The education department at the St Aubyn Centre which is run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) has been awarded the prestigious Gold Artsmark Award for “bringing arts to life” for the children and young people in their care.
Artsmark is the Arts Council England’s award for schools that champion the arts and strive for excellence. It celebrates schools that embrace the arts across the curriculum, bringing them to life for children and young people.
The St Aubyn Centre is a mental health unit in Colchester which provides treatment and care for children and young people aged 13 – 18 years.
Staff at the St Aubyn Centre developed their arts and cultural programs to achieve a broad and balanced curriculum which was delivered across the whole school.
The St Aubyn Centre Therapeutic Education Department highlighted the strengths of its work with the arts and the benefit it brings to young people with mental health problems. There is currently an exhibition of the young people’s work at Colchester General Hospital Colne Gallery.
Gill Jackson, Head of Education at the St Aubyn Centre said: “We are extremely proud of achieving our Artsmark Gold Award. We are committed to delivering a high quality art and cultural education and we look forward to continue to grow with Artsmark.”
Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said: “I would like to congratulate The St Aubyn Centre Therapeutic Education Department on their Artsmark Gold Award and welcome them into our growing family of Artsmark schools.”