Art
In Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9), students build strong foundations in drawing, colour, composition and the formal elements. They explore still life, landscape, sculpture, portraiture and abstraction, learning from artists such as Kusama, Hockney, Britto, JR, Chuck Close, Edvard Munch and Antony Gormley. Through experimenting with materials, improving observational drawing and trying new techniques, students grow in confidence and begin to express personal ideas in their work. By the end of Year 9, they can analyse artists, refine their skills and create thoughtful, individual outcomes that show both control and imagination.
In Key Stage 4 (Years 10–11), students develop greater independence through sustained portfolio work. Starting with natural forms, they explore printmaking, painting, photography and symbolism, studying artists such as Edward Weston and Karl Blossfeldt, and learning how meaning is created in art across different times and cultures. As their confidence grows, students plan, refine and complete more personal projects, leading to an externally set assignment that shows their own visual style. By the end of GCSE, students have produced a strong body of work that records ideas, experiments with media and presents a clear, finished outcome.
In Key Stage 5 (Years 12–13), Art becomes a deeply personal and ambitious journey. Students investigate a wide range of artists, whose work encourages debate, opens the mind, and influences the development of students creating original artworks, while exploring social, historical, and cultural themes. They experiment with processes, refine their ideas, and build sophisticated portfolios and final pieces. Through reflection, discussion and independent research, students develop a confident visual voice and the ability to explain their thinking. By the end of Year 13, they leave with creative confidence, strong qualifications and clear pathways into higher education, apprenticeships, and careers across the creative industries
View the KS3 Art curriculum mapView the KS4 Art curriculum mapView the KS5 Art curriculum map