The centre of the Department’s teaching is that all young people can and should be visually ‘literate’.
An understanding and appreciation of art is essential to the natural development of the sensitive, imaginative and aware human being, and giving visual form to inner feelings and external appearances helps pupils to an understanding of themselves and the world in which they live.
Programmes of Study Enrichment
Teaching Staff
Mr V Stokes (Head of Department)Mr D AllenMrs R L T BruceDr N G HamiltonMr J H ParnhamMiss L PedlarMiss P A Thorpe
Year 9: Shell: The curriculum is rooted in the study of the work of a range of artists from all eras and nations. Pupils learn to understand the language of art through practical studio work and written responses. Media areas covered are paint, printmaking and three-dimensional pieces (including ceramics).
GCSE: Pupils follow the AQA Unendorsed GCSE course. Coursework (60% of the final mark) consists of 2, 3 or 4 units exploring a range of ideas, media and the work of relevant artists. These units must encompass at least two discrete disciplines. The Controlled Test (40% of the final mark) comprises a short project culminating in a ten hour final resolution.
AS / A2: Students follow OCR courses. Students are required to work from direct observation of primary sources, to document from secondary sources and to explore the work of relevant artists. Employing a wide range of media, processes and techniques, they must develop preparatory work into finished pieces. At AS, students are required to produce a Personal Investigation of a range of artists’ work and two Research Projects. The Controlled Assignment is a short project with a 5-hour examination. At A2, pupils must complete a Personal Study and a Specialist Project. The Controlled Test is a project with a 15 hour final piece.
The Art School facilities are available for any pupil to use, seven days per week. Ceramic classes for Shell pupils are run on Thursday afternoons. Life drawing classes for upper school pupils are run on Tuesday evenings. Photography, film and animation courses are run on Thursday afternoons.
The artist-in-residence (an annual appointment) has a studio space in the Art School which pupils are encouraged to visit. The Mount House Gallery hosts a range of exhibitions each year.