Our Year 10 GCSE Art students recently completed a rigorous two-day art PPE inside the art department. Two classrooms transformed into bustling workplaces as students tackled a challenging practical brief.

Tasked with exploring the complex theme of “Identity,” students designed and built three-dimensional ceramic pots. Their main artistic inspiration came from the contemporary British artist Sir Grayson Perry. Much like Perry, our students used the surface of their clay vessels to tell deeply personal stories.

Over the course of the two days, the students demonstrated outstanding focus, resilience, and technical skill. They utilised advanced hand building techniques, including coiling and relief work, to construct their vessels. Once the physical structures took shape, students etched, carved, and added 3D detailed narratives onto the clay. The finished pieces reflect a diverse range of personal reflections, exploring family heritage, hobbies, mental health, and modern teenage life.

The art department is incredibly proud of the maturity and dedication displayed by all participants. These PPE’s provide vital preparation for the rest of their upcoming GCSE practical examinations, building both the stamina and confidence required for creative success. The completed pots are currently drying ahead of their kiln firing, after which they will be painted and graded, and added to the students’ coursework portfolios.