The Arts Council has announced (1st June 2009) that The Albion School has been awarded the Artsmark for its quality of Visual and Performing Arts. This is the school's third accolade this year, after achieving Sportsmark in January and becoming a Maths and Computing specialist college in February.

The Visual Arts team was already a Salford Lead Department, and has been producing each year a high number of very successful students through a range of Arts GCSE courses, and now increasingly via the Btec Art & Design award, which is worth four good GCSE grades to these budding young artists and designers. The team is also developing a new course for the Creative and Media diploma.

The visual arts have also gained from the skills and enthusiasm of the school's Advanced Skills Textiles Teacher who has worked closely with local primary schools for several years, enhancing the range of technology experiences available to primary aged children. In collaboration with Salford University and another high school, the school's annual Fashion Week has allowed many young people to design, produce and model their fashion creations in an exciting experience of the world of work.

The school has a long tradition of engaging in Dance and Public Speaking Awards at Key Stage 3, and the arrival of a new leader for Performing Arts has been the catalyst for further success. The moving performance given by Albion students at this year's Holocaust memorial was one demonstration of the powerful new voice created through the developing Drama team, whilst a number of students are now awaiting news of their success in their Drama GCSE, which they have taken as much as two years early.

Visual Arts Leader Laura Davies said: "This award is the culmination of a number of years' work in helping our young people to express themselves successfully through artistic media"

Performing Arts Leader Sarah McGrath said: "I feel privileged to have been able to add something to such a successful team. This is a great accolade for all those who have been developing the arts at The Albion for so many years."

Head teacher Steve Aveyard said: "This is a high-achieving school with an increasing number of very successful young students. This latest award is a tribute to them, their families and the highly motivated staff who support them here at The Albion."