Art and Photography DEPARTMENT
The Art and Photography department provides a challenging, structured and inclusive context for students’ engagement with Art and Photography. Our curriculum presents opportunities that recognise and shape the creative aspirations of our students, building on prior learning and teaching new ways for students to express themselves through visual language. We are dedicated to engendering students' productive and innovative participation in the world of visual arts as concerned and caring citizens of the global community.
The Art and Photography department website provides a live resource for parents, teachers and students to support teaching and learning. The curriculum and the department are further enriched by a wealth of art practitioners connected to the school via the parent/carer body and Art and Photography alumni.
The Art and Photography Department is inclusive and we have an excellent record of supporting disadvantaged and minority students. Tasks are differentiated appropriately to ensure that all students can access the curriculum and make progress within the subject.
The breadth of the KS3 curriculum and the quality of the provision provides a strong foundation for students who wish to study at GCSE level and beyond. Access to art practitioners also gives students insight into further education and careers within the arts, breaking down preconceived ideas about the opportunities available and the economic, social and reputational value the creative industries deliver.
The Art and Photography department also values those students who may not wish to continue with their art studies beyond Year 9 and takes its role in their development as visually literate citizens very seriously. It is our aim that these students have the skills to lead lives that are happier, healthier, more sociable, and enriched through access to culture and creativity.
The department keeps resources, lessons and exemplar work on its own website here so students and parents are able to access the work from home.
EXTRA CURRICULAR
The Georgia Morris ANNUAL Photography Prize
The Photography department organises the annual Georgia Morris Photography Prize for students in Year 7–9. Georgia was a student at Fortismere and was passionate about photography and capturing the world around her particularly nature and wildlife.
After a brave fight against cancer, Georgia sadly passed away in 2016 , but not without making a significant impact on all the people she met. She was only at Fortismere for a year, but she loved the school and the creativity that thrived within it. As a tribute to Georgia her family created the Georgia Morris Photography Prize and hope this will encourage other young students to take up photography and to study at school, as Georgia would loved to have done. You can see some of Georgia's photographs below.
Georgia Morris Photography Prize 2026
The brief for the competition this year is “Nature and Wildlife”. This can mean animals, wildlife, trees and plants, landscapes etc. Think about what that means to you and what you might photograph as a response to the brief. Georgia’s pictures above will hopefully inspire you and give you some ideas of possible starting points.
The prize will be Amazon vouchers that can be used to purchase items to help take more beautiful pictures and hopefully inspire a lifelong passion for photography. 1st prize - £150; 2nd Prize - £100; 3rd Prize - £50
All entries must be emailed to Mr Holden gholden@fortismere.org.uk by the deadline of 30th June
Download this document for information, entry details and to see some of Georgia's inspiring photographs
