Creativity in Full Colour: Art, Design & Technology at TLA

Art Department
Our Year 7 artists have begun their secondary school journey with a mini clay project inspired by key moments in art history—starting with prehistoric pottery. Students explored the distinctive forms and patterns of Bell Beaker pottery, known for its bold geometric designs and cultural significance across prehistoric Europe. Their creations beautifully blend tradition and imagination, showing how ancient techniques can spark modern creativity.

We’re thrilled to welcome our new Year 10 GCSE Art students, who have already shown inspiring starting points and thoughtful intentions in their sketchbooks. We can’t wait to see how their ideas evolve and develop. A huge well done also goes to our Year 11 students who recently completed their mock exam—their focus, effort, and artistic growth were evident in every piece produced.

We’re delighted to unveil the latest update to our Wall of Wonderment, now featuring Year 11 work-in-progress. This term’s selection highlights a variety of techniques, from expressive painting to layered mixed media. Congratulations to the following students whose work is currently on display: Avanya, Ilicia, James, Leah, Pratham, Sara, and Shubhangi.

To all our Year 11 artists—whether your work is on the wall or still in development—please know that every piece matters. The display space may be limited, but our admiration for your effort is not. Keep pushing your ideas, experimenting with techniques, and believing in your artistic voice. Your journey is just as important as the destination.

Students wishing to spend more time in the studio can arrange after-school sessions with Mr Rider, Mrs Brown, or Pam to continue developing their work in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Design & Technology Department
Our Year 7–9 students have been busy bringing their ideas to life in the workshop. From personalised keychains to imaginative lamp designs, the range of projects being developed is full of creativity and innovation. It’s fantastic to see students experimenting with materials, exploring design principles, and gaining confidence in their making skills. We can’t wait to see their final outcomes!

As our Year 11 students prepare for their DT mock exam after half term, we encourage them to stay focused—reviewing NEA work and reflecting on design decisions will be key. You’ve got this!

Textiles Department
Year 7 students have been designing and crafting imaginative fantastical animals to inhabit whimsical worlds. The creativity on display has been delightful—a fantastic start to their design journey, full of personality, invention, and playful storytelling.

Year 8 students have been developing their own repeat patterns and motifs using both CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and traditional handmade techniques. We’re excited to see their final outcomes and can’t wait to share their work in the next update.

Our GCSE Textiles students visited the Horniman Museum and Gardens to explore primary source objects and cultural artefacts. From the aquarium and butterfly house to global textiles and floral displays, the trip provided a rich source of inspiration. Thank you to Museum Learning for their ongoing support and collaboration.

Food & Nutrition Department
Our kitchen has been buzzing with creativity this term! KS3 students have been fully engaged in practical lessons, developing essential cooking skills and gaining confidence with every dish. From preparation to presentation, it’s been fantastic to see their enthusiasm and enjoyment in the kitchen—a delicious start to the year!

Highlights this term include:

• Jam tarts – an introduction to pastry work

• Pizza rolls – combining creativity and flavour

• Chicken tikka – exploring spices and marination techniques

A gentle reminder to all KS3 parents and carers: please ensure payments for Food Technology are made via ParentPay to support the continuation of these valuable practical sessions.

Our Year 11 Food Technology students are sitting their mock exam this week—on the very day this newsletter goes out! We wish them all the best and look forward to seeing their hard work pay off.

Bedrock Mapper – Literacy in Art & DT (DT, Textiles, Food & Nutrition)
A reminder to all Year 7–9 students: please make sure to complete your Bedrock Mapper sessions, which are set twice each half term as part of your Art and DT rotations. These sessions are designed to strengthen literacy skills and deepen understanding of subject-specific vocabulary. Each term, the vocabulary introduced in Bedrock links directly to the themes and techniques explored in class—helping students express ideas more clearly, confidently, and creatively.

Open Evening Highlights
A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful Year 10–13 students who volunteered to represent the ADT Faculty during Open Evening. Your enthusiasm, professionalism, and creativity made the event truly special.

Highlights from the evening included:

• Art – Prospective students got hands-on with badge-making, experimenting with vibrant ink colouring techniques.

• Design & Technology – Mr Fermor’s famous parrot workshop was a hit! Visitors built their own laser-cut balancing parrots, each with its own name and personality.

• Food Technology – Cupcake decorating brought smiles all around, with guests showing off their flair for icing and presentation.

• Textiles – The mini block printing station gave future students a taste of traditional textile techniques with a creative twist.

As we wrap up this exciting first term, we want to thank all our students for the energy, creativity, and commitment they’ve brought into our classrooms, studios, and workshops. To our parents and carers—thank you for your continued support. Your encouragement helps fuel the imagination and confidence of our young designers, artists, chefs, and makers.

As we head into the half-term break, we hope everyone enjoys a well-earned rest. Whether you’re recharging or continuing to explore ideas that inspire you, this is a great time to reflect, create, and grow. We can’t wait to see what sparks your imagination next term.