Encouraging students to develop the broader dimensions of their education in some of the best facilities in the country.
Art students at West Buckland enjoy some of the most outstanding facilities in the South West of England and even beyond and, not surprisingly, we have attracted students from all around the UK and, indeed, the world.
The art departments ethos is to focus on the individual. Through discussion and critiques students are encouraged and supported to follow their ideas through to personal and mature outcomes. Sixth Form students have open access to their own studio and art library.
Students from West Buckland have pursued their art on leaving school, through studying courses in Fine Art, Architecture, Animation and Graphic Design.
Design Technology is very popular as a GCSE and many students will continue to develop their dexterity and knowledge of working with different materials through studying Product Design at A-level.
Our DT workshops are the envy of many schools in the country and students are lucky enough to learn how to use a wide range of tools, understand how materials work and use their creativity to create extraordinary pieces of work.
The stunning 150 Building opened in 2010 and the design of the department has been produced by specialists who understand fully the needs of art students in the 21st century.
The facilities enable the departments to offer a full range of disciplines ranging from painting, sculpture, ceramics and photography to wood and metalwork, digital design and mechanics.
Visits and residentials are an important part of the syllabus and we make regular trips to galleries in London and the Tate in St. Ives. Our art residentials have included trips to Wales and Cornwall where students in the Sixth Form live and work as artists creating exciting and dynamic work.
We are also one of the few schools to have an Artist in Residence who, as well as working on their own pieces, provides additional guidance, support and inspiration to students.
The department is generally open during the conventional working day as well as after school and boarding students who study at GCSE level and above have access to an art studio at the weekends.