Art
Creativity is central to life at Palmers Green High School and the study of Art is a key element in developing a pupil’s inspiration, imagination and experimentation skills. Art enriches all aspects of school life and is an essential component of the curriculum for all our pupils (KS3 -KS4). The study of Art and Design develops pupils’ awareness of the visual world and the cultures that have shaped it. The Art Department promotes tolerance and understanding through the appreciation of different people’s ideas and creative responses. Through the context of art, a deeper understanding and acceptance of different cultures, styles and opinions are encouraged.
At Palmers Green High School, Art is taught by highly experienced and skilled, specialist art teachers. Class teaching groups are small, allowing for close monitoring of progress and there is plenty of opportunity for individual tuition. Pupils are taught in a fully-equipped Art studio where they experience a wide range of materials and techniques, including sculpture, screen printmaking, mono-printing, relief printing, batik, observational drawing, painting and collage.
Specialist teaching of the subject culminates in the Year 11 GCSE exhibition, which gives status and high profile to our KS4 pupils’ work. However, Art at PGHS is not just for those wishing to study the subject at GCSE; the whole Senior School contributes to School life by providing artworks for key school events such as Founder’s Day and the Christmas Carol Service as well as being encouraged to enter works of art in national competitions, which are detailed below.
Curriculum
Years 7, 8, 9 (KS3)
Girls are taught to develop their creativity and ideas and in doing so, gain confidence in their own abilities. We foster a critical understanding of artists, architects and designers, and pupils are able to express reasoned judgements in order to inform their own work. Drawing is fundamental to all areas of study.
Year 7 study the theme, ‘The Formal Elements’, which includes awareness of the relationship between art and the world around us. Year 8 follow the theme, ‘Culture and Identity’, and their studies include research and analysis of art, craft and design from different eras and cultures. The Year 9 theme, ‘Personal Response’, focuses upon social statements within art, craft and design within historical art and contemporary issue-based art. Year 9 projects are structured to familiarise pupils with GCSE assessment objectives and to develop their understanding of the Edexcel GCSE Art and Design specification in preparation for GCSE options.
Years 10 & 11 GCSE (KS4)
Please click HERE to see the GCSE curriculum
Extra-Curricular Activities
The Art department organises visits to art galleries and museums such as the Royal Academy, Tate Britain, Tate Modern and The National Gallery. Artists, photographers and designers are invited into School to facilitate workshops across the key stages. All pupils are encouraged to enter local and national competitions such as the Royal Academy’s Young Artist Summer Show and the Mayor of London’s Fourth Plinth Schools Award. Competitions that link Art and other subjects such as Science and Literacy are also promoted whilst studying Art.
Year 8 present work to the School as part of their International Day celebrations. The GCSE Art Group takes part in an annual city visit as part of their studies in which cross-curricular links are often forged with other subjects such as History. Several weekly Art Clubs take place: the STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths. The Art Club is run for KS3 and a variety of GCSE Art Study Groups take place after school for KS4 pupils.
