Art Department

At Notre Dame High School, we offer a broad and engaging range of creative subjects, including Art & Design and Photography, designed to develop students’ technical skills, creativity, and confidence in visual communication.

Art & Design:

Art & Design helps students to explore and interpret the world around them through creativity and visual expression. It encourages careful observation, experimentation, and problem-solving, while developing practical skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media. Through the creative process, students learn to communicate ideas, express opinions, and reflect on their own work and the work of others. Art & Design also builds confidence, resilience, and independent thinking, supporting students in developing both their imagination and their understanding of the visual world.

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The GCSE AQA Art & Design course is a practical and creative qualification that allows students to explore a wide range of media, techniques, and processes by completing a number of smaller projects before exploring a more personal sustained project. Students develop skills in research, experimentation, and refining ideas, while responding to themes, artists, and their own personal interests. The course is assessed through coursework and a final externally set assignment, encouraging independence, creativity, and sustained project development. Throughout the course, students are supported in building a strong portfolio that demonstrates both technical skill and creative thinking.

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At A Level, students undertake series of short foundational projects, responding to an array of themes before embarking on a self-led project focused on artists and themes that interest them. The media and approaches used are guided by students’ personal strengths and, where appropriate, their aspirations for further education. Students produce a sustained body of research and experimentation, leading to a final piece or series of pieces, which may include painting, drawing, or three-dimensional work.

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How You Can Support Your Child in Art

Students benefit greatly from practising drawing from observation using pencil and paper. Visits to art galleries and opportunities to develop an interest in art are highly encouraged. Discussing art with your child and helping them to express opinions and interpretations – even if you feel unsure about the subject – will support their engagement and confidence in class discussions.

Photography

GCSE Photography has been a popular and successful course that students can choose to study in Year 9. Students begin with a foundational project, exploring the formal elements of Photography. Photography is a powerful way of viewing and understanding the world, encouraging students to observe their surroundings more carefully and thoughtfully. Through photography, students learn to notice details, patterns, light, and composition that might otherwise be overlooked. It develops important creative and analytical skills, such as visual communication, critical thinking, and decision-making, while also building technical confidence. Photography allows students to express ideas, tell stories, and explore different perspectives, helping them to engage more deeply with the world around them.

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How You Can Support Your Child in Photography

Students benefit from taking photographs as frequently as possible and reviewing their work critically. This reflective process is one of the most effective ways to develop photographic skills. Owning a camera is not essential, as the school provides cameras for student use. If a digital camera is available at home, this can be helpful, although many assignments can be completed using a mobile phone camera. For students wishing to focus on more technical aspects of photography, a higher-quality camera may be advantageous.

Opportunities to visit galleries and develop an interest in photography are strongly encouraged. Talking to your child about photography and exploring how images are used in magazines, websites, and other media will help them to develop informed opinions and confident interpretations.