Beacon of Light Recognised at the 2024 North East Culture Awards

Beacon of Light School was proud to be nominated in the Best Arts and Education Partnership category at the 2024 North East Culture Awards.

This nomination acknowledged the school's significant involvement in the Speak Up programme - a transformative national initiative led by the National Theatre, in collaboration with Sunderland Culture and the Sunderland Empire.

Speak Up empowers young people to explore the issues that matter most to them, working alongside professional artists and their teachers to express their voices through creative storytelling. The programme focuses on areas with low arts engagement, aiming to provide equitable access to creative opportunities for young people whose voices are not always heard.

One of the standout projects from the Beacon of Light School involved students collaborating with artist Alastair Cummings and representative Steph Durkin to create their own podcast. The podcast delved into themes important to the students, such as love, relationships and their experiences attending our school.

Beacon of Light School has been a valued part of the Speak Up network since 2021, working alongside four other local schools: Oxclose Community Academy; Barbara Priestman Academy, Hetton Academy and Thornhill Academy. The programme has engaged over 150 students from the Sunderland area, offering workshops, creative residencies and public performances.

This nomination highlights the transformative impact of the arts in education and celebrates the hard work of everyone involved – from students and teachers to our dedicated cultural partners.

For more information about the North East Culture Awards, please visit necultureawards.com