AWARD-winning schools from across Halton were invited to a special ceremony to reward their hard work in achieving their arts status.

There are 34 schools in the borough that have now gained Artsmark Awards and each school was invited to a special presentation at The Brindley to celebrate their achievement.

Halton currently has the highest number of schools that have an Artsmark Award in England with 56 per cent of schools already achieving the necessary standards for accreditation. There are three different bands that schools can apply for ranging from Artsmark up to a coveted Artsmark Gold.

The audience at the presentation were treated to performances by school children in projects that have helped schools to gain their award status.

Each school was presented with a certificate of recognition from Halton Borough Council Chief Executive David Parr and Ken Gouge, the North West Artsmark Co-ordinator on behalf of Arts Council England.