Duchess School

The Art Department

The Art Department at DCHS is a vibrant, creative and inclusive department, offering a well developed and exciting curriculum to all students from Years 9 -13. As a department, we are committed to developing independent and creative visual artists through a variety of media at our Bailiffgate studios. We offer students the opportunity to develop their skills and understanding through a broad range of media which includes Painting & Drawing, 3D Design, Digital & Photographic Imaging, Ceramics and Printing.

The department offers a wide curriculum at Key Stage 3 in which students explore and develop 2D & 3D work based on themes which incorporate the formal elements of the Art NC.

Art continues to be a very popular choice at Key Stage 4 and is oversubscribed every year. The range of topics studied at this level, are complimented by visits to galleries and working with artists within the local area.

As a department, we try to encourage students to develop their own artistic practise by providing appropriate stimuli, materials and support within a studio environment. This ethos is carried through into AS and A2 Level, where students are actively encouraged to respond to and challenge themselves through critical thinking and problem solving, developing sophisticated, thoughtful and imaginative pieces of work. This is then celebrated each year by the hugely successful ‘Art Express’ exhibition, which allows students the opportunity to display their work to a wider community audience.

Many of our students continue to study Art and Design at a higher level, with many going on to Foundation and degree courses, specialising in a range of different media. However, as well as those who wish to pursue a career in creative media, the courses offered at G.C.S.E. and ‘A’level compliment other curriculum areas through the use of critical thinking, problem solving, technical and communication skills.