Alongside fostering creativity, we emphasise the development of technical skills. Pupils will learn various art techniques, ranging from drawing and painting to 3D and digital art. Through guided practice and constructive feedback, they will refine their skills and gain confidence in their artistic abilities.
The art department recognises the achievements of individual pupils in the Third Form through to the Upper Sixth through the award of the title “Artist of the Moment” in the weekly school newsletter. The feature allows us to celebrate pupils’ artistic merit and creative flair with the wider school community. The work selected for the title certainly highlights the breadth of disciplines explored in the art department and the exciting range of outcomes produced.
Art has the power to shape character. Through artistic expression, pupils develop qualities such as perseverance, resilience, self-discipline, and empathy. Our course integrates character education principles, fostering traits that will not only enhance their artistic journey but also equip them for success in all aspects of life.
Third Form to Lower Fifth (Years 7 – 9)
In the lower school, pupils study art in a carousel with design technology, which means they spend half the academic year in each subject area. Class sizes are 12 pupils on average, allowing everyone to pursue ambitious large-scale projects.
The main aim in the lower school is to give pupils access to a wide and exciting range of materials and techniques. Throughout the three-year period, pupils are introduced to drawing, digital media, printmaking and sculptural tasks that increase in complexity in terms of both materials and concepts. Even at a young age, pupils are encouraged to make connections between their own work and that of other artists and designers, both traditional and contemporary.
GCSE
The aim of the GCSE art and design course is to give pupils a broad experience of art and design. In the Middle Fifth (Year 10), pupils undertake a series of directed tasks which help to develop both their technical skills and contextual understanding. They pursue their own personal lines of enquiry as the course progresses. They are required to document the development of their ideas in sketchbooks. The course encourages pupils to experiment with a wide range of techniques and processes, and to refine their approach before embarking on more resolved and ambitious practical outcomes.
The art department runs several trips throughout the academic year for GCSE pupils to enable them to gather additional first-hand contextual materials. Previous destinations have included day excursions to galleries in both London and Bristol, residential trips to St Ives, and visits to the sculpture trail on the Exeter University campus.
Exam board: AQA
Subject: GCSE Art and Design – Art, Craft and Design
Beyond the curriculum
There is an “open studio” policy in the art department which means that pupils can continue with their coursework projects under staff supervision during break times, lunchtimes, and after school.
The gallery in the art department hosts several exhibitions throughout the academic year, displaying artwork by pupils, staff, and alumni. The summer art show, held each June, celebrates the work produced throughout the academic year and showcases the creative achievements of pupils from the Third Form through to the Upper Sixth. It is usually attended by over 200 guests.
Each autumn, the art department encourages the whole school community to participate in The Big Draw, the national campaign for drawing. The activities vary each year to reflect the national theme and their purpose is to eliminate the fear of drawing and encourage collaboration on a large scale.
