arts and cultural education, and we look forward to continuing to grow with Artsmark.”
Dr. Darren Henley OBE, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, also praised QE’s efforts, stating:
“I would like to congratulate Queen Ethelburga’s on their Artsmark Award. Becoming an Artsmark school demonstrates that through offering a broad, ambitious and creative curriculum, young people have the opportunity to develop character and resilience, increasing their knowledge, curiosity, and skills that will remain with them through to adult life.”
The Arts at Queen Ethelburga’s: Inspiring Creativity and Lifelong Skills
Receiving the Artsmark Award is a testament to Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate’s commitment to arts and cultural education. As a co-educational private school, QE stands out for its inclusive, enriching approach to learning, nurturing creative potential across its student body. With the Artsmark Award, QE continues to set a standard for inspiring and empowering young minds, equipping them with valuable skills and a passion for the arts that will endure well beyond their school years.
Discover Queen Ethelburga's Creative Arts provision throughout the school's four schools: Chapter House, King's Magna, QE Faculty and QE College. Or, visit the school at an Open Day to meet the Creative Arts department.
