Art and Photography

Welcome The Art and Photography Department here at Bristol Metropolitan Academy. It is a well-loved area of the school with a ICT room for teaching Photography GCSE and Kiln Room. Resources are well equipped for 2D and 3D projects including Digital Photography. Staff and students alike have a continued and ever-growing enthusiasm for creativity, which is explored through a range of exciting projects.

Key Stage 3

All students study Art during Year 7 and 8 and have one Art lesson per week. During the academic Year 7 students study two projects, Portraits and The Natural World. Year 8 students study two projects; Creatures and Characters and The Environment. In Year 9 study three topics, The Past, The Present and The Future. The carefully planned and resourced projects allow students to fulfil all aspects of the Art & Design National Curriculum and above all, provide students with confidence and expertise in the subject.

Key Stage 4

The Art Department offers Art and Photography GCSE courses through the AQA exam board. During terms 1 and 2 of Year 10, students study basic skills and we explore a range of artistic skills such as printing, painting and sculpture. Photography is a fantastic option for those students whose creativity take a more digital route. The Photography course is very well resourced, boasting 15 digital SLR cameras, professional standard lighting equipment and a studio backdrop and specialist printers. Each specialism is a 2 year course which allows students to develop, expand and refine their knowledge and skills as well as prepare them for Art, Craft & Design courses at A-Level, college or apprenticeships.

Extra-curricular activities

There are two after school Art Clubs. For KS3 students we run a club on a Thursday between 3-4pm. The art team offer a rotation of workshops to enrich student experiences of art, craft and design.  We also offer Art and Photography GCSE catch up sessions after school and during lunchtimes.

Students who opt to study GCSE Art are provided with exciting and varied trips to support their learning and inspire ideas for personal research and artistic outcomes. Trips to date include visits to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Lacock Abbey, an open-top bus tour to Weston-Super-Mare and Slimbridge Wetland Centre. A trip offered to students of all ages is a visit to The New Arts Center in Salisbury which is a fantastic sculpture park.

Exhibitions

Student work is displayed and updated regularly around school as well as in the Art classrooms for visitors, teachers and students to enjoy. In the main hall you will find the “Wall of Frames” which is a huge installation of artwork from students across all age groups and abilities. The Art Department has also put on public exhibitions at DAC Beachcroft, the Kingfisher Cafe and Bristol Brunel Academy’s Frame Gallery. The Art Department also takes part in the annual exhibition at Bristol Cathedral alongside 20 other local schools.

Homework

For students in Years 7, 8 and 9 receive a homework booklet per project which contains two to three Homeworks per term. Students in years 10 & 11 have fortnightly homework tasks which are largely tailored individually in order to be relevant to their personal projects.

Social Media

If you would like to follow the Art and Photography Department on Instagram our username is @bma_art. You will see examples of student work and activities as well as information about exhibitions, trips and events.