Students have been busy creating a range of impressive and thought-provoking projects as part of the Higher Horizons More Able Programme. Throughout the term, students have challenged themselves to think creatively, work independently and explore topics in greater depth.

The projects showcased a wide variety of skills, including research, problem-solving, presentation and innovation. Students demonstrated excellent enthusiasm and commitment, producing work that reflected both their curiosity and their ability to think beyond the classroom curriculum.

The Higher Horizons programme aims to stretch and inspire more able learners, encouraging them to take risks with their learning and develop confidence in their ideas. It has been wonderful to see students rise to this challenge and take pride in their achievements.

Congratulations to all involved for their hard work and dedication; we look forward to seeing how these skills continue to develop in future projects. Here are some examples from our students: 

Art:This piece was inspired by the work of Bridget Riley and her use of optical illusions. I experimented with repeating wavy lines and contrasting colours to make it look like it moving when u look at it. While working on it, I focused on keeping the lines consistent so the pattern would flow smoothly. Through this artwork, I learned how simple shapes and colours can be used to create strong visual effects.

Graphic Communication: This project is a redesigning of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way album cover. I used a mix of black and white images with red accents to reflect the bold and emotional themes of this album, such as identity, self-expression, and confidence. I experimented with layering, cropping, and typography to give a strong, dramatic feel while still referencing the original impact. Through this project, I learned how album covers can visually communicate an artist’s message and mood.

Music: For this performance, I covered Mitski’s “My Love Is Mine All Mine.” I played the piano and bass, focusing on timing, dynamics, and keeping the emotion of the song consistent throughout. The arrangement was kept simple to allow the melody and expression to stand out. My dad helped me with the guitar accompaniment which supported the structure of the piece. This performance helped develop my technical control and musical expressions, as well as my ability to balance multiple instruments within one arrangement.

Year 7

This year, for the more able art program, the selected students were set the challenge to create an optical illusion piece inspired by the artist Bridget Riley.

I produced a piece similar to Riley’s Blaze Study 1962 (as seen below). It creates an illusion of spinning shapes. I chose bold colours to make it more eye-catching.