Staff
Mr T A Burns BA (Head of Department)
Miss K Gore BA
Mr T Parker
Aims
The general aims of the department are to encourage the development of the boys’ imagination, skills, knowledge and understanding of Art in its broadest sense.
Outline of work
Boys in the First and Second Forms have a double period of Art each week throughout the year. They spend half the year studying two dimensional work and the other half studying three dimensional work.
The First Formers investigate basic graphic design, looking at letterforms and simple design during the two dimensional part of the course, and in the three dimensional aspect they create felt landscapes and paper mache birds or fish. In the Second Form the starting point for all work is observational drawing, investigating line, tone, colour and structure. In the two dimensional course a series of drawings are made in line and tone which leads to the production of a large, realistic painting. During the three dimensional course the boys study shells, from which they create a glazed coil pot investigating sculptural elements such as volume, weight and balance. Following from shells students develop the art of felt making, creating felt shoes.
In the Third Form all boys have a double period of Art each week for half the year. They build on their skills acquired in the First and Second Forms, making observed drawings and in the two dimensional course developing an abstract interpretation. In the three dimensional course the focus is on the theme 'Everyday Objects' where students create large ceramic sculptures.
In the Fourth and Fifth Forms boys follow AQA GCSE Art and Design Syllabus A. The work is based on a series of set themes developed in both two and three dimensions. The Upper VI and Lower VI are studying the AQA AS and A Level Modular Course. In the first part of the new AS course, students will develop their work and skills through a series of short courses, consisting of three, four-week projects - Graphics, Fine Art and Three-Dimensional Studies. The students can then choose one of the short courses and develop an 'Extended Project'. Students studying all examination subjects are encouraged to develop their skills and personal responses to the themes that are set.
Resources
Our new facility consists of, on the first floor, two main Art Studios, a Sixth Form Studio (housing five “i Mac” computers with a scanner and printers), an office and a stock room. On the ground floor there is a designated Sculpture and Pottery Studio with a kiln room and a storage area.
The department houses a library of books relevant to the subject and subscriptions are made to various magazines for Art, Design, Pottery and Sculpture.
Extra-curricular activities
The boys have access to the department before school as well as to formal Art and Pottery clubs during lunch times and after school.
The department also runs an annual painting and drawing trip to Andalucia in Spain for the Sixth Form artists.