Creativity is encouraged in all subjects at Barfield, and none more so than in the Arts.

Barfield Art Department aims to cater for children of all abilities and seeks to develop creativity and individual thought as well as teaching skills and techniques.

The Department provides a secure and relaxed atmosphere so children feel confident enough to try out new ideas. They are encouraged to express ideas, thoughts and feelings and record observations in a creative and aesthetic manner.

Pupils are helped in the development of skills and knowledge of the subject so that they all meet their artistic potential.

The curriculum ensures drawing, painting and modelling skills are taught to each year group each academic year.

Within the art themes there is provision for all the visual elements to be covered. Some of these art themes also allow for cross curricular links to take place. 

All children are taught to work through the creative process and to this end are supplied with sketchbooks. These also allow them to explore ideas, techniques, hone skills and develop ways of presenting work aesthetically.

Arts week, visiting artists and trips to galleries, museums and exhibitions help to enhance the art curriculum and inspire children to explore, experiment and create outside the art room. The annual Barfield Art Show is a celebration of the students’ artistic endeavours and all children from the Nursery through to Year 6 have at least one piece exhibited at this colourful event. 

In the Design Technology Department we aim to introduce our students to the many different concepts associated with D.T., through the design phase, into construction and ending with evaluation of our work.  

We pay attention to our weaknesses as well as our strengths to discover how to improve on our initial plans.

The children are encouraged to work independently using a variety of tools and equipment, from drawing boards to Computer Aided Design using 3D printers.

They are introduced to many techniques which they will be able to use as they move on to their senior schools.  They also appreciate the input of their classmates when evaluating their projects.

In Year 3 the children learn about two dimensional nets, accurate measuring of materials and joining methods.  They are also taught to use tools safely and correctly.  They learn about simple linkages and levers and how they can be used to control movement, as well as many other small projects.

As the children progress up the school, they are made more aware of the importance of the design process.  They learn graphical techniques such as isometric projection and orthographic drawing to assist with this. They are taught more advanced systems as they move through the School, as well as taking a look at recycling and sustainability.

The projects detailed above are all taught with the children’s safety in mind and, as such, before any work with tools is undertaken, a full briefing and demonstration is carried out.

Wide range of Projects:

• Resistant Materials

• Graphics

• Textiles

• Computer Aided Design

• Systems & Control

• Food

To help enhance our English we embrace Drama at Barfield. We have weekly Junior and Senior Drama Clubs. The Juniors celebrate Poetry in a 'Rhythm and Rhyme' show and our Senior children perform in the Summer Production. The children can experience LAMDA  Speech and Drama and Musical Theatre and the children have an opportunity to do an English Speaking Board Examination. 

We have regular visits to different theatres ranging from the local Malting https://farnhammaltings.com to the fantastic Globe Theatre www.shakespearesglobe.com

Barfield School is well-known for excellence in music. We have choirs - Pre Prep, Training and Senior.  When appropriate a Chamber Choir is formed for certain events.  All perform regularly at school events such as concerts, Harvest Festival, Speech Day and the Carol Service. We also take the choirs to perform at the Farnham Lights switch on and local residential care homes. The Orchestra, comprised of children receiving instrumental tuition, perform a selection of pieces each year. We sometimes have ukulele groups. 

Tuition is currently available on orchestral instruments plus pianoforte, drum kit, bass, electric and acoustic guitar (both classical and rock). Pupils are entered for Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, Trinity/Guildhall and Rock School examinations. There are plenty of opportunities for performance in concerts, assemblies and other special occasions.

All the children from the youngest Owlets (2-3 year-olds) to those in Year 6 are given high-quality specialist class music tuition. A whole-school music policy ensures continuity of learning from Foundation stage through to Key Stage 3. The pupils are taught broadly according to Kodaly and Dalcroze principles.