St Bonaventure’s Art Department
Raising aspiration and achievement through creativity.
‘No society can afford to ignore the fact that capacity for behaving artistically is inherent in every human being and cannot be neglected without detriment to the individual and to society as a whole’
Rudolf Arnheim
The Art Department is committed to supporting all pupils to explore and express their ideas and feelings in a safe and caring environment.
What we do in Art
We Offer an exciting art curriculum here at St. Bonaventure’s.
KS3
At the onset of KS.3, Year 7 pupils learn about the Formal Elements in Art – they study how to handle a range of materials, often for the first time! They develop skills in drawing, painting, mixed media and 3 Dimensional studies. Our classes have opportunities to attend many extra curricular activities and clubs where they have access to Digital Imaging, Ceramics and Printmaking alongside many other exciting activities.
In Year 8, students work to the theme of ‘identity’, developing empathy and ‘emotional intelligence’. They gain skills in portraiture, studying a range of artists to convey character and emotion.
Throughout Year 9, our students explore the theme of ‘Myth and Imagination’. They explore Surrealism and consider more contextual approaches in their work. By the end of Year 9 our students will have refined their knowledge and skills, broadening their understanding and appreciation of other artists work. They will have compiled a ‘Portfolio’ of work exploring approaches and materials in line with the GCSE Assessment Specification. These ‘Portfolio’s’ are a great addition to any subsequent interview process – either within the Arts or as creative evidence to support any number of other applications.
KS4
Exam Board – Edexcel
GCSE Art students complete two extended Units of Coursework which constitutes 60% of their final grade. They explore a wide range of materials and approaches, develop skills and new techniques, visit Galleries and work with visiting professionals. Our students have the opportunity to work with collage, clay, plaster, wire, sculpture and Photoshop alongside the more formal aspects of painting, printmaking and drawing.
In year 11 they receive an externally set Examination Paper. After a number of weeks preparation, they sit a 10 hour Exam during which time they produce a personal response to the Exam theme. This is worth 40% of their final Grade.
The Art Department has excellent results at GCSE consistently achieving 100% A* to C Grades with nearly 50% of students achieving A*/A Grades.
The results in GCSE Art are consistently amongst the very best in the country
KS5
We currently offer two A Level courses: Fine Art and Graphic Communication.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Fine Art – Grade B in GCSE Art
Graphic Communication – Grade B in GCSE Art, Graphics or Product Design.
EXAM BOARD: AQA
FINE ART
Our Fine Art course is designed to enable students to explore traditional and/or digital media, techniques, materials and processes for the purpose of self-expression, free of external constraints.
Students will have the opportunity to explore a diverse range of Fine Art disciplines, such as Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Printmaking, Textiles and digital media. We are also happy and eager to accommodate the creative needs of each individual student, sourcing specialist materials and experimenting with new techniques to support all ambitious creative aspirations.
GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
Within our Graphic Designer Course, students will have the opportunity to explore two or more of the following disciplines: Advertising, Illustration, Branding and Information Design.
Students will explore areas such as Typography, Storyboarding, Character Design, Logo Design, Digital Editing and Marketing.
THE ART JOB FOR YOU
Choose a career in Art and Design and you could have a career in:
- FINE ART
- GRAPHIC DESIGN
- ANIMATION
- ARCHITECTURE
- FASHION DESIGN
- JEWELLERY DESIGN
- ILLUSTRATION
- CARTOONIST
- PRINTMAKER
- ART CONSERVATIONIST
- PROP DESIGN
- WEB DESIGN
- CONCEPT ARTIST
- DIGITAL 3D MODELLING
- GAME DESIGN
- CURATOR
- ART THERAPY
- INTERIOR DESIGN
- MEDIA
- FILM AND TV SPECIAL EFFECTS
- SET DESIGN
- ART HISTORIAN
- ART CRITIC
- TEXTILE ARTIST
- ART DIRECTOR
- PHOTOGRAPHER
STUDIO FACILITIES
We provide a purpose built, specialist Art Studio exclusively for students at KS.5. As a Department, we ensure that the Studio is staffed at all times to offer comprehensive support and advice. In addition to timetabled lessons, the Studio is available to students during Private Study throughout the week. This allows for personal working spaces and large-scale ambitious work.
PRINT ROOM & KILN ROOM
Students will also have access to an industry standard printing press and can explore collagraph’s and dry point etching. Additionally, the Art Department is equipped with a Kiln Room consisting of a large industrial Kiln and accesses to a wide variety of specialist glazes for ceramic work with the support of our Art Technician.
TRIPS AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Students work in a ‘Foundation’ environment – they have regular opportunities to work directly from professional life models, with visiting artists and practitioners and study off site at London galleries.
Additional Saturday and midterm classes are also held during the year, giving students free access to the Art Studio to spend more time developing their large scale work with the support and guidance of an Art Department member.
All students will have the opportunity to showcase their work during the end of year Summer Exhibition, which is open to friends and family. This show is professionally exhibited in the Studio which converts into a Gallery Space for the duration of the show. It provides students with the valuable experience of preparing and discussing their work in a public space.
Like the results at GCSE, the A Level Art results are amongst the very best in the country each year.
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