Art Bytes Celebrates Record-Breaking Year as Creative Excellence Flourishes Across England

National Programme Grows 50% in Partnership with The Arts Society, Showcasing Exceptional Young Talent from Over 150 Schools.

England’s most promising young artists took centre stage on 12 June as the Art Bytes national schools programme reached new heights in its fourth year, welcoming a record-breaking 150+ schools across the country – a remarkable 50% increase from 2024. The programme’s flagship celebration events, held at prestigious cultural venues from the Saatchi Gallery in London to The Victoria Gallery and Museum in Liverpool, highlighted the extraordinary creativity of Year 5 and Year 9 students nationwide.

Ilinca Iftimoae from Stanton Bridge Primary School in the West Midlands claimed the coveted National Primary Winner title with her stunning piece “Adonis,” while DD from Lamledge School, also in the West Midlands, triumphed in the secondary category with “The Blue Void.”

This milestone year marked Art Bytes’ first national partnership with The Arts Society, seeing 46 local Arts Societies champion visual arts education by supporting 70 schools and celebrating pupils’ creativity. The programme also benefits from the continued support of the School of the Arts at University of Liverpool, which provides both financial backing and valuable volunteering opportunities for students. These collaborations demonstrate the growing recognition of art education’s vital role in developing young people’s confidence, cultural capital, and essential future employment skills.

A Beacon of Hope Amid Educational Challenges

Art Bytes arrives at a critical moment for arts education in England. With arts GCSE entries having plummeted by 47% since 2010, the programme provides a lifeline for creative learning, proving that investment in the arts yields transformative results for young people’s development and wellbeing. While the decline in arts GCSE entries has begun to slow, there is still significant work to do to reverse many years of erosion and devaluing of creative subjects.

“The standard of work we’ve seen this year has been absolutely exceptional,” said Adele Darlington, Primary Art Consultant and competition judge. “What strikes me most is not just the technical skill on display, but the imagination and innovative approaches these young artists bring to their work. They’re showing us that creativity isn’t just surviving in our schools – it’s thriving.”

Technology Meets Tradition

Built on 13 years of proven success through the dot-art’s Schools project in Liverpool, Art Bytes combines cutting-edge virtual gallery technology with traditional celebration events in prestigious cultural venues. This year’s nine regional events were hosted by an impressive array of partners including new additions the Saatchi Gallery in London and Hastings Contemporary in the South East, alongside returning venues including The New Art Gallery Walsall and Kettles Yard in Cambridge.

The programme’s innovative approach allows students to see their artwork displayed in a high-quality virtual exhibition while experiencing galleries and museums as welcoming, inspiring spaces in their communities.

2025 Winners Showcase Remarkable Range

The quality and diversity of this year’s winning entries reflect the exceptional talent nurtured through the programme:

National Winners:

• Primary Winner: “Adonis” by Ilinca Iftimoae, Stanton Bridge Primary School (West Midlands)
• Secondary Winner: “The Blue Void” by DD, Lamledge School (West Midlands)

National Runners-Up:

• Primary: “Colour Clock” by Ava Bailey, Grange Primary School (North East); “Coast” by Archie, Kettlefields Primary School (East)
• Secondary: “The Lighthouse” by Kamilla McFarlane, Childwall Abbey School (North West); “Heron at First Light” by Emilie, Imberhorne School (South East)

Regional winners span the creative spectrum from Zachary Thornhill’s evocative “Titanic” (North West Primary) to Etienne Bowden-Hull’s powerful “Portrait of Maro Itoje” (South West Secondary), demonstrating the breadth of artistic expression flourishing in England’s schools.

Community Engagement Reaches New Heights

The programme’s public voting element generated unprecedented community involvement, with Monkton Park Primary School in Chippenham securing the Primary Community Engagement Award, while Coundon Court School in Coventry claimed the Secondary award.

Paul Lillicrapp, teacher at Stanton Bridge Primary School, reflected on his student’s national victory: “The Art Bytes competition has allowed Ilinca to showcase her passion and create something truly personal. When we told her about winning the national competition, there was such a great sense of pride and happiness. This means a lot not only for Ilinca and me, but for the whole school and community. Our area can be challenging to grow up in, and this gives hope to everyone that it’s possible to follow your dreams and overcome any barriers.”

Emma Griffiths, Art Bytes Coordinator, commented: “The level of family and community engagement we’ve seen this year has been extraordinary. Art Bytes isn’t just about celebrating individual talent – it’s about bringing whole communities together around creativity and showing young people that their artistic voice matters.”

As Art Bytes prepares for 2025/26, the programme continues to evolve its sustainable model, ensuring long-term support for arts education across England.

Art Bytes is open to all primary (Year 5), secondary (Year 9), and SEND schools across England, with registration for the 2025/26 academic year now open at artbytes.co.uk