Authentic Art making in Y8: Using Text and Portraiture to Define Humanity

21 November 2025

Amie Hudson

What Does It Mean to Be Human? Today, our Y8 students at XP School explored this guiding question in the most powerful, creative and authentic way — alongside the incredible Michelle Clarke-Stables. Working shoulder-to-shoulder with Michelle, students created a legacy artwork that will live on in our school: a large-scale micrography portrait of Frida Kahlo, … Continued

Creating Beautiful Work

8 October 2025

Mr A Jackson

Beautiful work and amazing products are an integral part of our story at XP but equally important are the ways that we achieve that work and those products. Our students are encouraged to draft and redraft, to refine their ideas, to not accept work that isn’t excellent. In the Arts team this year we’ve seen … Continued

Year 8 Inspired by Artist Michelle Clarke Stables

10 September 2025

Amie Hudson

This week, Year 8 students at XP were given an exciting opportunity to immerse themselves in their new expedition with a visit from professional artist Michelle Clarke Stables (MC Stables). Michelle worked with all Year 8 groups, bringing energy, expertise, and a fresh perspective on what it means to live and work as an artist. … Continued

C25 Last chance to collect GCSE artwork

17 June 2024

Claira Salter

We are currently holding GCSE Art coursework from students who left us in the Summer term of 2023. As part of our preparations for the new academic year we’ll be disposing of this work if it’s unwanted. If you would like to take your sketchbooks and final pieces from the coursework or exam projects then … Continued