Abingdon News No.50

This is only your second term at Abingdon School – what do you think? Abingdon has amazing opportunities and very able students. Combine that with university standard facilities and excellent teachers and you have a superb environment to achieve and encourage creativity. It’s a very exciting time and I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge. What have you set out to achieve with Abingdon Art? The potential here is huge and the department is implementing the structure and systems needed to make sure the boys achieve their very best. This ranges from, for example, giving all year groups more drawing experience to organising extra trips and events. I think we can improve the depth of student work, especially in the Lower School. What exciting initiatives have you got coming up? We’ve already seen some really impressive examples of what the boys can do. One of my favourites has been the Food Art Competition for Years 1 to 3. The boys’ really showed what they were capable of. I’m also looking forward to the Year 9 ‘Wild Art’ project which sees the boys trying a mini GCSE style project based around an animal of their choice. They are looking to other artists’ style and learning how to paint and create a large final piece of work. One of the events in the pipeline is a summer Art Festival where we will showcase the A level and GCSE work and possibly the mini GCSE third year project. What do we offer in terms of art at Abingdon to all age groups? In the First Year boys explore a range of media – drawing, painting, printing etc and then in the Second Year we look for inspiration from industry to really capture the imagination and develop skills. In the Third Year boys take a mini GCSE course which can support their GCSE work. At GCSE boys work independently on topics they enjoy and they have the freedom to do their own style and development but we will guide them to make sure they get the grades they deserve. Art in the Sixth Form allows students more independence to explore their own personal direction and topics. We refine and teach processes and techniques to a higher more professional standard to prepare the students for the next stage of their creative career. Is art offered through the Other Half? We have a range of OH activities, 13 in total, ranging from Lego Architecture to Clay Club. Boys can explore film and special effects, stop frame animation, comic book illustrations and create 3D objects and designs with the Computer Aided Design programme ‘Fusion 360. Students can also put in extra time on their course work. We’re very happy to accommodate what boys want to do and our new facilities offer huge possibilities. Why study art? Studying art is a tremendous platform if you are thinking of a creative career. Creative thinking is vital for many jobs especially design whether it’s in the advertising and product design industry, gaming, fashion/ textiles, film, theatre, special effects or architecture. Basically anything that we use is creatively designed. What can we offer aspiring artists? We will make the absolute most of everyone’s potential. Abingdon boys are very bright and some will be exceptional artists and designers. Our staff are really excited about teaching art and there are so many positive changes happening around art in schools. There’s a lot of scope to be creative within the framework of exams; it will be hard work but it will be well worth it! Taking a look at… Abingdon Art Mr Paul Williamson joined Abingdon as Head of Art at the start of this academic year from the Warriner School, Bloxham. He leads a department of three full-time teachers and two technicians. Mr Williamson couldn’t resist the new facilities that occupy the top floor of the new Beech Court building. These include a kiln room, dark room, ceramics studio, exhibition space, external balcony for outside study and a dedicated sixth form studio. 11