A High Wycombe specialist school has been awarded a prestigious arts accreditation.
Unity College, part of Keys Group, has been awarded the Artsmark Silver Award following a rigorous assessment and validation process.
The school supports children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health difficulties who benefit from a smaller learning environment and nurturing setting.
To achieve the Artsmark accreditation, which is awarded by the Arts Council England, the school had to demonstrate how it was helping pupils access the arts and enhance their cultural capital. The assessors noted that as all pupils on roll at Unity College were looked after, many had often not had access to cultural capital or arts experience in their pasts.
As part of their drive to enhance cultural capital for young people at the school and to raise their awareness and experience of as wide a range of artistic subjects as possible, they arranged cultural careers days where students studied different careers with an artistic theme.
Speakers from creative backgrounds including brand directors, gaming designers, and a chef came to speak to the young people about the different careers and possible pathways into those jobs. The school also partnered with the University of Reading on a programme of open days allowing students to access different cultural capital events in the Arts.
The school also developed partnerships with local music hub The Roundhouse to enhance students’ music offerings.
The assessors noted: “It was great to hear that these investments in arts and creative activities have inspired young people and you are seeing that in improved, more thoughtful choices at Year 11. School data suggest positive impacts and you are confident that students are being inspired, excited, and engaged through improved cultural capital.”
Sarah Cross, Deputy Head Teacher at Unity College said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded the Artsmark Silver Award. This is a really important accreditation as it shows the investment we are making in enhancing young people’s knowledge of just what is possible in the arts from a career perspective. It’s so important that young people, particularly those who may have a really limited experience of the arts because of their personal circumstances know that they opportunities exist.
“Going forward we want to continue to expose our pupils to new and dynamic career pathways and to continue to raise their aspirations. We have really high aspirations for our young people and want them to know that anything is possible for them.”
