Philosophy, Aims and Practice

Art is not concerned with merely great artists, with genius or with prodigious skills. It is fundamentally the outward form of an inward search. Anyone can join in. To participate in this search on whatever level and with whatever ability is to be an artist. The most valuable aspect of Art is not always the final product but the search itself. Art has a vital role to play in developing creativity, sensibility and sensory motor co-ordination in everyone.

Our philosophy is a fluid and changing thing that is influenced by exam boards, a changing staff and pupil body and a shifting cultural climate. Evolution is integral to a healthy, dynamic and thriving art school. The department's philosophy, aims and exam requirements provide a structure both intellectual and practical. Learning takes place in a multiplicity of ways and situations and our wish is to work pupils across as many disparate situations and working practices as possible. Fostering artistic and experimental growth, we present pupils with problem-solving situations that challenge their perceptions; we give them opportunities to create and discover how to make sense of a small, but important, part of their lives. The pupils are actively encouraged to take ownership of their work and projects are devised to allow individuality to flourish. In taking control of the generation of ideas, decisions and results, pupils develop a growing responsibility for their creative growth. Staff try to work with the ideas of boys wherever possible so that the work created is genuinely personal to each pupil.

With a huge number of techniques and materials available to the students the ultimate aim is to develop an individual pupil language rather than a house style. Experimentation is the main key to any individual success and after an initial introduction pupils can develop personal styles of representation. It is hoped that both figurative art and abstraction can coexist depending on the aims of the individual. If a pupil has several technical options it is possible to experiment and move between styles depending on the aims and objectives of the brief.

Curriculum by year-group

The Shell (Year 9): Pupils in the Shell receive basic instruction in a weekly session of 40 minutes. The lessons over the one-year period cover essential Art & Design working methods. Projects are designed to enthuse and deliver the crucial foundation skills such as drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics and sculpture. Teachers are encouraged to make the lessons as diverse and adventurous as possible and at this early stage we link all practical work methods with some contextual Art History. Pupils are able to opt for their GCSE subjects to begin in Year 10, the Remove, which gives them a two-year period in which to answer the syllabus requirements.

The Remove and Fifth Form (Years 10 & 11): The examination board for GCSE is AQA. The Remove follows the new Art and Design (Full Course) 4201 specification. The Fifth Form follows the old Art and Design (Full Course) 3201 specificationThe first year of the course is an important time to establish the core skills over lessons lasting 2 hours 40 minutes in total per week:

• The formal qualities of art - colour, line, tone, shape, form, texture
• Primary sources - what they are and how to record them
• Drawing - skills and techniques
• Digital photography
• How to contextualize relevant artists

Currently, the board requires two coursework components and a ten-hour terminal test examination which has a 4-week preparatory period. This is due to change from September 2010 when there will be one component of coursework followed by a ten-hour timed test which can be prepared over any amount of time.

There are four compulsory Assessment Objectives which are:

1. Develop ideas
2. Experiment with Media
3. Record
4. Realising a Personal Response

Pupils are given a starting point from which they develop individual paths of discovery. In both the coursework and exam units pupils move between technical disciplines such as painting and drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, computer generated imagery and photography. Drawing forms a foundation skill that is used to gather information as well as idea development. Computers and digital cameras are often used to record information and develop visual ideas quickly. Outcomes are always varied and often involve a variety of mediums. Annotation of their work as well as placing their work in the context of Art history is required and is ever present in their sketchbooks and although this is often articulated in text the pupils are encouraged to use visuals to say what they mean. The Remove and Fifth Form are expected to complete a 75-minute prep session in the Art department each week.

AS (Year 12): The examination board for AS and A2 is Edexcel and we follow the Fine Art Endorsement 8FA01 Course. Lesson time totals 6 hours 20 minutes per week. This course enables the pupils to work across a wide range of disciplines on offer in the Art department and they are actively encouraged to vary the media and scale they use throughout their projects. To specialise in any one area is not actively promoted as it is felt that, at this stage, boys should still be exposed to new methods or ways of learning. This is hopefully reflected in the maturity and eclectic nature of the pupils work.

At AS there are 2 units: Unit 1, Coursework Unit 2. Externally set assignment.

 There are 4 Assessment Objectives:

1. Develop, Sustain, Focus, Understand
2. Experiment, Select, Review, Refine
3. Record, Observe, Reflect
4. Present, Respond, Realise, Connect

This course strives to develop further the individual interest and technical strengths of the pupils involved. The year is structured to closely follow the examination board's criteria and each pupil is set a conceptual starting point. We strive to build technical confidence through sustained drawing often from the figure. Ideas are developed via sketchbooks, incorporating a variety of disciplines in the development of their projects. The exam unit requires that the pupils research and develop a journal of work all with the same starting point which is set by the exam board. There is no longer a time limit on the amount of time set for the preparatory work and within this unit they must meet all the Assessment Objectives (listed above). There is an eight-hour timed test at the culmination of the preparatory period.The pupils are expected to complete three hours of prep each week which should be done in their teaching studio.

A2 (Year 13): Pupils follow the Edexcel Fine Art Endorsement 9FA01 Course. Lesson time totals 6 hours 20 minutes per week. At A2 there are 2 units: Unit 3. Coursework Unit 4: Externally Set Assignment. The A2 course has the same Assessment Objectives as the AS-level, which are marked to a higher level.

The course starts with Unit 3. The pupil selects a topic of study and it is expected that aspects of their experiences on the AS course to date influence their choice. As well as being a practical unit, a written text of 1000-3000 words is required with accompanying research. The emphasis will be placed upon it being a practical, making experience but they must have adequate analytical research with which to realise a fluently articulated and considered argument. The essay's theme has to reflect their practical work in some way and is decided upon by the pupil in discussion with their teacher.

During the course of this year it is hoped that the pupils will be prepared to experiment with their learning even further but may have found an area, process or subject that they have found particularly captivating. It is expected that their skills will continue to improve making a marked step up from AS standard. The exam unit - based upon an externally set theme - takes the same format as the AS, whereby the pupils have unlimited time to prepare for the twelve-hour timed test.

The pupils are expected to complete six hours of prep each week which should be done in their teaching studio.

Further Education

Each year a number of pupils are supported with their Art College Foundation Course applications, building a portfolio of work and improving interview technique. They apply to a range of the most renowned colleges in the country and all have been successful in being awarded places at their first-choice colleges which included Central St. Martin's, Chelsea, Camberwell, Wimbledon, Byam Shaw and Brighton. Whilst it is preferable that pupils study Art at A-level the requirement for Foundation Art Colleges is five GCSEs including English and Maths as well as a portfolio of work. In exceptional cases pupils have been successful in applying directly to a degree course at The Ruskin School, Edinburgh or The Slade.

Architecture has become a very popular career choice over recent years and most courses require pupils to study Art and Maths or Physics at A-level. Most courses require some form of artwork to be presented at interview so we strongly advise pupils to opt for Art in the Sixth Form if they wish to apply.

Outside the classroom

The Art Schools are open in the early evening and at weekends for pupils who wish to explore their interest. There are formal exhibitions of pupils' work several times each year. Art Scholars have their own exhibitions of work and the annual House Art Competition is hotly contested. Visits to galleries and exhibitions in London take place regularly and there is an annual trip to Florence for artists and art historians. The Pasmore Art Society and Summerson Art History Society invite visiting speakers to the School.

Art Scholarships

Every year we award two scholarships to new pupils who show great potential in Art. Click here for details.