Art

The Art Department at Southborough High School is dynamic and highly successful. We aim to encourage and inspire the pupils through a wide variety of activities and to develop their creativity and aspirations.

The pupils are encouraged to develop an awareness of art, craft and design within a critical, historical and social context, also to experience work from a wide variety of cultures.

Key stage 3 art, craft and design sets the foundation for further work in the senior years. Pupils experience many different materials, techniques and processes, from drawing and painting, printing and lino cutting to 3D work such as card relief, clay, chicken wire, mod roc and papier mache.

At GCSE we offer two courses, an unendorsed course which enables students to follow a broad programme of art and encourages students to explore their own ideas through a wide variety of materials, techniques and processes.

We also offer the applied GCSE, which is a double award for those students who either have a desire to continue with art into further education or into a creative career. Students learn about 2 and 3D visual language, and about the potential and constraints of materials. Students on this course also learn how to work to set briefs and create work for a client.

At KS5 we offer the unendorsed AS and A2, again so that students work within a broad art practice of painting and drawing, sculpture, installation and printmaking just to name a few of the areas. The students work in depth within a brief and explore their ideas to produce individual and creative work.

As of September 2007, we will be offering the BTEC level 3 art and design course, which is the equivalent of two ‘A’ levels, for those students who wish to continue with art and design within higher education.

Pupils at Southborough have the opportunity to work with professional artists and designers. We had two workshops last year; one for the gifted and able students and one for the applied GCSE students, both were very successful with students producing fantastic design work with a designer.

Southborough was also involved in producing a mosaic for the Tolworth underpass, working in partnership with Save the World Club. One of Southborough's boys won the competition for his design to be used for the mosaic.

Southborough High School Art Department consistently achieves excellent results for both Key Stage 3 and 4, with last years results being 88% A*- C for the applied GCSE and 75% A*-C for the regular GCSE. This is well above the national average for both boys and girls.

The Art Department is a safe, positive and productive area with all boys enjoying this important aspect of their education.