As Link Governor for Art and Textiles, I was delighted to meet with Head of Department, Mrs Aitken, in early June.
Mrs Aitken showed me the displays of GCSE artwork, which were being made ready for the visit of external examiners, and I was impressed by the high standards achieved. She explained how these are marked and how students are guided by teachers throughout the year to produce a range of work to help them achieve a good grade. We also discussed the Year 12 Crafts Elective. Designed to develop manual dexterity, this popular and successful elective allows students to try activities such as knitting, crocheting, soap carving and knotting. Life in the Art Department seems to be back to normal after the pandemic – the final touch being the annual gallery visit, which will be re-introduced next year.
I am now looking forward to the annual Art Show on 5th July – it is always a pleasure to see the high standard and amazing creativity in the displays of students’ GCSE and A Level course work.
Dr Vicky Hardwick
Community Governor