Art

At Christ Church School, we believe that every child is an artist, and that creativity is essential for helping pupils understand themselves, make sense of the world and communicate ideas that words alone cannot express. Our vision for Art is rooted in joy, curiosity and the belief that creativity enriches every child’s education.

Annie-Marie Inafidon (CEO of Stemettes) ‘You don’t have innovation, if you don’t have art. It’s as simple as that.’

Inspired by the Cultural Learning Alliance’s research, we know that involvement in the arts has a powerful impact on children's development. According to the CLA, high-quality arts education improves wellbeing, confidence, critical thinking, communication, and even academic attainment. It strengthens problem-solving skills, builds resilience and nurtures imagination—central capacities for thriving in a rapidly changing world. Through art, children learn to look closely, think deeply, and express themselves authentically.

Yinka Shonibare MBE (artist) ‘It was at Art School that I started to see the relationship between history, philosophy, politics and art. Prior to that I thought art was just about making pretty pictures – actually art is connected to life.

Across the school, pupils experience a rich and varied Art curriculum that exposes them to drawing, painting, clay, sculpture, collage, textiles, printmaking and digital art. Our dedicated Practical Room gives children the space to experiment and explore freely, while our school kiln allows every year group to experience pottery and ceramic work—something many children would not otherwise encounter until secondary school.

Catherine Opie (artist) ‘Creativity is critical thinking and without it how are you going to really open up and ask harder questions.’

Creativity is visible everywhere you look at Christ Church. Our shared spaces and the entrance hall celebrate Art and the value it has in our curriculum. We hold a bi-annual Arts Week. Our most recent themed Arts Week, “Inspired by Faith – Expressing Spirituality,” enabled every pupil to work with a range of media while exploring how different cultures express meaning through art.

Michael Craig-Martin (artist) ‘When you are doing art, the centre of doing art is in yourself.’

We also offer opportunities for pupils to take their creativity beyond the classroom. Children are encouraged to enter local competitions, contribute to community installations and participate in our bi-annual exhibition as part of the West Bristol Arts Trail. Events like these not only raise the profile of the arts but also give children the confidence to see themselves as artists with something important to contribute.

Alan Parker (filmmaker) ‘Art teaches you to make sense of the world about you. It’s the oxygen that actually makes all the other subjects breathe.’