The Art course in Block 3 (Year 9) is designed to be accessible and enjoyable for all students, fostering individual creativity and confidence. It provides a foundation in observational and perceptual skills, creative thinking, and hands-on experience with various materials and processes.

This year serves as a stepping stone to the Bedales Assessed Course (BAC) in Art, introducing students to the subject’s possibilities and potential.

Students participate in a rotational program, exploring painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, and printmaking through eight-week projects. Each discipline is taught by specialists, ensuring students receive expert guidance while refining their observational and experimental drawing skills. Projects emphasize perceptual development and creative exploration, underpinned  by an in-depth study of formal artistic elements.

Painting approaches are developed by students responding to the world around them and increasing their confidence with colour mixing and paint application.  A broad range of inventive printmaking techniques are explored from dry point, lino printing, collagraphy and screen printing. In Ceramics, students experiment with a range of coiling, pinching slabbing, inlay and sgraffito. In sculpture, the principles of modelling in 3D are explored with assemblage and the building of structures.

Beyond timetabled classes, stu dents benefit from a wide range of co-curricular and free-time activities designed to extend their artistic experience. These opportunities encourage ambitious learners to deepen their engagement with the subject.