Art and Design
We aspire to offer a first rate exciting and aspirational Art and Design education. We aspire to build strong foundations of Art skills and knowledge which can then be formulated into exciting experiments and investigations into Art, Design and Craft. We hope to facilitate all creative learners, broaden imaginations and inspire self expression through our culturally diverse, practical focused and knowledge rich Art curriculum.
Pupils are taught essential skills and basic theory in the context of contemporary and past Art practice. We devise detailed work schemes in response to a core departmental curriculum. From Year 7 we begin to explore the formal elements of Art such as Line, Value, Texture, Form, Colour and Pattern. These Schemes of Work focus predominantly on the key skills and knowledge needed to access higher Art and Design study. As pupils progress, more scope is given for divergence and interpretation. They are shown how to manipulate and structure the elements of form to create coherent compositions. We introduce them to the technical processes of painting, print-making and ceramics – among other media - and encourage them to use sketchbooks as a tool for gathering information, experimenting and recording.
Selected techniques are investigated alongside key selected Artists from the historic and contemporaries. Our Art History experience is embedded in students lessons from a young age as we understand that historical context is the skeleton on which to build upon whilst current Artists practicing Art today can inspire young creatives to explore in new and exciting ways.
As their experience grows and students move into GCSE, they may choose which aspects of other artists’ work to assimilate through their own series of research and investigation into Artists of personal interest. Students can decide how to apply techniques, concepts and process analysed from these Artists to their own creative ends. At A-level, our students are encouraged to site their practices in relation to themes or contexts they identify in the contemporary artworld or in the art of the past.
Art and Design is accommodated in a suite of studios off the A Wing which comprises the school’s gallery. In addition to a general purpose art room, there is a ceramics room, a print-making room and a designated Sixth Form studio. The departmental library and audio-visual resource are displayed throughout these classrooms and available at all times for students to use as a resource for inspiration and research. There are facilities for three-dimensional work, screen-, relief-, and intaglio printing and high specification computers with software for digital stills and video. We encourage students to work with Photography, Sculpture and Installations alongside their Two-Dimensional Art practice to introduce students into different, tactile ways of creating and recording.
| Head of Department | Members of Staff |
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Miss Katie-May Driver, B.A. (University of the Arts) |
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Year 6
The broad aim is to capitalise upon the enthusiasm, curiosity and spontaneity of this age group while introducing the idea of Art as a language through which we communicate, record, analyse, explore and express ideas and things we see, remember and imagine. Art Historical and contextual study is used to explore modes of visual expression and communication in support of the idea of Art as a language. ICT is used to experiment with Art forms and the internet is used for research and exploration of Artists, techniques and Historic Art movements. Pupils are encouraged to be self-critical but also to see the value of their achievements. Confidence and an awareness of the standards expected are encouraged too.
Year 7
Projects are reasonably brief, engaging with a few clearly defined ideas. The approach is to develop the pupils’ understanding of formal elements and processes, first concentrating upon fluency, control and manipulation in their insect observational drawings, then moving towards more complex projects as their confidence and understanding grows. During this year, pupils learn specifically about the use of the formal elements of art and pre-selected colour ranges or methods of using colour from their investigation of the colour wheel. They produce two and three-dimensional resources to aid their painting study depicting pure colours, tints, shades and tones. Pupils are then introduced to still life observations and composition, further extending their understanding of the idea of depth and space. Reference to the work of past or contemporary artists/designers/craftspeople is frequently made in support of ordinary artwork. Photography is encouraged to provide students with primary sources to create from and ICT is used to research, experiment and digitally manipulate studies.
Year 8
Pupils spend half of the year doing two-dimensional Art and Design and the other half exploring Ceramics and three-dimensional design. For the former, they investigate perspective beginning with learning the technical drawing skills needed to capture one, two and three-point perspective. A contextual study is made in support of the practical artwork. The students move into wet mediums before the end of the Advent term with more focus on Aerial Perspective, where they are introduced to painting methods to depict space and depth within a landscape. The use of contextual Artist references are used throughout to support students understanding of the application of colour and expression. The emphasis upon formal elements remains as does the continuing push for greater sensitivity, control and manipulative skill.
In Ceramics, they are introduced to clay modelling and construction techniques such as coiling, slab building and pinch pot structures. They also learn decorative techniques with fired and unfired clay. As part of the creative process of making 3-D structures, they find out about the hardening and drying properties of clay and transformations that firing and glazing bring about. Alongside their clay exploration, students also sculpt three-dimensional forms from a variety of materials such as card, wire, paper and acetate to further consider shape, structure and form.
Year 9
In Year 9, the subject is optional, albeit a popular one. Pupils may choose to pursue either two-dimensional Art and Design or Ceramics. The emphasis upon drawing skills continues in both disciplines so that, whichever they choose, they receive a firm grounding should they continue to GCSE Art and Design the following year.
In the two-dimensional course, assignments offer greater scope for interpretation, expression and choice of media, enabling the pupils to take the initiative and think for themselves. The self-critical ethos nevertheless continues as does the emphasis upon the importance of the formal elements such as line, tone, colour and composition etc. An understanding of the processes entailed in developing visual ideas is especially important for this year group. These include:
- developing an idea or response through simple preparatory work towards an outcome;
- organising, structuring, evaluating & modifying a drawing, painting, print or design;
- and the technical processes related to various media including print-making media and ICT.
Art historical study addresses the imagery of selected modernist movements as pupils are familiarized with the concepts and technical language associated with Art criticism and practice. The idea is that they should be become increasingly adept at articulating judgments and criticism and justifying aesthetic decisions.
In Ceramics we build on the foundations laid in Year 8. Whilst continuing to explore possibilities for sculpture in paper, card, wire and acetate etc. our pupils also develop their skills using the three basic hand-building techniques: pinch pots and slab and coil construction. They explore the possibilities offered by the hardening, drying and firing processes as well as the use of oxides and glazes. The relationship between structural form and surface is explored - that is, how to use colour, pattern, texture or tone in relation to the underlying form. Part of the appeal of ceramics (and one of its occasional frustrations) is its unpredictable nature; when the kiln door opens, the results can delight and occasionally disappoint.
The skill of drawing will underpin much of what we do in Ceramics. The group takes the same drawing tests as other Art and Design students. Visual ideas are developed in sketchbooks where source material too will be compiled. ICT is used both for internet research and for image manipulation and editing. Pupils are to be shown how to document their investigations and they should explain creative decisions using the proper terminology. Over the year, pupils are made more aware of the communicative, analytical and expressive aspects of the subject and the way they relate to Art & Design practice in the world of work.
GCSE
A significant proportion of each Year 10 and 11 cohort opts for either GCSE Art and Design or Ceramics. The Art and Design students are taught in groups of about 14 – 18 and follow a common work scheme while the Ceramicists are taught in groups of up to 12 and follow their own work scheme. The approach in both disciplines is similar however. The focus is on the development of creative ideas rather than the acquisition of skills, the assumption being that students learn the skills they need as they proceed. Scope is thus given for personal interpretation and choice of media. While technical proficiency and the acquisition of skills remain important, they serve as a means to expressive and creative ends rather than as ends in themselves. To begin with, our GCSE students follow a channelled route which helps them to learn the processes of working independently. As the course progresses though, they are encouraged to find a personal direction, albeit subject to sound technique and the informing principles of Art Historical and / or contextual study. They may opt for a range of activities which in Art includes drawing and painting, print-making, photography and film as well as some three-dimensional exploration including sculpture and instillations. In Ceramics students explore modelling, hand-building, mould-making and slip-casting, raku, and various forms of glazing and surface decoration. Both Art and Ceramics students in Year 11 have the opportunity of taking part in the after-school life-drawing class.
At present, we follow the Edexcel syllabus. Like other Art syllabuses it allocates 60% of the mark to coursework (Personal Portfolio) and the remaining 40% to the examination (Externally Set Assignment). Coursework takes the form of a body of artwork comprising experimental studies and finished pieces while the examination entails a 10 hour finished piece based on studies made beforehand. Further details may be found in the Edexcel syllabus - click here to view the syllabus. ( please link to https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/home.html)
A Level
Students may work predominantly in Art or Ceramics although, in either case, the A-level qualification received at the end of the course will be certificated as 'Fine Art'. A-level work follows on naturally from GCSE. We build upon the foundations laid at GCSE while emphasising the particular processes entailed in various kinds of artwork - e.g. expressive, analytical, illustrative, etc. Understanding gained during the GCSE course is deepened through an exploration of media and the possibilities it offers in terms of the substantive properties of the painting/print/drawing surface and the significance of formal elements. At times, for example, the distinctions between painting, drawing, printmaking, collage etc. can become quite blurred as the student explores their characteristics and limitations. All A-level artists are expected to attend the life-drawing class. A weekly Contextual Studies lecture in the Lower Sixth introduces them to some of the more prominent modern art moments and the work of inspiring contemporary artists enabling them to acquire a grasp of contemporary art and its debates and practices.
At the end of the Lower Sixth year, our students, in dialogue with their teachers, devise the programmes of study and related topics for the researched Personal Study required for A-level. During the Upper Sixth Year, they produce a body of preparatory and exploratory studies leading to 2, 3, or 4 items of finished artwork together with a written Personal Study. The idea is that the practical artwork is informed by research for the Personal Study. The latter is supervised at regular intervals by the teacher to whom they have been allocated. The A-level course concludes with a 15 hour examination based on a body of preparatory work produced beforehand.
We currently follow the Edexcel syllabus. It allocates 60% of the overall mark to coursework (Personal Investigation) - 12% of which is allotted to the Personal Study - and the remaining 40% to the examination (Externally Set Assignment). Further details may be found in the syllabus - click here to view the syllabus.( please link to https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/home.html)
Co-Curricular
The school’s cultural life is enhanced by a programme of exhibitions of work by prominent artists, staff and former students. They include the following highlights:
- Advent Term ‘10 Exhibition of the portrait and preliminary studies of Martin Johnson by Bryan Organ
- Advent Term ‘14 Exhibition of recent sculpture by Dave Morris and recent paintings by Lorraine Marsden
- Lent Term ‘15 Exhibition of recent paintings by Greg Harris
- Trinity Term ‘15 ‘Elemental Connection’, a performance piece by Annie Wright, Oxford Brookes University
- Advent Term ‘15 Recent paintings by Paul Wright, Kevin Fazackerly, and Mark Shattock
- Lent Term ‘16 Exhibition of works on paper, textiles, ceramics and glassware by Gillian McFarland, Ruth Singer, Michaela Hawes, and Graeme Hawes
- Advent Term '16 New Beginnings and exhibition of work by alumni of this school who had just graduated
- Lent Term '17 Touring exhibition of Chinese Calligraphic and Brush drawings
- Advent Term '17 Exhibition of outdoor sculptures by Peter Leadbeater.
- Lent Term '18 Trees of Byzantium, an exhibition of paintings and works on paper by the late Dave Pearson.
In addition to exhibitions, we usually host one or two visiting speakers each year – sometimes former students talking about their experiences in Higher Education, other times lecturers enlarging upon the cultural significance of the cities we make residential visits to, and occasionally practicing artists or designers speaking about their work.
There are usually a couple of workshops each year. The most prominent of these is the long-established Life Drawing workshop for our Lower Sixth students each Lent Term. Weekend workshops have included ceramics, print-making and life drawing. In addition to these, there are occasional Studio Days for our A-level and GCSE students which are arranged on an ad hoc basis.
The Art Rooms are a hive of activity most lunch times and during many evenings after school when our students continue their work or drop in for extra help or guidance. Furthermore, there are various lunch-time clubs and activities including a junior Art Club.
Trips
There is an annual tradition of tours to foreign cities of cultural interest which is open to GCSE and A-level Art students. Over the years there have been many memorable visits to Copenhagen, Paris, New York, Amsterdam and Barcelona.
Study trips to London are regularly arranged for GCSE and A-level students. There is also an annual trip to the Royal Academy Summer Show and London Art School degree shows for students in Years 9 – Sixth Form each June, and occasional visits are made to the Loughborough University School of Art and Design degree shows.
Other
The focal point of our year is the Art, Design and Technology Show which is held on the last evening before the summer half-term holiday. This is the occasion when A-level and GCSE Art is show-cased. The Department is proud of its record of success in public examinations and of its record of students who progress on to top Art and Design courses.
Art Scholarships are offered on a competitive basis on entry to the school at Year 7, 8 and 9 and on entry to the Sixth Form. They are open to internal candidates on entry to the Sixth Form and Year 10. Applications should be received during the Advent term and the Scholarship assessment will then take place around the same time as the entrance examinations at the start of the Lent term.