Art classes take place in a purpose-built studio and the art work displayed around the school demonstrates the high quality of work produced, with a very high percentage of pupils achieving A*/A at GCSE. Pupils are taught drawing skills as a foundation for all art, and utilise a wide range of media including silk screen, acrylic and oil paints, ceramics and lino-cutting. All pupils who take GCSE Art undertake a project with instruction from a professional ceramicist.
Laptops are used for computer-generated art, animation and 3-D design. The Art facility has recently been enhanced with the addition of a kiln room and small media studio equipped with Mac computers for increased opportunities in computer-generated art, graphics and photography.
For those who are talented and wish to pursue a career in Art, pupils are offered the opportunity to take a second Art GCSE in Graphic Communication in Year 11.
The school's excellence in Art has been confirmed by our winning the Good Schools' Guide Fine Art Award 2009 in both the boys' and girls' categories. In 2010 Thames again won the Good School's Guide Fine Art Award in the boys' category.
Beth's Story
Extremely talented in Art, Beth took two Art GCSEs, Fine Art and Graphic Communication, attaining A*s in both. Beth achieved 100% in her Graphics GCSE, in which she designed a set of olympic stamps in a mock commercial brief for the Royal Mail.
Beth assisted in the Mentoring Programme, leading Art classes at nearby Falconbrook Primary School and acting as a role model to the children there.
The school's excellence in Art has been confirmed by our winning the Good Schools' Guide GCSE Art Award 2009 for both boys and girls.
