Art & Design is one of the most successful and exciting subjects the school has to offer and is housed in the Dacre building – a modern, innovate centre for creativity, which was opened in autumn 2017.

Encouraging
creative endeavour

Pupils' creative achievements, notably in art, drama and music, are exceptional.

Independent Schools Inspectorate

The Dacre building is equipped with specialist paint and print studios, a dark room for photography, a ceramics room with dedicated kiln and glazing rooms and a sculpture studio. Pupils are able to study with a range of equipment, including colour laser printers, Promethean boards and the latest Adobe software.

The Art department specialises in the areas of painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, ceramics and history of art. We believe that artistic development helps to fulfil pupils’ individuality and aesthetic appreciation. Pupils follow a broad-based syllabus where they can develop a range of creative skills, from painting and drawing to sculpture, printmaking and clay work.  A great emphasis is placed on the importance of visual research and pupils’ ability to make connections with their own practice and the work of artists and craftspeople. We are very keen that pupils take advantage of the great museums and galleries that London has to offer.

All pupils from Years 6 to 8 study Art as part of a broad curriculum that encourages individuals to find their own creative path. In year 9 pupils choose two of the creative arts subjects to study in greater depth and detail. At GCSE and A level, Art & Design are popular examination choices and the results at both levels continue to be outstanding.

The Dacre building is equipped with specialist paint and print studios, a dark room for photography, a ceramics room and a sculpture studio.

Outside the classroom, there are plenty of extra-curricular opportunities for budding artists to enjoy. A level students are invited to regular life drawing classes, which have helped prepare many students for interview and admission to prestigious art colleges. Some of our recent trips have included a residential trip to the Turner Contemporary at Margate; a residential trip to St Ives, Cornwall; tours of the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Exhibitions are aplenty, with displays of pupil artwork at events at school.

Emanuel students gain places to study at some of the best art colleges in the country, including The Royal Drawing School, Central St Martins, Kingston University, Ravensbourne, the University for the Arts: Epsom and CCW (Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon combined Foundation Course), as well as degree courses such as architecture at UCL, Newcastle and Manchester. Find out how we support our aspiring artists as they begin their career journey here.