Artsmark Support...

"I've just finished our application. I just wanted to say thank you again for your help and support - I could not have completed the form without all the notes I made from your advice!" Rivington Foundation Primary School

Need help in your area, in your school or with your application?

Is your school thinking of applying for Artsmark but you don't know where to begin?


Perhaps you find the concept or the form confusing? You're worried it will be complicated?

You're not sure if you can meet the criteria or understand what it involves?

Perhaps you want to work with other schools in the area to support each other in partnership or in clusters; or need help finding local artists or arts organisations to work with as partners for your school?

Do you just want help filling in the Artsmark application form?

There are a number of types of help available.

Your first stop should be the Artsmark website which has online support and information about training days.

If you need more strategic help, your local Bridge organisation may be able to help, though they all offer slightly different kinds of support. 

If you want an Artsmark consultant for
> strategic support or practical  advice about arts education, planning, management or development in your school and local areas
> someone to navigate the advice and support 'systems' mentioned above for you
> help you gather the data you need and working with you to fill in the forms
... then get in touch with me and we can take it from there.

---

An authorised, approved and experienced Artsmark consultant.

I have worked on Artsmark since 2003 reading, validating and marking / awarding around 1000 Artsmark applications.

Authorised support: The current Artsmark scheme has a robust and approved system of support available to ensure all schools can access equal, quality assured support, wherever they are in the country. For this reason, Trinity College London who run the award on behalf of Arts Council England, have trained an approved group of colleagues across the country to support schools in the Artsmark process. I am delighted to be a part of that group, and look forward to working with you in your school. For your part, this means you can be confident that I am up to date with every part of the Artsmark process and requirements.

At national level: 
I'm currently contracted by Trinity College London as a trainer and validator.

As a trainer, I support teachers through key parts of the application requirements, in face to face group training sessions.

As a validator, I assess applications against the rigorous criteria, and visit schools to find out about how their arts education operates in 'the flesh' as well as on paper. A validator's job also involves helping the school continue to think about how to develop their arts provision even further still, no matter how strong it already is. Seeing the many different approaches schools take, talking to staff about their passion for the  arts in education, and putting schools at ease about the validation process is the most wonderful part of this work. 

From 2003 to 2010 I worked with Arts Council England marking the applications and advising the Arts Council on how to adapt the scheme to meet changing educational needs, and to ensure the continued pushing of aspiration and development in schools and teachers.

In 2011 when the Artsmark scheme was reviewed, I worked as an independent consultant to the Arts Council, researching and advising them on teachers' needs during the application process.

At regional level: I regularly work with schools across the NW of England  to help them understand what the criteria, process and ethos of Artsmark involves. Sometimes this is on a strategic basis, other times on a very practical level, depending on the individual needs of the school and staff involved. In 2012 I supported 30 such primary, secondary and special schools, as well as working with local authority staff.

At assessment level: I have worked on every possible 'level' of the Artsmark process from marking and awarding the applications at national level, through to assessing, validating and moderating applications at local, regional and national levels. I have also worked as an approved Artsmark trainer, and as independent consultant during the 2011 review of the scheme.