Each member of staff is given as much freedom as possible to express their individual knowledge, skills, and ideas when working with their pupils. Emphasis is on teamwork. Option numbers for the GCSE examination are extremely high and A level numbers continue to grow. The department has a high profile within the school and external examination results are well above average for the country. All staff are encouraged to work with pupils after school. Many GCSE pupils welcome the opportunity for extra coaching or the chance to work with specialised materials after school.

Art is the act of creating an imaginative and intellectual personal force that can be acknowledged and appreciated, but is impossible to dissect. Design is visual understanding and analysis, linked with our artistic creative forces, organised towards some definite practical application. Visual communication is the training of the eyes, the training to observe with real perception, to see, to explore and to fully understand what we see and to present these truths, whether in abstract or concrete form through the fundamentals of form, colour, tone, texture, line and structure

• Standards of excellence in teaching and learning.
• A team approach to teaching and resourcing.
• Relevant and coherent learning tasks in all it’s courses.
• Positive and relaxed teacher-pupil relationships, underpinned by a mutual sense of purpose.
• A wide range of teaching and learning styles based on teacher produced and commercially produced resources.
• Opportunities for pupils to take responsibility for their own learning.
• Cross curricular links with those areas of the curriculum where other departments are involved in the delivery of common themes and topics wherever possible.
• When possible: relevant experience of Information Technology to all pupils.
• Support and encouragement to all pupils, irrespective of ability who will be taught in mixed ability groups throughout key stages 3 and 4
• Opportunities for staff development through the department, the school, the LEA and national inset provision.
• We pride ourselves on the standard of our exhibitions.