Art

Young people need to be visually literate so that they can develop the capacity for creative action, imagination, feeling and communication. Whilst it is important that students are taught practical skills to help them to communicate, Art is also a subject that develops the intellect and encourages personal growth. We strive to promote an active enjoyment of Art through curricular and extracurricular activities, giving students the opportunity to develop self-confidence and self-discipline. Students are encouraged to respect and to take responsibility for their own learning, and are given opportunities to develop a sense of identity and to express personal responses.

The Art Department offers courses that enable students of all abilities to develop a visual awareness of their world and the skills with which students can express themselves. Students engage in a range of 2D and 3D activities such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture and ceramics. They are encouraged to explore and experiment, record their observations, and express imaginative ideas and think for themselves by making informed decisions about their own and others’ work. We develop a specialist vocabulary and expose students to a wide range of critical and cultural studies that further their knowledge of art and artists.

We hope you enjoy looking at the slideshows on the right, which are arranged to show a breadth of projects from all year groups in different discipline areas.

Key Stage 3

All students to the end of Year 9 are offered opportunities to extend their practice and enjoyment of art and can then pursue their interest at GCSE and AS and A2 level if they wish.

Key Stage 4

At GCSE we offer a course that allows students to specialise in a specific area of art or to follow a more general course, thus offering students opportunities to find appropriate means of self-expression.

Key Stage 5

At AS and A2 Level we offer a course which is similar to GCSE in that it allows individual development with components of coursework and controlled tests. There is also a historical and critical element to the A2 course, in which students study an aspect of the visual arts that interests them. This is done through practical exploration and written analysis.