PALMERS GREEN High School

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Art

Art plays an important part in the life of Palmers Green High School and is taught by highly experienced specialist art teachers. All teaching groups are small allowing for close monitoring and individual attention and tuition. Groups are taught in a fully equipped Art room where pupils experience a wide range of materials and techniques including, sculpture, printmaking, batik, photography, observational painting, drawing and collage. Specialist teaching of the subject culminates in a GCSE exhibition which gives status and high profile to the work of the department.

The Art Department aims to:

  • enable all pupils irrespective of their academic ability to reach their full potential;
  • to teach all pupils how to investigate and make using art, craft and design materials;
  • to promote each pupil’s skills, knowledge and understanding through evaluation of their work;
  • to encourage breadth of study by exploring a range of starting points and media, working independently and in groups.

“Overall, this centre produced much outstanding work ranging from competent to very notably fluent. Work of this calibre must reflect the inspiration, enthusiasm and hard work of the teaching.” Edexcel Moderator’s Report 2009.

Click here to see the photos from the latest Art Exhibition

Curriculum

Years 7, 8, 9

Project work includes: Portraits, Batik (Year 7), Figure Collage, Henry Moore Charcoal (Year 8) Fashion Show, Bottles, Surrealist Project (Year 9).This sound foundation has proved to be an excellent spring-board for GCSE Art.

GCSE (Years 10 & 11)

Edexcel GCSE Art and Design (Fine Art) 1028 is studied by pupils. Five or six major coursework projects are set and marked allowing for continual assessment over the two year course. Sketch books are compulsory and play a vital role in the progression and development of ideas and skills. The Royal Academy Outreach Programme visit the school every year and Year 10 pupils have the opportunity to draw from a life model and are taught by a Royal Academy tutor. Georgia Mota and Nirmisha Bhatt from PGHS have both been chosen to have their work displayed on the RA web site www.royalacademy.org.uk/outreach

"These sketch books were a joy to look through."
"The work presented was powerful, exiting, skilful and inventive..." Edexcel Moderator's Report 2009

Extra Curricular Activities

The Art department organises many visits to art galleries and museums such as Tate Britain, Tate Modern and The National Gallery. The GCSE Art Group takes part in an annual European City visit as part of their studies. A weekly Art Club is run after school for GCSE pupils and regular holiday Art Workshops are available.

Exam Results

The Art Department achieves a consistently high GCSE pass rate with 100% of pupils achieving A* - C grades in 2011 with 70% attaining A*/A grades. Many GCSE Art Students from PGHS continue their studies in Art in the Sixth Form. Recently girls have gone on to study A level Art at the City of London School, St Pauls, Highgate School, Fortismere School, Latymer, Woodhouse and Dame Alice Owens.