Every child deserves creative thinking in education
We're an Artsmark partner
Artsmark is the only creative quality standard for schools and educational settings (accredited by Arts Council England), supporting education settings to develop and celebrate their commitment to arts and cultural education.
As a proud Artsmark partner we’ll help you to embed arts, culture and creativity across your whole curriculum, whatever stage you’re at.
How can Teach First support your school with Artsmark?
We offer a range of support to help you reach Silver, Gold and Platinum Artsmark levels, including:
- ‘huddle’ events to give you advice and inspiration
- free exhibition space
- our teacher development programmes which have Artsmark partner status.
Our Artsmark support is focused on early years and primary, but our wider programme offering is open to all phases.
For more information and to sign-up to any of the offers below please email us at blsupport@teachfirst.org.uk. Please include ‘Artsmark’ in the subject of your email and state the specific aspects of this offer you’re interested in.
Early Years and Primary Huddles
Each half term, we host subject-specific huddles and stretch huddles to help learn and develop cultural education. These are open to any subject leads and school leaders, as well as our Training Programme trainees and their mentors.
Subject huddles
Subject huddles are facilitated by school subject leaders and subject-specialist Delivery Leads. They're an opportunity to ask for help, advice, resources, planning or anything else that you might need to be successful in teaching and leading your subject. You’ll be encouraged to share your successes, bringing resources or concepts your classes have enjoyed. Every term there's one subject huddle for art, one for D&T and one for music.
Please email us to register your interest and we’ll send you our schedule.
Stretch huddles
Stretch huddles are linked to broader, current 'hot topic' issues in education. They feature a panel of experts followed by a question-and-answer session. These events offer a great chance to network and engage with some of the current debates within education. Upcoming huddles cover topics such as ‘Oracy and talk’, ‘Transition and ‘Decolonising the curriculum’.
Please email us to register your interest and we’ll send you our schedule.
Exhibition space
Your school or educational setting can take advantage of the exhibition space at our head office in North Greenwich, London. This will provide you with a forum to exhibit the children’s artwork and carry out performances, for example the nativity or end of year production. Any attendance/performance will be subject to COVID-19 regulations and risk assessment.
Please email us to register your interest and we’ll discuss the options with you.
Our programmes
As an Artsmark partner, we put training in arts, culture and creativity at the heart of our programmes offering trainee and leadership development.
Training Programme
We recruit the right trainees for your school and offer two-years of dedicated support for the trainee and a selected mentor. As part of this programme, they are trained in how to provide high-quality art and music provision, bringing this expertise to your school to support you in your Artsmark journey.
NPQs
Leadership matters, particularly when embarking on the Artsmark journey. Teach First offers the full suite of reformed NPQs for all leadership levels to support your leadership journey and can provide you with the specialist knowledge and support needed at every stage. Our programmes have a practical focus and exemplify good practice and case studies from a range of settings.
You can also explore our full range of leadership programmes and services.
What is Artsmark?
Every young person should have the opportunity to be creative, and to experience and participate in arts and culture. Through Artsmark, schools can:
- build young people’s confidence, character and resilience through creativity
- support the health and wellbeing of young people through arts and culture
- strengthen young people’s voices and develop their leadership skills.
There are seven Quality Principles that are embedded in the Artsmark award:
- Striving for excellence and innovation.
- Being authentic.
- Being exciting, inspiring and engaging.
- Ensuring a positive and inclusive experience.
- Actively involving children and young people.
- Enabling personal progression.
- Developing belonging and ownership.
Visit the Artsmark website for further details. Please note that if you wish to start or continue your Artsmark journey or if you need any application guidance, we advise you to contact Artsmark or your bridging organisation directly.
Hire trainee teachers
Work with us to hire trainees who’ll make the biggest impact on your school and pupils – and a lasting difference in education. Together we’ll develop leaders who can unlock every pupil’s potential.
National Professional Qualifications (NPQs)
Leadership matters. Make a real impact with our NPQs, rated outstanding by Ofsted in all areas.
Our leadership programmes
Great leaders drive successful schools. Our world-class training gives those eager to step up and help their schools and pupils thrive the tools and networks to do it.
