About this course
Our Teen Creative Programme is a weekly fine art education for young people aged 11–16 who want to develop real artistic skills. Taught by qualified art teachers in small groups, it follows a structured, skills-based curriculum delivered through a rotating sequence of themed projects across drawing, painting, mixed media and clay.
Students build strong core skills – observational drawing, tone and chiaroscuro, colour theory, perspective and proportion – then learn to research, analyse and respond to other artists’ work – each term explores different artists and art movements – make independent creative decisions and refine their pieces to a finished standard. Along the way they develop their own personal style.
Because it is an ongoing programme rather than a short course, students grow artistically across months and years, building portfolio-quality work and developing strong foundations for GCSE, A-Level, college and beyond. Students can join at any point during the year.
Learning outcomes
- Strong core skills: observational drawing; shading, tonal values and chiaroscuro; painting techniques and colour theory; perspective and proportion
- Exploration and personal style: mixed media and expressive art; illustration and design approaches; creative decision-making
- Art thinking: research and visual analysis; refining work to a finished standard; presenting and evaluating outcomes
- Portfolio development: artwork ready for school submissions, useful for GCSE and A-Level interviews
How students progress
- Foundations
Core technical skills
Observation, tone, colour, perspective and proportion, taught step by step and revisited through each project.
- Themed projects
Research, develop, refine
Each project moves from research and visual analysis through experimentation to a resolved, finished outcome.
- Sketchbook & portfolio
A body of work
Students build a portfolio that records their ideas and progress – valuable for school art, GCSE and A-Level.
- Accreditation
Arts Award
An optional Trinity College London qualification for ages 11–17: Discover and Explore, then Bronze (Level 1), Silver (Level 2) and Gold.
Supporting school art and GCSE
- Develops the skills, research habits and evaluation that school art and GCSE courses ask for
- Builds portfolio-quality work for school submissions and GCSE/A-Level interviews
- Bronze Arts Award is a Level 1 qualification and Silver a Level 2 – find out more about Arts Award
What’s included
- Qualified art teachers
- A structured, skills-based curriculum
- Small teaching groups
From our classes
FAQs
How do children join?
Children enrol into a weekly class in 6-week terms via enquiry rather than booking individual sessions – we don’t run children’s classes as drop-ins, so they can settle into a group and progress confidently.
Is it a long-term commitment?
6 weeks at a time. Current students get priority booking for the following term and are auto-enrolled; payment must be made within the time frame or the space may be released.
Can my child try a class first?
Trial places (£15pp) are offered subject to availability following enquiry.
What’s the Arts Award option?
Arts Award is a nationally recognised qualification run by Trinity College London, completed alongside the weekly class – not as a separate lesson. It’s optional and can be added later.
Is there a home-education group?
Yes – the Friday 1–2:30pm class is for home-educated students. See Home education & Arts Award.
What if I need to cancel?
Your deposit is non-refundable if you cancel. We're not able to offer free transfers to a different date or course.
