Art

Leading the field

The curriculum for Year 7 to 9 espouses the technical, cognitive and emotional attributes of successful artists. At A level and GCSE we timetable separate Fine Art (drawing, painting, textiles, sculpture etc.) and Photography pathways which allow students more choice and the possibility of doing both subjects. At A level we also offer Critical and Contextual Studies.

We bridge the gap between School art and professional practice. Recent alumni are studying at the Slade, UAL Central Saint Martins, UAL Wimbledon, UAL London College of Fashion, UAL London College of Communication, Kingston School of Art, Goldsmiths and City and Guilds School of Art. The picture is similar outside London and beyond the UK.

Studying art at A level does not have to lead to an art-based degree or career; we are also very proud that recent leavers have also gone on to study Law, Theology, International Relations, Japanese, Engineering, Computer Science and more.

Our students gain incredible results (we have averaged 78% A*- A at A level and 80% 9-7 at GCSE over the last five years across all disciplines) because they are allowed to be themselves. They are emboldened by being able to choose their own creative direction, have control over their specialism and their progress is accelerated by the support of a talented staff body.

Our exhibition schedule, the Woodbridge Talks, the Woodbridge Editions initiative, our connections to world class galleries, art agencies and establishments set us apart. We are more ‘art school’ than ‘school art’.

Art Department website

Art Department Instagram

Exhibitions, workshops and trips

We believe emerging artists progress quickest when they exhibit regularly. As such, we have an energetic schedule of shows in and out of the department. These showcase all year groups, but naturally the sixth form artists and photographers feature most prominently; as part of the A level a student will exhibit at least six times in two years.

We offer the Peri Project which is peripatetic tuition for the Arts. Photography, ceramics, intaglio printing, screen-printing and life drawing are very popular choices.

GCSE and A level courses most commonly involve a London trip. We offer a residential trip to the Year 12 and 13 artists and photographers.

Woodbridge Talks

Beyond being hardworking and talented what do students need to do to start a successful career in The Visual Arts? Where should they study after School, what options for career paths are there?

Students can tune into Woodbridge Talks and find out how others have navigated a similar journey to theirs. These talks will cover a range of genres of practice from fine art, film and animation to production design and more. These talks are shared with the intention of dispelling the myths around the visual arts industries and making everyone’s ambitions practical possibilities.

Contributers:

• Ben Cox – Director Central Illustrations Agency
• Andy Parkinson – Wildlife Photographer
• Don Brown, Kate Boxer, Sarah Lucas – Artists
• Cedric Christie – Artist
• Paul Benney – Artist
• Tristan Manco – Author, Designer, Curator, Artist
• Chloe Shinnie – Textile Designer, Artist
• Ryan Locke – Animator
• Manual Skirl – Graffiti Artist
• Matthew Collings – Art Critic, Writer, Broadcaster, Artist
• Gary Hume – Artist
• Noriko Okaku – Animator
• Natasha Caruana – Photographic Artist, Senior Lecturer
• James Webster – Sculptor
• Matt Duddleston – Production Designer, Art Direction
• Vanessa Clover-Nichols – Art Director