BROADWAY Community High School has achieved one of the first Artsmark Silver awards in the country.

The Arts Council of England's new Artsmark award encourages excellence in the provision of arts education. Schools have to demonstrate a commitment to providing opportunities across all the arts from drama to music, photography to poetry, and dance to sculpture. The scheme also encourages schools to work in partnership with artists and arts organisations.

This was the first round of Artsmark awards and only a dozen schools in the region achieved Artsmark. Cowley High and Bleak Hill were the only other schools in St Helens to receive the standard Artsmark award.

Mike Cooper, acting headteacher at Broadway, said: "The Artsmark award is tremendous news for Broadway. I am delighted that the Arts Council of England has recognised our progressive, well-balanced arts education programme which enables our pupils to work with artists from the town".