Our Academy is celebrating becoming one of a select few schools in Medway to win the prestigious Platinum Artsmark Award – held by less than 1% of schools in England.

The Award, given to schools that are “making the arts come alive”, recognises the Victory Academy’s outstanding arts offering. It is awarded by the Government-backed Arts Council England, which promotes the performing, visual and literary arts in England.

Arts Council England praised the opportunities available to The Victory Academy students in the arts, describing the school as an “opinion-former” in arts and culture, leading the way in “making a difference” to its students and stretching them to unlock their creative potential.

It also lauded the school for:

• “Striving for excellence and innovation”
• “Being exciting, inspiring, and engaging”
• And “ensuring a positive and inclusive experience” for its students.

The Award gives schools access to “enviable networks of leading cultural organisations”, allowing students at The Victory Academy to enhance their critical and creative thinking, grow in self-confidence, and further their leadership skills. The Platinum Award is the highest level of recognition available to schools from Arts Council England.

This is the latest achievement in a string of successes for our school, which is sponsored by the Thinking Schools Academy Trust (TSAT). Last year, we achieved record GCSE results, was ranked the top non-selective school in Medway by the Department for Education (DfE), and was rated Good by Ofsted within a few months.

TSAT, which was last month ranked the best multi-academy trust (MAT) in the country for the performance of its secondary schools, is a family of 13 schools in Medway and Portsmouth, providing a high-quality education for all students.

Mandy Gage, Principal of The Victory Academy, said: 

 “We are delighted to have been awarded the Platinum Artsmark Award by Arts Council England, in recognition of the brilliant opportunities we offer our students in the arts every day.

 “The arts are part of the very fabric of our school, and we are so proud that our students have the chance to express their creative flair and potential by pursuing their artistic passions at school.

 “It has been a brilliant few months for us here at The Victory Academy, and we are very excited about our continuing upward journey.”