The Art department is a thriving, inspiring environment where all students are encouraged to engage fully with the state-of-the-art facilities available. Specialist teachers encourage adventurous creativity and students realise ambitious outcomes, regularly achieving some of the highest exam marks in the country.

The department specialises in Fashion and Textiles, Fine Art, Sculpture and Photography and everyone has the opportunity to study within a supportive environment to produce individual artwork of the highest calibre. All of the specialist studios are well-equipped for the development of ambitious outcomes, ranging from sculptural fashion design, digital photography, large scale canvas work and installation pieces. Students are ambitious in their approach to project requirements and consistently aim to achieve success.

Opportunities for co-curricular work take place after school each day and during evening prep time. This includes work for major exhibitions at Olympia, Alexandra Palace, The Apex Gallery, Burghley and the Babylon Gallery, as well as national, regional and local competitions.

Our outstanding successes include first prize in the National Fashion and Textiles awards at Olympia, a shortlisted entry for the Photography Economic and Social Research Council Shaping Society award and a shortlisted entry for the Deutsche Bank Fine Art prize at the Saatchi Gallery. In July 2018, King’s Ely also won the Art and Craft Award at the prestigious Education Business Awards in London, which recognise schools for improving the standard of education and the life chances of their students.

The learning experience is further enhanced by visits to high-profile exhibitions and participation in lectures and workshop activities. Popular choices include the Victoria and Albert Museum, Royal Academy, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern and the University of Cambridge Museums.