Art

Art in the Lower School is vibrant, expressive, analytical and fun. Practical exercises in drawing, painting, collage and photography engender confidence, valuable experience and a wealth of skills. To add to their growing confidence, artwork created by pupils of this age are displayed on walls around the College.

Lower Third (Year 7)

During the Lower Third practical skills are taught to develop concepts and time is spent looking at varied examples of art from the past and from other cultures. This enables pupils to understand, appreciate and develop positive skills as artists. The topics which are studied are:

• Drawing and painting skills
• Collage experimentation
• On-going sketchbook
• Art historical enquiry
• Exploring Art from different cultures
• Graphics foundation
• These skills will be of benefit to them at GCSE and A-Level.

All these skills are tools to be developed in Years 8 and 9 and for those who opt for Art to GCSE.

Upper Third (Year 8)

In the Upper Third pupils complete the Key Stage 3 syllabus but the department also extends learning well beyond the restrictions of the specification, at times touching on GCSE themes and approaches. This allows artists to develop and grow with a passion for the subject, without fear of new exciting but complex ideas. The main topics studied at this level are:

• Looking at contemporary Art
• Developing painting skills
• Observational drawing
• On-going thematic project in workbook.

The focus of lessons remains heavily practical, but is also based around developing inquisitive artists.

Trips and Extra-curricular

The Art Department is open during activity time, after lunch and school, five days a week, for pupils to attend and create!

All Lower School pupils are given a full activity day in the studio to complete an ambitious painting that will be formed from an accumulation of skills acquired over the course. This work will be displayed around the College.