Filter by Category
Filter by Author
On Friday 14th November, our GCSE and A Level Art students had the exciting opportunity to visit the newly refurbished National Portrait Gallery in London. The trip was designed...
Following on from last week’s Anti-Bullying Week, we want to remind all students that support is always available. On the student homepage, you’ll find the “Report Concern” button...
Many schools recognise something known as the “Year 8 Dip”, a natural stage in early adolescence where students may experience shifts in motivation, confidence, or behaviour. As...
Name: Matias House: Willow Reason for nomination: He has made an excellent start since starting at Bushey Meads. He consistently demonstrates the 3 R’s —...
It’s been a busy week here at Bushey Meads, and as the weather is getting colder, our students are more dedicated than ever! In light of this week’s theme of ‘progress’. It...
At Bushey Meads School, we believe that respect, responsibility, and positive relationships build the foundation of a thriving community. Recently, two remarkable students, Dillon...
At Bushey Meads School safeguarding the children in our care remains one of our top priorities. All staff work together with our highly trained designated Safeguarding Leads...
As we continue to prioritise the development of high level literacy with our students across the school community, it was great to be able to pop into 10 Ash’s Character...
The theme this year was ‘Power for Good’ Empowering students to take action against bullying through kindness, empathy and respecting difference, can prevent it...
PE Health and Health Faculty News (12th November 2025) NEWS Mr Cartledge Head of PE and Health DISTRICT CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS. On Wednesday this week the annual...
On Friday 14th November, our GCSE and A Level Art students had the exciting opportunity to visit the newly refurbished National Portrait Gallery in London. The trip was designed to support their coursework on identity, offering them first-hand inspiration from some of the most influential portrait artists in British history.
Upon arrival, students were split into two workshop groups, each exploring identity through a different creative lens.
Group One took part in an Art and Identity workshop, working directly from original artworks in the gallery’s collection. Equipped with different coloured paper and drawing materials, students learned observational drawing techniques, explored how artists communicate personal narratives, and developed pages of expressive studies that will feed into their coursework. These techniques challenged the students in their usual drawing styles and got them to focus on applying block areas of mid, dark and light tones.
Group Two investigated Identity Through Photography, learning how photographers construct meaning through pose, lighting, composition, and context. Students experimented with ideas for their own photographic portraits with the use of costume, props and lighting.
Exploring different ways of working really showed the students a variety of approaches to portraiture which they can explore further in their own work in art and/or photography.
After the workshops, everyone had time to explore the galleries independently. Students were really inspired by the contemporary portrait displays, where diverse voices and modern approaches to identity offered fresh ideas and creative direction. Some were also fascinated by the more traditional portraits and the way artists from past centuries captured character and status through meticulous detail, composition, and use of light—offering valuable insights and inspiration for their own approaches to portraiture.
The trip was a valuable experience for all involved—full of lively discussion, thoughtful sketching, and new ways of seeing themselves as artists. We look forward to seeing how this visit sparks new developments in their GCSE and A Level projects over the coming weeks.
