We are delighted to have been awarded Arts college status in the Visual Arts from September 2003. In order to achieve this award, we had to submit a 4 year plan to the DfES for both the school and our local community. We have also raised £50,000 of sponsorship money. Because of our consistently high examination results, our constant striving for excellence, high numbers in examination groups, excellent facilities and an outstanding art team; visual art was the obvious subject to select for specialist college status in this school. This award means that we are a designated arts college for the next 5 years and this brings not only status and money also raised standards in all areas of school life.

Of the money that has been awarded, £100,000 has been spent on the capital project, the school gallery and foyer and £126.00 per pupil: a total of £700,000.

How has this affected the Art Department?

• Standards in Art have been raised further by much improved facilities and technical support.
• ICT, already embedded in the Art curriculum, has been further developed.
• We have been able to widen our already broad curriculum to encompass more skills and crafts.
• Our rolling programme of visits to galleries will be further developed, locally, nationally and internationally.
• Pupils are able to sit GCSE and A level examinations earlier.
• A wider selection of Artists in Residence are able to work alongside the pupils in the school.
• Pupils can also benefit from more after school clubs and activities.
• A larger art library
• Art pages on the school web site
• Extra option choices for year 9
• Extra courses at GCSE AS and A2
• Art based work experience and careers advice

At this school we have excellent facilities for art and design, the subject is very well resourced in spacious accommodation We have high standards and give pupils every encouragement and opportunity to learn and succeed in this subject. All pupils are invited to attend an after school art club and are welcome to work in the art department at lunch times and any day after school.

We are very proud of the results achieved by students at GCSE and Advanced level. We have established a good reputation for sending our students on to foundation and degree courses at art colleges around the country.

• Throughout their art education pupils are taught:
• The creative and practical skills needed to record observations, express feelings and design and make artefacts.
• To work in two and three dimensions using a wide variety of media.
• To experiment with and use visual elements.
• To identify and respond to the work of other artists.
• To understand how styles and traditions change over time and place.
• To evaluate their own and others’ work.
• To use materials, tools and techniques safely.
• To exhibit and celebrate all art work produced in this school

Students have a very good teaching and learning experience on this course. Work is exciting and adventurous, but not at the expense of traditional methods and practice es….It is refreshing to see a centre in which students have the confidence and intellect to support work as presented here- and one where there is a significant body of work to show for the duration of the course. It was a pleasure to moderate this work
A level moderator summer 2005

This is a department dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, and pupils rise to the challenge.
All work is based on observation and analysis and both a clear overview and attention to detail were seen throughout the school. Technical skills are well developed, but are always used expressively, with refinement built into the process.
OfSTED report September 2001