The Art Department at Y Pant School exhibited the work of their GCSE and A level students last week, and impressed all who visited with the originality and quality of the pieces produced by the yr 11 (16) and Yr 12 and 13 (17 and 18) year old students.

At GCSE the examination theme this year was ‘Barriers’ and the students had an 8 week preparation period to research other artists in order to inform and develop their own style and to experiment with painting and drawing techniques, different materials and styles. Their coursework folder was based around two themes – architectural forms and identity. In order to prepare their students fully for assessment, the staff immerse them in culture with visits to the Tate Modern, the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and National Portrait Gallery and the Pit Rivers and Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. With such thorough preparation and expert guidance from the committed team of art teachers it is no wonder that last year’s GCSE class of 48 students all achieved A* to C grades. Mrs Jo Gold, the Head of Art, explained that although 60% of the subject is assessed through coursework the students have to demonstrate 100% commitment to the course and spend months brainstorming, experimenting and sketching before finally producing the end piece. ‘Many of our students willingly stay behind after school almost every night in order to complete any unfinished work. They have become perfectionists and most of them have a very professional attitude to their work. It’s really encouraging to see their level of enthusiasm and as you can see, the end product justifies their efforts.’

More information and photos can be found on the Art Department website.

At AS and A level the students’ work becomes far more personal as they develop into budding artists, experimenting with their own signature style. They have to explore different forms of media focusing on the theme of ‘Contrasts’ for their final exhibition and this theme produced some very original and fascinating displays.