Secondary schools: Online practical workshops
Practical sessions led by artists over Zoom
Key Stages 3-5
There is a maximum of 4 workshops per school within an academic year, so you can request a booking for up to 4 classes.
- School contact details
- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice of date for your session
- Finance contact details. Although our sessions are free for UK schools, late cancellations and no-shows may incur a charge
- Teacher contact details. This should be a teacher who will be in the classroom with each group.
- Group sizes are 10-25 students per session
- You can book more than one group in a single booking request, just use the ‘Add another group’ option. Groups can differ by key stage, theme, date and time of their session
- There is a maximum of 4 workshops per school within an academic year.
Please let us know 21 days prior to your session if you need to cancel. Cancellations made with less than 21 days’ notice and no-shows will incur a charge for UK schools and are non-refundable for overseas groups.
Some of our themes can be adapted for SEND groups. Please contact us at schoolbookings@nationalgallery.org.uk for more information about how we can meet your group’s needs. We recommend a maximum group size of 10.
KS3-5
Messengers
1 hour
Suitable for: KS3, KS4, KS5
Explore colour, light and shape. Students will be introduced to Bridget Riley's wall painting, Messengers, and connected works, experimenting with different ways of looking, drawing and using colour.
The session could be a good starting point for projects back in the classroom.
Materials needed: drawing paper, drawing pencils, coloured pencils, collage paper, scissors, glue stick.
The session could be a good starting point for projects back in the classroom.
Materials needed: drawing paper, drawing pencils, coloured pencils, collage paper, scissors, glue stick.
Sketchbook skills
1 hour
Suitable for: KS3, KS4, KS5
This session is designed to build confidence and encourage students to develop the skills to record, review and reflect in a meaningful, creative way using sketchbooks.
Looking carefully at 2-3 focus paintings, students will be guided through a variety of traditional and contemporary drawing techniques using a wide selection of drawing materials.
Students are encouraged to enjoy looking, to look carefully, to reflect on their own visual literacy and to enter all activities without fear.
The session will also include examples and suggestions for further work developing individual ideas.
Materials needed: drawing paper, a range of drawing pastels and pencils or similar.
Looking carefully at 2-3 focus paintings, students will be guided through a variety of traditional and contemporary drawing techniques using a wide selection of drawing materials.
Students are encouraged to enjoy looking, to look carefully, to reflect on their own visual literacy and to enter all activities without fear.
The session will also include examples and suggestions for further work developing individual ideas.
Materials needed: drawing paper, a range of drawing pastels and pencils or similar.
What can paintings tell us about drawing?
1.5 hours
Suitable for: KS3, KS4, KS5
Students learn to see the drawing behind the painting using traditional tools and techniques to develop an understanding of line, tone and perspective.
Materials needed: drawing paper, drawing pencils or charcoal, pastels (if available).
Materials needed: drawing paper, drawing pencils or charcoal, pastels (if available).
Who am I?
1 hour
Suitable for: KS3, KS4, KS5
How do artists reveal or create someone’s identity? In this interactive session we will compare 'Hélène Rouart in her Father’s Study' by Degas and 'Madame Moitessier' by Ingres; two very different portraits of women, but only painted about 30 years apart.
Through drawing we will explore how each artist used shape, line and colour. Both women are set in interior spaces and are surrounded by objects. Why these particular objects and what do they tell us about them? Do they tell the truth or try to mislead us?
Materials needed: drawing paper, drawing pencils or charcoal, pastels (if available).
Through drawing we will explore how each artist used shape, line and colour. Both women are set in interior spaces and are surrounded by objects. Why these particular objects and what do they tell us about them? Do they tell the truth or try to mislead us?
Materials needed: drawing paper, drawing pencils or charcoal, pastels (if available).