ALCESTER Grammar School has won an Artsmark Gold award for outstanding achievement in the arts.

It is the first time the school has been given the award and is the only school in Warwickshire to scoop gold.

Artsmark awards are given to schools which demonstrated a broad range of curricular and extra-curricular arts opportunities for students, partnerships with artists and arts organisations and professional development for teachers.

Mr Blaikie is hoping the award will go some way to securing a bid for performing arts status.

The bid will be submitted in October and status could be granted by September 2004.