Leeds school commended for achievements in music education
Bishop Young CofE Academy has been awarded ArtForms Music Champion Status, placing it among only 19 schools in Leeds recognised for outstanding commitment to music education. The award was presented at a celebration event held at Leeds Conservatoire.
Students from Bishop Young CofE Academy, part of the Abbey Multi Academy Trust, performed with two bands named Bishop Six and Music is Life.
Both groups showcased the impressive talent and dedication of the students.
Allana, a Year 10 student and lead singer of Bishop Six, described the experience as unforgettable.
She said: “Performing at Leeds Conservatoire was a brilliant experience. We performed our own original song Home and the audience loved it.”
Fellow student Dominic added: “We cannot wait to see what ArtForms offers us next. You never know, we could be headlining at Leeds Arena one day.”
The ArtForms event was hosted by Paula Brookes, Head of Service at ArtForms and Dave Clarke, Head of Learning Improvement, who thanked schools for their commitment to music education and highlighted the vital role music plays in the lives of young people in Leeds.
The evening celebrated the strong curriculum delivery through Key Stages 3 to 5 across the city, along with excellent SEND provision, innovative progression pathways and a broad range of extra-curricular opportunities.
Sharleen Shaw, Subject Leader for Performing Arts at Bishop Young Academy stated: “It is wonderful to receive recognition for the fantastic work happening in our music department.
"We would like to thank our peripatetic staff and ArtForms for their hard work and support in helping our department thrive. We look forward to giving our students more opportunities to take part in ArtForms events in the future.”
Sam Mercer, Assistant Head at ArtForms, explained the value of the Music Champion award: “Each year when reviewing nominations, we look for schools that go above and beyond to ensure every child and young person has the opportunity to experience and participate in music.”
The academy hopes this achievement will inspire more students to participate in music activities and highlight the breadth of opportunities that Bishop Young CofE Academy offers as a secondary school.