Art

Art at Royal High School Bath has been designed and developed to support young creative minds in their pursuit of creativity. We are housed in a beautifully lit and purpose built Art School, where all manner of creative endeavours are pursued and encouraged. We are all about creativity and students will be encouraged to free their imagination within the Art School. However, we do ensure that students develop the skills necessary to empower them throughout their creative lives. No two academic years within the Art School are the same. Teachers are also creators and makers of Art, and are always inspired by new ideas, which are brought into the studios to share.

Key Topics and Projects

Year 7 is focused study on understanding drawing and recording through painting and drawing. Students will be encouraged to understand tone, scale and colour which are core elements within all studies in Art. Here they discover traditional ways of making and constructing and also more contemporary ways of making and presenting. Year 8 we begin to work with the idea of ‘Still Life’. We may begin with traditional ideas for this theme, but this is all about finding personal ways that the subject of ‘Still Life’ can be portrayed. We will begin to ask students questions about their work as it progresses. ‘Why does it look the way that it does?’ ‘Why did you use this particular palette?’ ‘Does the work communicate your ideas for the art work?’. We want to see character, individuality and independence! Year 9 is the stepping stone to GCSE, where students will experience an extended and deepening period of research through seeing and understanding. There is an expectation that they will become ever more committed and use opportunities to come into the studios during lunchtimes or after school. We trust students’ growing maturity and we introduce more art materials, experimentation with ‘Mixed Media’. This might include photography, technology, plastic, paper, paint card or collage.

RHS Learner Qualities

Making Art at Royal High School Bath helps students develop as artists and as people. They are encouraged to be passionate about the subject and courageous throughout their art making. They should be brave and ambitious without losing sight of themselves. Students will naturally become inquisitive about the world around them and through their research and inquiry become critical thinkers. The ability to be reflective and a problem solver are also valuable skills that we encourage through the creative process.

Co-curricular

The Art School offers many extra-curricular opportunities to all its students, including scholars. Trips and visits to London galleries are a regular source of inspiration. Art clubs are well attended and our good relationship with local galleries and museums such as The Holburne also serve to enthuse our students.

‘’The Art lessons are super inclusive and enjoyable. This year I have really enjoyed doing sculpture, especially using mod rock’’.

Year 7 student