Art
Head of Department: Mr J.D.Oddie
The Art Department, which has been enlarged and improved over a number of years, is located in the Cloisters. Facilities include four large, light and well-equipped studios, a new and exciting glazed display corridor and the spectacular Yarrow Gallery, set in the Chapel gardens, which, in addition to exhibiting the works of professional artists throughout the year, is used to display A Level pupils' work at the end of the Trinity Quarter. Annual visits to European cultural centres are popular, as are trips to London galleries. There is excellent ICT provision within the Department.
The emphasis of the teaching is on Fine Art: the disciplines covered are drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, fabric painting, batik and photography. Some Art History/Appreciation is taught at all levels but, more particularly, in the Sixth Form. Approximately 70 pupils opt for GCSE Art each year and the numbers at AS and A level are encouraging. Respectable numbers of Oundelians who choose to follow a career in this area are successful in gaining places at the country's leading Art Colleges.
The Department is staffed by:
Mr M A Case BA
Mrs S.J. Hipple BA, BEd
Mr J.D.Oddie BA
Mr R.J. Page BEd
Miss G C Pontifex MA
Course content
GCSE
We currently follow the OCR specification. Initially pupils follow a teacher-structured programme but by the end of the Easter Quarter in the First Year of the course most are pursuing personal paths. Central to the philosophy of the Department is the desire to teach pupils as individuals and the development of varied and personal pieces of artwork. Diversity in approach is encouraged although pupils may specialise and most choose to concentrate on an area of particular interest towards the end of the course. Three pieces of completed coursework together with supporting studies and a 10-hour terminal examination are required for assessment.
AS
We currently follow the OCR specification. Further details of the course structure and pattern of assessment can be found here. AS comprises three components: Research Projects (Coursework), Personal Investigation (Art Historical Project) and Controlled Assignment (Examination). Two completed Research Projects are required with all the supporting studies and explicit Art Historical references and connections. The Personal Investigation involves the study of the work of a painter, printmaker or sculptor which is presented as an illustrated project in the form of a book, film or series of annotated studies. The Controlled Assignment requires candidates to produce a ‘focused piece of work’ under test conditions.
A2
The requirements for A2 are very similar to those at AS level but, obviously, at considerably higher levels of attainment. There is a greater emphasis on the finished product as opposed to process. The three elements are: Specialist Project (Coursework), Personal Study (Art Historical Project) and Controlled Test (Examination). It is perceived that the Specialist Project will involve at least two pieces of completed work linked by a common theme. These works may be produced in a single medium or, indeed, very different media. The Personal Study is very similar to the dissertation completed at AS level but involves a much closer analysis of a chosen topic a greater emphasis is placed on the illustrations and design of the final presentation. The Controlled Test involves working under timed conditions and independently. It provides an excellent opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their ability to prepare, plan, relate and resolve their response to a set stimulus.