Creative Arts

Art and Design at Barrow Hills is vibrant, ambitious, and exceptionally well resourced. Our studios, housed in the historic stable block, offer an inspiring creative environment with facilities ranging from a pottery kiln to 3D printers. Specialist teaching begins in Reception, led by our Head of Art and Design working closely with visiting artists in residence.

We believe outstanding art education combines breadth with depth. Pupils explore line, paint, sculpture, wood carving, print, textiles, fashion design, and 3D work, all underpinned by high expectations and excellent standards. Children contribute to our much-loved Annual Art Exhibition, when the Chapel is transformed into a gallery reminiscent of Tate Britain, celebrating creativity and confidence across the school.

For pupils with a particular passion or talent, our Art Scholarship Programme offers extension through portfolio development, art theory, and appreciation, enriched by specialist workshops with visiting artists, including techniques such as screen printing.

Our unique woodland setting strongly shapes our creative work. Projects are rooted in sustainability and a sense of place, from observational studies of local flora and fauna to larger-scale collaborative builds such as our Living Willow Dome Classroom, designed and woven by the children themselves.

Art and Design at Barrow Hills is purposeful and connected. Learning regularly crosses into other subjects, particularly Science, where pupils’ artistic responses deepen understanding of the natural world. Creativity here is not an add-on: it is central to how children think, observe, and express themselves.