In this section:

• Overview
• Pre-Prep Department
• Prep Department
• Year 3 and 4 Department
• Art Department
  • Year 4 National Gallery Trip
• Classics Department
• Design and Technology Department
• English Department
• French Department
• Geography Department
• History Department
• ICT Department
• Maths Department
• Music Department
• RE Department
• Science Department
• Examination Revision

Art Department

The main aim of the Art Department is to encourage pupils to feel that this is an accessible and exciting subject, one that extends far beyond the confines of the art room increasing their capacity to enjoy and value the natural and man made environment around them. Our aim is to develop their skills, both technical and intellectual, so that they feel confident in using this form of visual and tactile communication and expression themselves, and so that they can also develop the confidence to read and evaluate visual images and artefacts created by others; we aim to enable pupils to become visually literate.


Art performs an important role in the curriculum throughout the school, from Reception 1 right up to year 8. With young children in the Pre Prep Art is a very natural way to respond to and explore other areas of the curriculum and art skills are taught as part of broad project themes. From Year 3 the Art curriculum follows a more discrete and independent programme, but pupils are still encouraged to see the value and relevance of the subject through cross curricular links. The programme of study is based around units lasting one term, with themes such as Aboriginal Art, Colour, Light and Environmental Sculpture.

These units have been carefully chosen to provide a real breadth of experience, encouraging pupils to explore a range of starting points, experiment with different media and styles, and develop their personal art preferences and skills as they progress from Year 3 to Year 8. Sketch books form an important part of this process; pupils learn to use their sketch book to record their journey through each unit and their sketch books provide an ongoing basis for evaluation and discussion. Visits to galleries and museums further support their learning and understanding.

The involvement of an audience is seen as an important part of the creative purpose and there is ample display space for pupils' work in the classrooms and around the school, as well as an annual Summer Art Exhibition.

We hope that you will come and see it for yourself!