FIVE schools in the district have been honoured in the latest round of national awards to recognise commitment to the arts.

Long Lee, Nessfield, Steeton and Lees primary schools were all announced as winners of Artsmark Awards last week, as well as Parkside Secondary School, Cullingworth.

In the third annual round of the awards, 781 schools across the country were picked out for their commitment to providing opportunities across all art platforms -- music, dance, drama and art and design.

Parkside and Long Lee were awarded Artsmark gold status, Nessfield the silver award, with Steeton and Lees earning the Artsmark level.

Head teacher at Long Lee Louise Smith said: "We are absolutely thrilled and delighted.

"The gold award is a very prestigious award, indicating that the provision of art is of an exceptional standard.

"We feel the arts are a very important part of education and creativity helps to develop the children's learning."

She said the school had put on workshops or presentations every Friday, which had included puppetry, jazz, Bradford Festival Choral Society, Steeton Male Voice Choir and Indian dance.

Head teacher at Nessfield Sandra Antcliffe said: "We are naturally delighted that the hard work of the children, staff and parents has been recognised.

"We are very keen to teach arts in the school because we feel creativity is vital to the overall development of the children."

The school has taught arts, dance, drama and music, and attracted visiting artists from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Steeton head teacher Christine Newson said: "We are successful in maintaining a balance of high academic achievement with arts and sports.

"There is a huge amount of arts activity going on here. For example, some of every year group pupils have worked with artists in residence, and others have been working with other musicians, actors and dancers."

Head teacher at Lees Jean Richards said: "We are really pleased about the award.

"We are very pleased that it acknowledges the work we have done in the arts.

"We have had an artist in residence, drama, dance and also held out-of-school activities."

Parkside head teacher Tony Rickwood said: "I am delighted that the Arts Council has recognised Parkside's progressive, well-balanced arts education programme, which enables students to work with local artists.

"There is a huge amount of arts activity going on at Parkside, which has given students the opportunity to work with a wide range of professional artists and organisations.

"The Artsmark gold award is testimony to the dedication, enthusiasm and sheer hard work of all the staff and students, and encourages us all the more in our bid for specialist school status in the performing arts."

Celebrating Long Lee Primary School's Artsmark gold success are head teacher Louise Smith and young musicians Lorna Grant, 11, Scott Paterson and Luke Goater, both 10