Portfolios and Possibilities for Sixth Form Students

Sixth Form Art students are reaching the final stages of their coursework, following a year-long creative journey of research, experimentation and personal exploration. Each student undertakes an individual project, developing ideas from initial concepts through to final outcomes. As the process nears completion, we caught up with several students to view their work and talk to them about Sixth Form life at Truro School and their plans for their futures.

Sophia, who has been at Truro School since Year 7, has based her Art project on theatre and storytelling. Her work uses red and blue lines to illustrate theatre lighting, drawing inspiration from Greek mythology. Reflecting on her time in the Sixth Form, Sophia says, “My confidence has improved over the last two years. In the Sixth Form you are treated as an adult. Overall, it has helped me to find my abilities and grow in confidence.”

Andrei, who joined Truro School for Sixth Form from his native Ukraine, is focusing on oil painting. His project consists of a series of small-scale works that explore his heritage and sense of place. Alongside A-Level Art, he is studying Design Technology and Psychology, with aspirations for a career in interior design. Having already received four out of five university offers, Andrei is waiting to hear back from his final choice and plans to continue his studies in the UK. Since joining Truro School, Andrei has developed new skills, particularly in oil painting, a medium he had never used before. With encouragement from Mr Meads and dedicated practice, he has grown in confidence, describing the Sixth Form as offering “freedom, choice and an opportunity to narrow down my skills and prepare for the future. The course is centred around career progression, but with lots of enjoyment.”

Deputy Head Girl, Elsie, has created a project centred on aprons and corsets, exploring 1950s female stereotypes and societal expectations through sculpture and drawing. Having attended Truro School since Pre-Prep, she has enjoyed the transition into the Sixth Form, particularly the flexibility of the Art course and the benefits of one-to-one teaching. Following in the footsteps of her three siblings, who also studied in the Sixth Form, Elsie values the wide range of leadership and enrichment opportunities available. She explains, “To be able to participate in leadership roles such as Prefects, Duke of Edinburgh, ACHE, and attend professional talks has given me enormous content for my personal statement. There is so much on offer, and everything is easy to sign up for, which has allowed me to focus more on my coursework.”

Grace is studying A-Level Art alongside the Leiths Diploma, combining her passion for art and cookery. Her project explores cooking and movement within the kitchen, linking her two favourite subjects. Her future plans include a gap year working in professional kitchens and travelling in Southeast Asia, before attending culinary school in Lyon, France. Grace chose to remain at Truro School for the Sixth Form primarily because of the Leiths Diploma. Her artistic skills are reflected not only in her sketches and print work, but also in the presentation of her dishes. Encouraged by her brother, a former Truro School student now studying at Cardiff University, Grace is delighted with her Sixth Form experience.

Ella, whose passion is music, is studying A-Level Music alongside Art and an EPQ. Her Art project explores synaesthesia and the work of Kandinsky, investigating how music can be seen as colour. Her work progresses from lino cuts of musicians to abstract paintings inspired by sound. This project has formed a strong foundation for her university personal statement, complementing her EPQ, which involved writing and producing an album. A dedicated Chorister, Ella has valued the small class sizes and personalised feedback in the Sixth Form. She has applied to Bristol, Royal Holloway, Manchester, York and King’s College London to study Music and is awaiting her offers. She plans to take a gap year to focus on practical musical experience, including performing, busking and learning new instruments.

Wilf has created a project inspired by street art, dogs and the work of Banksy and Mr Brainwash. His work features photographs of his own French Bulldogs, Star and Sunny, alongside images of Sri Lankan street dogs taken during a recent trip. These have been translated onto large boards and surfboards. Wilf has enjoyed the independence of working in the dedicated Sixth Form Art studio, which has allowed him to develop his own style. Studying Art alongside Business, the Leiths Diploma and the EPQ, Wilf plans to take a ‘gap-life’ after leaving school, travelling abroad and working surf, ski and yacht seasons. He credits the Leiths course with giving him the confidence to apply for roles such as chalet host and yacht crew.

Tallulah has based her project on a series of paintings depicting the North and South Cornish coasts at different times of day and in varying light. These will eventually be brought together into one large-scale piece. Studying Art alongside Psychology and Business, she has applied to university to study Interior Design. Tallulah is looking forward to continuing her work and beginning preparations for the three-day practical exam in the spring. She has flourished in the small class environment, benefiting from the specialist expertise of the Art department.

Annie, who has a strong passion for Geology, is studying A-Level Art alongside Biology and Geology, which she plans to pursue at university. Her Art project abstractly explores geological rock forms, building on themes from her GCSE work. With encouragement from Mrs Cucknall and Mr Meads, Annie has embraced abstract techniques and expanded her skill set. She explained, “I am pleased with my A-Level choices. The structure of the courses has worked perfectly, as the Art practical comes earlier, allowing me to focus on revision for my other subjects later.” Annie is considering a gap year, potentially including a ski season in Canada or Europe, before choosing between offers from Cardiff, Exeter, Birmingham, Bristol or Liverpool to study Geology.