A level students from across all areas of Art and design enjoyed a trip to London, where they visited Tate Modern and the V&A. The main purpose of the trip was to gain inspiration for their Personal Investigation and Exam Unit, and to give students a fantastic opportunity to see work in real life and gather primary research.

At Tate Modern, the focus was on the work of Gerhard Richter, six paintings in particular conceived of as a coherent group and named after the American experimental composer, John Cage. At the V&A, students were excited to see an exhibition examining the work and legacy of influential Spanish couturier Cristobal Balenciaga, with over 100 pieces crafted by ‘the master’ of couture, his protégées and contemporary fashion designers working in the same innovative tradition.