Art oriented education should enable ideas to be developed and expressed in artefacts which are convincing alternatives to the written or spoken word - a visual language.

Students are encouraged to enjoy the challenges of art, design and textiles by developing practical skills and an aesthetic vocabulary.

Our projects are designed to be coherent, purposeful and to encourage the development of physical and motor skills. The students are progressively introduced to the handling designing and making skills, which are the very foundation of artistic expression.

Within Year 7 and 8 pupils are encouraged to learn and develop basic skills. Direct tuition, augmented by out of school preparation lead to the completion of a series of projects. These projects are purposefully varied but structured to promote the basic language of design (line, shape, pattern, colour form etc). Pupils are also introduced where applicable to relevant historical and cultural references. Projects include Portraiture, Abstract Painting, Tie-Dyeing and Weaving.

Year 9 is largely a logical sequential development from Years 7 and 8. Refinement and increasing competence of subject skills with a particular emphasis on individual expression is promoted by the use of personalised sketchbooks. Projects include fashion illustration, narrative art and ‘still-life’.

During Year 10 and 11 Art, Design and Textiles becomes an option. Students are routed towards GCSE certification in either a Textile Design course, Fine Art or, if preferred an unendorsed Art and Design course based on several areas of study.

In Years 12 and 13 pupils can study either AS or A2 Art and Design or Art/Textiles. Individual studios support both course. Students are encouraged to seek more personal and mature responses to given themes.