At Oak Meadow, creativity lies at the heart of our curriculum. We believe that art, culture, and creative thinking are essential to helping children flourish - developing not only their imagination and self-expression, but also their confidence, problem-solving skills, and understanding of the wider world.

In February 2024, we were immensely proud to achieve Gold Artsmark status, recognising our commitment to embedding arts and culture across school life. This national accreditation celebrates schools that champion creativity and provide meaningful opportunities for pupils to engage with the arts. Building on this success, Oak Meadow is now ambitiously working towards Platinum Artsmark status - the highest possible award - which reflects our ongoing dedication to artistic excellence and innovation.

As part of this journey, we are focusing on several key priorities that will further enrich our pupils’ educational experiences:

• STEAM Passports: From September 2025, Oak Meadow will introduce STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) passports to celebrate children’s achievements across these disciplines. This initiative will encourage cross-curricular creativity and help pupils make connections between artistic and scientific thinking.

• Revised Curriculum: A newly designed art and design curriculum will be implemented to ensure the arts remain a strong thread running through every subject area. This will provide a richer, more inclusive learning experience where creativity supports academic progress and personal growth.

• Extra-Curricular Opportunities: We are expanding our offer beyond the classroom, creating more opportunities for pupils to work alongside industry professionals and engage in inspiring off-site visits. These experiences will expose children to real-world contexts and ignite aspirations for creative futures.

• Professional Development and Sharing Good Practice: Oak Meadow aims to lead continuing professional development opportunities, supporting staff across different schools within our Trust and settings to embed creative practice in their own teaching. By sharing expertise, we can strengthen arts education across our wider community.

• Partnerships and Collaboration: We are developing strong partnerships with local and national arts and cultural organisations, as well as with other schools. These collaborations will bring fresh perspectives and enrich our pupils’ learning through access to specialist knowledge, events, and creative projects.

• Children’s Leadership: Through the work of our Art ambassadors, pupils are taking an active role in shaping and promoting the arts within our school. This leadership fosters responsibility, teamwork, and pride in their contributions to school culture.

• Governor Engagement: Our governors are playing a key role in supporting and championing the arts, ensuring creativity continues to be a core part of our school vision and development.

At Oak Meadow, we see creativity as more than a subject - it is a mindset that inspires curiosity, resilience, and joy in learning. As we progress towards Platinum Artsmark status, we remain committed to providing every child with the opportunity to imagine, explore, and create.