Visual Arts

A diverse range of skills and experiences
Pupils at St Bede’s Prep School are given a diverse range of experiences through which to develop an understanding of Art, and are encouraged to explore a range of skills and techniques. They develop individual skills as well as those which encourage collaboration with others, improving their practical skills and extending their knowledge and experience of materials, processes and practices. This includes learning colour, collage, printing, ceramics, textiles, 3D design, model making, ceramics and sculpture. Pupils also get the chance to learn and develop their drawing and painting skills, with painting projects ranging from landscapes to self portraits. They also carry out observational drawings from objects, the figure, architecture, and the natural environment in our beautiful school setting. They are encouraged to work on a variety of scales, and printmaking is a feature of this department.
From Year 3 onwards, pupils begin to study and develop a knowledge and appreciation of art from different periods of history and from different cultures, which is extended over their time at the School. This includes traditional and more contemporary, European and Non-European cultures. Past projects have included examining Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking, Christian, Celtic, Indian, Greek, Chinese and Egyptian.

Growing in confidence and in communication
Some of the key skills that are learnt by pupils studying art are confidence and communication. By learning a variety of methods, developing and discussing them with appropriate vocabulary, pupils are being given the opportunity to explore and communicate their own ideas. By the end of Year 8 it is our aim that all students have confidence in their abilities and feel prepared to take the next step in their artistic development.

Extensive facilities and opportunities for all
Pupils get the opportunity to visit art galleries, museums and sculpture parks and, combined with the annual Arts’ Festival, the children gain a stimulating insight into a variety of art forms and the process of making work, from the idea, through to the exhibiting and potential financial gain.
The children have benefited from various workshops and ‘artist in residency’ programmes that have included: Stone Carving Sessions, Batik Workshops, the Construction of Dream Catchers, Landscape on Location, Portrait, Silversmithing, Autobiographical Fence Panels and Environmental Sculpture.
We encourage local Art specialists to visit the department- providing positive, practical, up to date insight into creative occupations. We have recently hosted an art exhibition for the Eastbourne Arts’ Festival incorporating ten pieces of art from ten local schools and a whole school art exhibition and auction.
The work of the department is also enhanced by good relationships with other areas of the school which have resulted in successful cross-curricular projects. Throughout the course pupils get the chance to develop their ICT skills and research skills. The school Library is well stocked and the department has internet access in both studios.