Art & Design at The Lyceum
Art is at the heart of our creative curriculum. At The Lyceum, we believe that art and design stimulate children’s creativity and imagination, giving them visual, tactile and sensory experiences that help them understand and respond to the world around them. Whether they are sketching botanical specimens, sculpting in 3D or painting a scene inspired by another culture, our pupils learn to see closely, think creatively and express themselves with confidence.
Our Approach to Art
Art at our prep school is taught in our specialist art studio and is closely linked to the topics children study across the curriculum. Pupils:
- Explore a wide range of media and techniques, from drawing, painting and printmaking to collage, textiles and 3D sculpture.
- Study artists, designers and craftspeople from different cultures and periods of history.
- Develop technical skills in colour, line, form, pattern and texture, building steadily year by year.
- Learn to evaluate their own work and the work of others, using the language of art to explain their ideas.
- Grow in confidence as independent artists who are willing to experiment and take creative risks.
Art Linked to Learning
Our topic-based curriculum means art is never taught in isolation. Projects connect to what pupils are learning in history, geography, science and PSHE, as well as to themes such as Black History Month, Remembrance and diversity. Recent projects have included:
- Year 3: artwork inspired by Marie Curie and her discoveries about radiation.
- Years 3 and 4: African landscapes exploring colour, pattern and silhouette.
- Year 5: microscopic botanical studies that combine close observation with science, and hunting scenes inspired by Inuit culture.
- Year 6: striking designs inspired by the gods of the Inca civilisation.
- Whole-school 3D work exploring butterfly symbolism in the work of Damien Hirst.
Art is also the “A” in STEAM. In our STEAM studio, “The Owlery”, pupils combine art with science, technology and engineering, designing mechanical automaton toys and creating geometric art with code.
London as Our Gallery
Few prep schools can match our access to world-class art. Our central London location puts some of the greatest museums and galleries in the world within easy reach. Pupils visit exhibitions regularly, take part in gallery workshops and welcome visiting artists into school, seeing great art up close and meeting the people who make it. Find out more about our school trips.
Art Week and Exhibitions
Every year, our whole school comes together for Art Week. Each class researches an artist, movement or theme, and the week ends with collaborative whole-school pieces that fill our corridors with colour. Our pupils’ work has also been recognised beyond school: our collaborative piece A View into The Lyceum was Highly Commended in the Independent Schools Association (ISA) Art Competition.
Budding artists can take their creativity further in our extracurricular clubs, including Art Club, Arts & Crafts, Cartoon Club, Oodles of Doodles and Design Club with Lego.
Why Art Matters
Art develops much more than artistic skill. It builds observation, patience, problem-solving and the confidence to share original ideas, all qualities that support learning across the curriculum. Research summarised by the Education Endowment Foundation suggests that arts participation can have a positive effect on pupils’ wider attainment. Above all, art gives every child a way to express who they are.
Discover more about our Prep School curriculum and our creative approach to learning.
