Art and Design (Fine Art)

Course summary

Art and Photography provides a vital form of communication, helping pupils to express personal ideas and feelings and to explore and question the world around them. We aim to encourage those practical and imaginative skills that result in a heightened sense of enjoyment, aesthetic appreciation and self-confidence. Our department ethos is based on the foundations of three distinct, yet interrelated areas: the exploration of a wide and varied range of techniques and processes, where pupils can experiment with different art media; the development of creative and exciting concepts and ideas, encouraging individuality and a pupil’s distinct and unique approach; and the research and investigation into the works and lives of appropriate artists, designers and photographers. Group debates and individual tuition take place during lessons. Pupils are pushed to decipher and put in context diverse cultures, ancient, modern and contemporary. Regular visits to museums and galleries feed our courses and we encourage pupils to learn through experimentation and the exploration of a wide a range of ideas and media. The concept of ‘make a mark, get a mark’ encourages rapid progress through playful exploration and variety rather than prolonged focus on one piece of work. A LEVEL Studying Art or Photography, or even both at A Level, gives pupils the opportunity to work in a stimulating and exciting environment, where they are encouraged to develop a variety of practical skills and approaches. The course is an exciting opportunity to challenge a number of issues and perceptions on a personal level, expressing an individual perspective on these in visual form. Pupils choosing A Level Art or Photography develop as self-motivated, communicative individuals, willing to extend themselves in an imaginative and skilful manner. We foster links with Art Schools and help to prepare pupils with their portfolios for interview at Foundation Course level, the traditional route into art courses, and increasingly we prepare pupils for direct entry at degree level in Art and Photography, Art History, Architecture and Fashion/Textiles.