Creative Arts | Brighton College

The Creative Arts

We prepare our pupils to become critical thinkers, problem solvers and young entrepreneurs. Through instilling both practical and creative skills in a variety of materials and technologies, we encourage and support a range of artistic ambitions.

GCSE Art pupils in the Art Room enjoying talking whilst working on their coursework pieces

Art

The art department is a lively and dynamic space, where pupils can develop their creativity using a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, drawing, video, installation and printmaking, as well as written explorations of ideas and critical thinking. We put emphasis on contemporary practice and theories that inform art, as well as practical skills. Alongside regular visits from artists, there are also specialist workshops and gallery trips throughout the year.

4th Form pupil sawing a block of wood in a DT lesson

Design and Technology

Design and technology focusses on the origin and quality of ideas, paying attention to functionality, aesthetics, user needs and sustainability. This enables pupils to create highly developed and often award-winning products that are market-ready.

Pupils proud of the photographs they have developed in the Dark Room

Photography

Photography allows pupils to develop a critical understanding of the works of significant artists and photographers and refine their skill sets. Our Head of Photography leads pupils through a journey of exploration, investigating all aspects of capturing an image, from analogue dark room through to digital cinematography, collage through to Photoshop, and all that lies between. Pupils come away with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the subject, alongside the ability to capture sublime imagery, and they take part in the multitude of creative competitions we have throughout the year.

Art coursework piece of a black and pink flower with the anthers visible

Black and white photography coursework piece of a flower with large rain droplets on

Art coursework piece of a pink, blue and purple marble effect with aspects of gold foil

Photography coursework piece of a girl with shadows of flowery branches across her face

Artwork of a café with a woman sitting in a chair, then a faded woman in the chair and finally an empty chair

Pupil's photography piece of people walking along the seafront with the people replaced by maps in their form

An artwork of three images of shoes in a shoebox using different black and white and colour combinations

X-ray style photograph of a person sitting on the stairs looking through a window with clothes rail at the bottom of the stairs

Artwork containing different layers of wood with interconnecting holes

500+

pupils take art and photography

15

pupils scored the best Art and Photography results in the country in their GCSES in 2023

97%

9-7 at GCSE in photography

We know how important it is to have the space to express yourself, so we are very lucky to have an abundance of creative spaces for pupils to use.

Discover all our spaces

GCSE Art pupils sitting at tables in the Art Room working on their coursework

Opened in 2008, the Alexander Arts Centre is a large, loft-style studio and photography atelier. With an abundance of natural light within the space, pupils are able to explore their creativity in a variety of mediums. This includes access to a silkscreen printing room.

The RIBA award-winning Skidelsky Building houses our Design and Technology department. This is based in a multi-purpose workshop and design studio that incorporates the latest manufacturing machinery and equipment, as well as traditional tools and resources.

Photography pupil in the Dark Room developing photographs they have taken

Located in the Alexander Arts Centre, our photography department caters for all mediums of image making. Pupils can engage with analogue, darkroom photography through to digital photoshop and film-making, alongside the more practical montage manipulation.