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Outstanding GCSE Courses in both Art and Photography here at PGHS!

Why choose GCSE Art and Design or GCSE Photography?

If students enjoy being creative, want to increase practical skills and improve analytical, communication and research abilities, art and design or photography is a great choice. The skills you gain make it a great complement to other subjects. Art and Design  and Photography is a way of seeing things and making sense of the world around you. It can help you with further study and prepare you for the world of work.

GCSE Art & Photography offers students a unique opportunity to explore their creativity, develop powerful visual communication skills, and build confidence through hands‑on experimentation. Whether sketching, painting, working digitally, or capturing the world through a lens, pupils learn to express ideas, solve problems creatively, and refine technical abilities that are valued far beyond the art studio. This option opens doors to an exciting range of future career paths—including architecture, graphic design, photography, interior design, fashion, animation, product design, marketing, film and media, illustration, and many emerging creative‑tech roles. It’s an ideal choice for any student who enjoys thinking visually, working independently, and discovering new ways to interpret the world—while building a vibrant portfolio they can be proud of.

We are so proud!

Our Year 11 students have recently had their Art and Photography coursework reviewed, and we are incredibly proud of the outstanding progress they have made. Across both subjects, their visual communication skills have matured beautifully, with students demonstrating increased confidence, creativity, and technical refinement in their portfolios. The dedication they have shown throughout the coursework component is clear in the quality and ambition of their work. As we move into January, both courses will begin the Externally Set Assignment, which makes up 40% of the final GCSE grade. We are excited to see how our students continue to grow as young artists and photographers, and we look forward to supporting them through this next and very rewarding stage of their journey. In July we will proudly display their work in our annual Art Exhibition, to which all are welcome.

Good luck everyone!

Mrs Gerrard

Teacher of Art

Posted in Art

Visiting Artist: Ian Murphy

On Tuesday 6th January Year 9 and 10 students had a fantastic opportunity to take part in an art workshop with contemporary British artist Ian Murphy, whose work is known for powerful tonal drawings and richly layered mixed-media pieces rooted in observational drawing and experimental processes.

Over the course of the day, Ian guided students through his creative approach, beginning with sketchbook practice and mark-making techniques and moving through to more developed mixed media drawings, introducing a range of exciting materials and processes that encouraged everyone to experiment and think creatively. 

The workshop was fast-paced and engaging, giving students the chance to work on multiple pieces and explore new ways of building texture, layering media and composing their ideas, just as Ian does in his own sketchbooks and finished works.  Students responded with enthusiasm and focus: they coped really well with the challenge, tried out unfamiliar materials with confidence, and produced some truly fabulous mixed media drawings that showed great creativity and developing skill.It was inspiring for pupils to see Ian’s own artwork up close, hear about his artistic journey, and learn from his insights into creative practice.  

The Art Department are incredibly proud of all the students’ efforts and look forward to seeing how the techniques and ideas from the workshop will continue to influence their work in future projects.

Mrs Mitchell,

Head of Art & Photography & Design and Technology

Year 9 Art

Year 9 have been looking at the artist Hunderwasser. They have created these beautiful extend the image compositions in watercolor. 

Mrs Mitchell

Head of Art & Photography

Posted in Art

Year 8 Art

Year 8 are working very hard on their self portraits. they have been inspired by cubism and a range of artist tasking on the style and traits. I am looking forward to sharing with you their final piece.

Mrs Mitchell

Head of Art & Photography

Posted in Art

Year 7

Year 7 have been looking at patterns found in Nature and the artist Jason Scarpace. They have created these beautiful intricate drawings of fish. Well done, Year 7.

Mrs Mitchell

Head of Art & Photography

Posted in Art

Lancashire Art Competition

Talitha in Year 8 entered a Lancashire Art Competition and came 1st place in the children’s category. Talitha lives close to this Church and was inspired to paint it for her submission. A lovely watercolour painting. Well done, Talitha!

Mrs Mitchell

Head of Art, Photography & Design & Technology

Posted in Art

Year 10 Art Year 10 Art Students Showcase Creativity Through Experimental Techniques

Our Year 10 Art students have been working hard on their coursework projects and have truly impressed us with their creativity and enthusiasm. As part of Assessment Objective 2, which focuses on refining ideas through experimentation, students have explored a wide range of exciting processes to develop their work.

Using inks, resists and wax batik, they have created vibrant, layered effects that bring depth and texture to their pieces. These techniques have allowed them to experiment with colour, pattern and surface, producing outcomes that are both striking and original.

To add further interest, students have incorporated machine and hand stitching embellishments, blending textile techniques with traditional art practices. This mixed-media approach has resulted in unique and highly personal artworks that reflect their willingness to take creative risks.

The enthusiasm shown throughout this project has been outstanding. Students have embraced new materials and processes with confidence, demonstrating innovation and individuality in every stage of their work. Their commitment to experimentation and refinement perfectly illustrates the spirit of Assessment Objective 2.

We are incredibly proud of their achievements and look forward to seeing how these skills continue to develop in future projects.

Mrs Mitchell, Head of Art, Photography & Design & Technology

Posted in Art

Art Department News

The KS3 Art students at PGHS have been enthusiastically exploring the Formal Elements of art through a series of hands-on workshops and creative challenges. Focusing on line, tone, texture, colour, shape and form, students have experimented with a wide variety of media including pencil, paint, ink, collage and mixed materials. Their curiosity and willingness to take artistic risks have been impressive, as they investigated how different materials can express mood and meaning. The energy in the classroom has been contagious, with students confidently discussing their discoveries and showing real pride in their developing technical and creative skills.

In their Portraiture project, students turned their attention to self-expression and identity, creating striking face portraits and conducting their own photo shoots. Inspired by the contemporary French artist Brno Del Zou, who deconstructs and reassembles photographic images to explore the complexity of human identity, students experimented with collage and digital layering to produce unique, thought-provoking compositions. They approached this project with great enthusiasm, embracing the challenge of representing themselves in unconventional and expressive ways. The resulting artworks reveal a strong sense of individuality and creativity, reflecting both their confidence and their deepening understanding of portraiture as an art form.

The theme of Architecture allowed students to apply their observational and design skills while studying the visionary artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Known for his colourful, organic buildings, flowing lines and rejection of straight edges, Hundertwasser inspired students to think imaginatively about how art and architecture can blend with nature. Through perspective drawing exercises and imaginative design tasks, students created vibrant, character-filled architectural pieces that celebrated pattern, colour, and individuality. Their inventive use of perspective and composition has shown how confidently they can translate artistic inspiration into original, dynamic work. Key Stage 3 students at PGHS have truly impressed with their creativity, enthusiasm and commitment across all three themes.

The Key Stage 4 GCSE Art students at PGHS have shown exceptional enthusiasm and commitment throughout the year, with both Year 10 and Year 11 impressing their teachers with their creativity and work ethic. Year 10 students have settled into the GCSE course brilliantly, demonstrating strong observational drawing skills and a keen eye for detail. Working on the theme of Natural Forms, they have explored organic shapes, patterns and textures through a variety of media, producing beautiful studies that showcase their confidence and develop technical ability. Their sketchbooks are already full of vibrant experiments and thoughtful compositions, setting a strong foundation for the rest of their GCSE journey.

Meanwhile, our talented Year 11 students are preparing to produce their second final piece for their Coursework Portfolio, and the standard of work is outstanding. The group continues to impress with their creativity, ambition and perseverance, with each student developing a personal and meaningful response to their chosen theme. Their portfolios display an impressive range of skills, from painting and drawing to printmaking and mixed media; all demonstrating careful thought and refinement. The quality and individuality of their work highlight the dedication and artistic maturity of this exceptional cohort who are producing pieces that truly reflect their hard work and passion for art.

Mrs Gerrard

Art Department

Posted in Art

The University of Lancashire’s new hub for creative youngsters ready to welcome its first visitors.

The University of Lancashire’s (previously University of Central Lancashire) Young Creative Centre (YCC) has officially opened its doors ready to welcome artistic youngsters from across Lancashire.

The new centre will provide creative based workshops for secondary school and further education institutions, using specialised equipment and drawing on expertise from the University’s School of Arts and Media.

It will work in partnership with The Harris Museum & Art Gallery, as the lead cultural hub of Preston and the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers will be an esteemed national partner. 

The centre will help promote creative subjects and nurture local talent in Lancashire and beyond by supporting schools and post-16 providers in these areas.

Workshops will teach skills in subjects including printmaking, fashion, media literacy, animation and illustration and publishing.

The new initiative is based on the Young Scientist Centre (YSC) model which the University launched in 2015 in partnership with the Royal Institution. It has reached more than 18,000 young people over the last decade with its STEM workshops.

Launching the YCC, University of Lancashire’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Baldwin said: “The creative industries add £124 billion to the UK economy and they are a key sector that will help drive growth in the coming years. We want to inspire the next generation of talent to take up these subjects so we have the skilled workforce needed for the UK to continue to lead in this area.”

Lily T from Penwortham Girls’ High School, attended the centre’s official opening. She said: “It’s great to see some of the activities that we can take part in during the workshops and learn more about the study and career options an interest in creative subjects can lead to.”

Fellow Penwortham Girls’ student, Helena M added: “Attending workshops at the Young Creative Centre would boost my confidence in seeing a future in the arts as a possible career not just a hobby. I’m most excited about developing my digital media and upcycling skills.”

Head of Art and Photography at Penwortham Girls’, Mrs Mitchell added: “The Young Creative Centre will provide many opportunities for creative students to build on what they learn at school and show them how these skills can be applied in the wider world.  It also exposes them to specialist skills and facilities that aren’t available in schools.”

Alongside Professor Baldwin, the YCC was officially opened by Professor Peter Lloyd, Dean of the School of Arts and Media, Mayor of Preston, Councillor Sue Whittam, Councillor Anna Hindle and President of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, Professor David Ferry PRE.

Schools and other education providers can email the YCC on to book a series of workshops for the second half term, beginning 3rd November.

More information is available on the YCC website.  

Art Clubs are back

A little reminder that our Art and Photography clubs are running again this term — a great opportunity to get creative, try something new or work on your personal projects.

We can’t wait to see what everyone creates this year!

Mrs Mitchell

Head of Art and Photography

Posted in Art
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
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  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award
  • FFT National Attendance Award
  • Behaviour Quality Mark