Art
The Art department is housed in the Rugg Centre. The department is based around a large, purpose built, light filled studio on the top floor. Pupils have access to a ceramics room, printmaking studio, specialist library and the Upper Sixth enjoy their own studio spaces on the mezzanine level.
Art and Design is integral to a young person’s development. We place emphasis on the acquisition of technical skill, sustained research and personal expression. Pupils are encouraged to analyse, solve and evaluate visual and intellectual problems. We aim to help pupils be self motivated, gain confidence and develop initiative through working in a stimulating and fast paced studio environment.
Pupils work in both 2D and 3D, including painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, textiles, pottery, ceramics and sculpture. GCSE students follow the OCR syllabus which aims to stimulate imagination, sensitivity, conceptual thinking and powers of observation. In the Sixth Form, pupils are given increasing freedom to make choices and to take responsibility for the direction of their learning.
The outstanding achievements of our examination groups are celebrated in June at our annual GCSE and A Level exhibitions. We also have established a successful programme of exhibitions held annually in central Cambridge and London for our Sixth Form artists to celebrate their work in public. Many of our Upper Sixth artists choose to continue their studies in Art and Design, Art History or Architecture at University.
GCSE (OCR)
Over the two years, pupils will cover two units of coursework (60% of marks). The final examination is an early release paper allowing the pupils to have plenty of time to develop extensive preparatory work before the timed examination session of ten hours (40% of marks).
Each unit consists of, and is assessed within, the following areas:
- Develop – Investigation, research, development of ideas and analysis of contextual sources.
- Explore – Experimentation and use of a wide range of media and techniques.
- Record – Observational drawing and recording.
- Present – To bring together 1, 2 and 3 into a finished piece.
Working from a single starting point, pupils develop their own direction of study with increasing freedom and variety, resulting in an impressive body of work displayed in an exhibition at the end of the course. Drawing, painting and printmaking form the backbone of the course. Within this, pupils are introduced to a wide variety of techniques including drypoint etching, collagraph, relief printing, transfer printing, screen printing, textile printing, ceramics, sculpture and mixed media.
A Level (OCR)
A Level Art prepares pupils who wish to go on to Higher Education to study the Fine Arts, Fashion, Architecture Art History, Animation or any number of creative fields. It also prepares pupils to access an Art Foundation course or to work in the wider field of Art and related Art and Design practice. The course builds on, but is not dependent upon, the knowledge, understanding and skills acquired at GCSE Art and Design. However the most important requirement is a high level of self-motivation and enjoyment of the subject.
Course Structure
The OCR Art A Level has two components of work spread over two years which comprise the full course. The first is a personal investigation (60% of marks) consisting of one major project and a related personal study (1000-2500 words). The second is an externally set task (40% of marks) which follows a period of about six weeks of preparation and is 15 hours in length.
There is scope for a high degree of personal experimentation with an emphasis on exploration of technique and materials leading to the final examination. The pupils will work from given starting points but they will be the independent driving force in their projects.
The A level specialism is Fine Art.
