Year 11 Art pupils enjoyed a highly successful trip to London, gathering valuable first-hand resources to support their GCSE coursework. The group visited the Tate Modern and the Victoria and Albert Museum, as well as taking part in a drawing and photography walk across the River Thames.
The day began at the Tate Modern, where pupils explored a wide range of modern and contemporary artworks. The visit encouraged pupils to consider different artistic perspectives, materials and themes, while also reflecting on the importance of accessibility and representation within the art world. Eva M commented on the impact of the visit, saying, “I particularly enjoyed the Guerrilla Girls exhibition as I found out so much about feminism in art and how much more still needs to be done to represent diversity in the art landscape.”
Sketches from Eva M's sketchbook
The Year 11s then crossed the Millennium Bridge, stopping to sketch and photograph views of the river and St Paul’s Cathedral. This practical activity allowed them to gather observational studies and contextual imagery, helping them to explore key coursework themes such as connections, layers and reflections within the urban environment.
The final destination was the V&A Museum in South Kensington, where the pupils experienced a broad range of art, design and historical collections from around the world. One area that stood out was the Theatre and Performance galleries, which showcased costumes and textiles from stage and screen. Reflecting on this, Ella C said, “It was really exciting to see the connection between fabric and different textiles, and how you can bind these materials together to create beautiful works of art.”
The pupils had a great day and returned to school inspired, with sketchbooks, photographs and ideas that will directly inform their coursework projects. The trip was a valuable opportunity to experience art beyond the classroom and engage creatively with some of London’s most iconic cultural spaces.
