Art and Photography students have excelled this year at both GCSE and A' Level. They have produced an array of creative pieces from traditional paintings to expressive costume, photographs to digital manipulations, and sculptures to large-scale 3D installations.

The strength of our Art and Photography Department is easy to see in the quality and diversity of the creative work produced year upon year. Students are encouraged to think outside of the box at all times and to look for the beauty which surrounds us every day. Their ideas often challenge people's perceptions of life and their environment, and it is this which continues to impress examiners and reward students with consistently high grades.

In June, the Department held its annual Art Exhibition to showcase the work of both GCSE and A' Level students. This year, the event also displayed the work of local Primary school pupils in Years 1-6 who had all taken part in our King James Art Challenge. This project was organised by the department as part of our Outreach Programme to give children the chance to try new techniques and unusual materials.

Groups of children from ten schools in the area attended the workshops to work with our specialist staff. Working within the theme of "The Secret Garden', they produced an array of artwork, which was exhibited around the Academy and in our new Art Sculpture Garden. Pieces included large canvas displays to sculputures, produced using a range of different materials including clay, wax, fabric, paint and mixed-media.

The exhibition itself was well attended and visitors showed great interest in both the finished pieces and the thought processes behind the work. Our students were able to gain valuable experience in personal presentation and improve their communication skills by talking to guests about their work; many were also successful in negotiating the sale of their artwork to investors with a keen eye for potential.

Director of Learning for the Department, Mrs Mulryan said, "The annual exhibition is an important event as it gives us the chance to show our local community how talented our students are. The positive feedback from visitors is always rewarding for our students, especially at the end of many months of hard work. We would like to thank everyone who attended for their support."

Art and Photography students on both GCSE and A' Level courses are now looking forward to their forthcoming study trip to Venice, which departs on September 29th for four days. The trip will allow them to gather useful material for their portfolio with a particular focus on architecture, landscaping and local culture. Visits to some of the many art galleries will also provide an excellent source of inspiration for their own work when they return.