Students can follow a range of Art courses at A level (in Fine Art, Textiles and Photography) as well as applied art options in BTEC courses available at Advanced and Intermediate level. The Art Department has six dedicated studios, a kiln and other specialist resources for screen-printing, including an etching press. Extensive resources in textiles include 15 industry standard Bessina sewing machines, one Bernina digital sewing machine and two heat presses for textile printing. Students’ work can also be enhanced through the use of two Apple Mac suites, A3 scanners and colour printers. From 2010 the area will also benefit from new fully equipped darkrooms to support Photography options at A-Level and within the Diploma programmes.

There are five art teachers and three technicians with specialisms ranging from fine art, graphics, jewellery making, photography, sculpture and ceramics. The Art department has retained “outstanding” status in terms of student outcomes and quality of teaching for some years now. Large numbers of students have progressed to Art colleges across the country at both degree and foundation level. In only the last three years St Charles students have taken up places at Central St. Martins, London College of Communication, Chelsea, Camberwell, Wimbledon and London College of Fashion. Btec graduates in particular follow a range of professional pathways into degree level study in architecture, animation, surface design, interior design, fashion design and textiles.