Art

Art is taught to all boys in their first year. They are introduced to all the facilities in the department as a basic foundation course including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography and ceramics. Thereafter Art becomes an optional subject for study at GCSE. All other boys have the Art School facilities to use as a hobby and many do take advantage of the opportunity, particularly in weekly Activity slots. The Art school is open every day of the week, including Sundays, for all boys who wish to use its facilities, either for the continuation of curricular work, or for the development of projects or personal work of their own.

At GCSE we follow the AQA Art and Design (Unendorsed) course. Over two years the students produce 3 units of coursework, followed by an exam unit in the Lent term of their third year. There is no formal written component of the course, although studying the work of other artists is integrated into all practical work. Ideas and processes are developed through the use of sketchbooks and work journals.

In the Sixth Form students opting for AS and A Level undertake the Edexcel Art and Design course. Both levels involve a Coursework Unit and an Exam Unit.

At AS Level the emphasis is on developing visual language skills (observational drawing, exploring techniques and processes) although the study of Art history is integral, and the boys are expected to complete a number of short written pieces throughout the year.

At A Level there is an emphasis on connecting contextual studies with their practical work, and all students are required to produce an essay of up to 3000 words on a subject of their choice, in addition to a practical piece.

Within the department there is a strong belief that observational drawing is the basis for excellence in Art. To this end there is a Life Drawing Class on Wednesday afternoons for sixth formers, and an extra one on Monday evenings for anyone interested.

Boys are encouraged to go to Art galleries and museums in London and elsewhere. There are regular trips to London Art galleries, and holiday trips to other cultural centres around the world.

The Turner Art Society is open to boys from all years. The society promotes Art within the school, putting on between 12 and 15 exhibitions a year in the Tunnel Gallery.

The Art Department values working with members of the other 'creative' departments (Drama, Music and Design Technology, English) on collaborative projects, and have even been known to collaborate with non-creative departments like Maths.