Art & Photography

Our Vision 

At HAWI, our vision is to develop imaginative, skilled and confident artists who are curious about the world around them and courageous in expressing their own ideas. We aim for all students to leave with the knowledge, technical skill and creative confidence to think critically, communicate visually and make meaningful contributions through art. We believe creativity has the power to transform lives, and our curriculum nurtures students who are reflective, resilient and willing to challenge conventions in pursuit of original ideas. 

 

What is Art? 

Art is a dynamic and expressive subject that enables students to explore ideas, communicate emotions and understand the world through visual language. It combines creativity, observation, technical skill and critical thinking, allowing students to experiment with materials, processes and concepts to create personal and meaningful outcomes. 

At HAWI, we believe Art is about far more than producing beautiful work—it is about questioning, exploring and discovering. Students are encouraged to investigate ideas with curiosity, challenge assumptions and develop their own artistic voice. Through experimentation, reflection and refinement, they learn to solve visual problems, embrace creative risk-taking and understand that great art is driven by enquiry as much as technical skill. 

 

Why do we teach Art at HAWI? 

We believe every student should have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of creativity. Art develops imagination, resilience and confidence while encouraging students to question, interpret and respond to the world around them. 

Our curriculum develops: 

• Creativity and imagination – generating original ideas and developing personal responses. 

• Observation and visual literacy – learning to see, analyse and communicate through drawing and making. 

• Technical skill – mastering a broad range of materials, techniques and artistic processes. 

• Critical thinking – analysing artists, cultures and ideas while evaluating and refining their own work. 

• Confidence and independence – developing ownership of creative decisions and personal expression. 

• Cultural understanding – exploring diverse artists, movements and traditions from across the world. 

We also introduce students to the vast range of careers within the creative industries, including fine art, architecture, illustration, graphic design, animation, photography, fashion, product design, curation, museum education and the wider cultural sector, helping students understand the relevance of Art far beyond the classroom. 

 

How do we teach Art at HAWI? 

Our curriculum is built around ambitious, project-based learning where students investigate artists, develop technical skills and create increasingly personal outcomes. Each project combines practical making with critical thinking, encouraging students to experiment, reflect and continually refine their work. 

Rather than teaching isolated techniques, we teach students how artists think. Every project develops technical expertise alongside conceptual understanding, enabling students to become increasingly independent, creative and reflective practitioners. 

Key Stage 3 

At KS3, students complete a carefully sequenced programme of projects that develop drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, mixed media and digital processes. 

Projects are designed to progressively build knowledge and confidence, revisiting key artistic concepts whilst introducing increasingly sophisticated techniques and ideas. Observational drawing forms the backbone of the curriculum, underpinning every area of artistic practice. 

Curriculum Approach 

Students learn through: 

• Project-based learning inspired by artists, cultures, history and contemporary issues. 

• Developing observational drawing as the foundation of artistic practice. 

• Experimenting with a broad range of materials, techniques and processes. 

• Researching artists and analysing how meaning is communicated through visual language. 

• Recording ideas through sketchbooks that document experimentation, reflection and refinement. 

• Creating increasingly independent and personal final outcomes. 

Creativity sits at the heart of every project, with students encouraged to experiment, embrace challenge and develop their own artistic identity. 

 

Key Stage 4 

Students build upon their KS3 experiences through increasingly independent projects that demand greater technical proficiency, conceptual understanding and personal creativity. 

Students can progress onto: 

• GCSE Art and Design 

• GCSE Photography 

These pathways allow students to: 

• Develop sustained personal investigations. 

• Refine specialist practical skills across a wide range of media. 

• Produce ambitious portfolios demonstrating creativity, experimentation and technical control. 

• Strengthen critical analysis, evaluation and independent thinking. 

 

A LEVEL ART AT HAWI 

Our highly successful A Level Art course provides students with an ambitious and intellectually challenging experience, consistently achieving exceptional outcomes while preparing students for higher education and careers within the creative industries. 

Students are encouraged to think like contemporary artists—questioning assumptions, exploring ideas in depth and developing highly personal bodies of work that demonstrate creativity, technical excellence and critical understanding. 

A defining feature of our curriculum is the Strange Forms Project, an intensive programme that challenges students to rethink everything they know about art. Through sustained investigation, students question materials, processes, scale, context and meaning whilst exploring contemporary artistic practice in exceptional depth. They experiment with sculpture, installation, photography, mixed media, performance and conceptual approaches, discovering that art is as much about asking powerful questions as it is about producing successful outcomes. 

Rather than simply learning about artists, students become artists—developing independent lines of enquiry, embracing uncertainty, taking creative risks and constructing their own visual language. This philosophy produces confident, intellectually curious young artists capable of creating ambitious, sophisticated and deeply personal work. 

 

Industry Links and Visiting Professionals 

Students benefit from opportunities to work with and learn from: 

• Practising artists and photographers. 

• Designers, architects and creative professionals. 

• Higher education providers, galleries and creative industry specialists. 

Through workshops, artist talks and demonstrations, students gain valuable insight into professional creative practice and future career pathways. 

 

Educational Visits 

First-hand experiences are central to our curriculum and play a vital role in inspiring creativity. 

Students benefit from visits including: 

• Year 7: The National Gallery. 

• Year 8: The National Portrait Gallery and The National Gallery. 

• GCSE and A Level: Visits to London's leading museums and galleries including Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Saatchi Gallery and major temporary exhibitions to support research, idea development and independent investigation. 

These experiences enable students to encounter original artworks, deepen their cultural understanding and appreciate the role of art within society. 

 

Extracurricular Opportunities 

We provide a rich programme of opportunities beyond the classroom, including: 

• Arts Week exhibitions celebrating student achievement. 

• Artist workshops and gallery visits. 

• Photography club and darkroom experiences. 

• Competitions and collaborative creative projects. 

• Opportunities to contribute to school productions, installations, displays and community exhibitions. 

These opportunities allow students to extend their learning, develop leadership and celebrate creativity within the wider school community. 

 

How do we make Art memorable at HAWI? 

We believe Art should inspire curiosity, creativity and confidence that lasts long after students leave school. 

Students experience: 

• The satisfaction of mastering challenging artistic techniques and producing work of exceptional quality. 

• Opportunities to explore diverse media including drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, photography, sculpture and mixed media. 

• Projects that encourage personal expression whilst engaging with artists, cultures, philosophy and contemporary issues. 

• A culture that celebrates experimentation, resilience, curiosity and thoughtful creative risk-taking. 

• Regular opportunities to exhibit work, celebrate success and contribute to the cultural life of the school. 

Through these experiences, students leave HAWI as confident, independent and thoughtful young artists who understand both the technical discipline and the transformative power of creativity. They develop the knowledge, resilience and ambition to continue making, questioning and creating throughout their lives, whatever path they choose to follow.