THE excellence of music, drama and all the other arts at Lydford Primary School has been recognised with a national award.

The small school has received an Artsmark Award from the Arts Council, which recognises schools that demonstrate a commitment to providing opportunities across all the arts forms from drama to music, design to literature and dance to sculpture.

The scheme also encourages schools to work with professional artists and arts organisations. It is the second major accolade for the school this year.

In February, education inspectors from the school standards agency, Ofsted, reported that pupils at Lydford achieved above average standards within a ?very caring? environment.

The inspectors said they could find no weaknesses in the school?s work which needed to be improved.

Headteacher Gill Page said they were delighted to have achieved the Artsmark award, especially as they were a very small school. ?It recognises how much creative work happens in school. It is a real accolade for the work that the children and staff do in all areas of the arts.

?We obviously work hard in literacy and numeracy and the other core subjects. But we like to spend as much time as possible on the creative arts. We have an amazing number of children who are learning a musical instrument and taking part in singing and drama clubs.?

The chairman of the Arts Council England, Sir Christopher Frayling, said the schools receiving the Artsmark award displayed a commitment to providing young people with a wide range of arts activities which the council believed all schools should strive for.