Art

The ethos of releasing and realising creative ideas and potential is further developed within the framework of the assessment objectives of the GCSE examinations. Pupils will continue to explore a wide range of media, responding to a number of freely interpreted themes. Recent themes have been Texture, Light and Shade, Music, The Seaside.

The pupils are encouraged to think and work independently within each theme, and they are taught relevant art history, and how to analyse it and make use of it to inform their own practice. Workbooks play a major part of this process and are vital tools to help pupils to document their thoughts, ideas and conclusions.

Pupils are encouraged to spend extra time on their coursework projects, and to this end two activity slots per week per year group are allocated to them, though they may use the studios whenever they wish.

The GCSE is a fun, informative, highly creative, personal course where pupils achieve high standards and, most importantly, feel proud of their achievements. They will make a number of visits to sites or galleries during the course to further broaden their experiences. There is a themed, timed, taught examination set by the board. A selection of the best GCSE work is exhibited on Speech Day.

The Pre-U Art and Design examination is a two-year linear course broken down into three components:

Portfolio: work undertaken in the first (Lower VI) year which can be added to at any stage during the second (Upper VI) year.

Project: work undertaken in the second year inspired by one of 24 themes set by the examination board.

Evaluation Study: a 3,000 to 3,500 word essay on a topic relating to art and design and usually relevant to the candidate’s project or future career plans (eg Architecture).

The aim of the course is to encourage pupils to experiment in year one and then develop and refine their practice in year two.

Life drawing runs concurrently with the course.  In their first year candidates are encouraged to continue to explore a range of media and ideas whilst always underpinning their work with sound art historical research and linking, and some traditional drawing skills.
In the second year the emphasis is less on experimentation and more on an individual path of creative enquiry.  At this stage many candidates specialise in one medium exploring their ideas in a more in-depth way, the evaluation study often feeding their development.

At the end of the two-year course each candidate puts on an exhibition selected from his or her two years’ work.

The Department offers specific studios for each discipline in our new faculty buildings.  The Design School workshops are available to the Art Department by arrangement.  Sculptural installations are becoming increasingly popular, with large numbers of pupils being involved in site-specific works.

The curriculum is revised regularly; changes are therefore likely from time to time. 

Please click below to access recent examination results.

(Link to Exam Results Tables)