Art & Design

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The department is staffed by a team of 4 teachers and 2 part-time technicians. The expertise within the team is broad, including painting, printmaking, textiles, ceramics, photography, casting. The facilities include:

Ceramics studio, with pottery wheels, kiln room with 2 kilns, slab roller, pc.
Textiles studio, with photo silkscreen processing facilities, pc, scanner, colour printer, and equipped for felt and paper making, lino printing, batik.
2D studio with large etching press, lino press, easels, pcs, scanners, digital drawing pads, A3 colour laser printer, department library.
2D studio with portable etching press, lino press, easels, pcs, scanner, digital drawing pads, colour printer, electronic whiteboard, t.v. & video.
Photographic darkroom with 6 b&w enlargers and process enlarger, lightbox, film & paper developing facilities.
Outside area with raku kiln and sawdust kiln facilities.

Art & Desgn Edexcel Newsletter

Download Art & Design List

Official Opening of The Christine Walker Gallery 21 March 2010

The Department believes that pupils at Caterham are intelligent young people and, therefore, aims never to underestimate their ability. The highly experienced and well qualified teachers demand the very best from the pupils, expecting them to aim high and to reach an understanding of the material in hand. All of the teachers are artists in their own right and, therefore, set a high value on the subject. Our aim is to communicate this value to our pupils. The Department, therefore, teaches Art and does not conform to the 'genre' of 'School Art'.

It is the Art & Design Department's aim that all our students complete a broad and balanced course. From the First Year to the Third Year (Year 7 to Year 9) this should give them a good grounding in the subject should they wish to continue to study at GCSE or, if they finish their Art & Design education at this point, it will at least provide them with an understanding of the basic principles and practice of the subject. Pupils in these years work in 2D & 3D including painting, printmaking, textiles and ceramics. Those who move on to study Art & Design at GCSE do so with a secure understanding of the process and elements which are needed at that level.

By the end of the Fourth Year, and through the Fifth Year, pupils at Caterham are working independently in Art & Design. A typical lesson will see each pupil working on his or her own particular project, with the teacher discussing work and ideas with them. Projects which involve processes as diverse as ceramics, digital manipulation, drypoint etching and mixed media, will be happening in the studio at the same time. Pupils work is informed by their observed research as well as their critical studies of artists from any times and cultures. It is our aim to develop the individual potential of all our students in Art & Design to the fullest extent. Also that our pupils' enthusiasm for Art & Design is nurtured and developed.

At this stage students may opt to study Fine Art, Textile Art and/or Photography to AS or A2 level. Some students opt to study either two or three of these subjects because they have already made a decision that their future will be within the field of Art & Design. Future Architects study Fine Art in order to meet part of the entry requirements for degree courses and future dentists should be aware of the bonus of taking handmade objects to their dentistry interviews. Although some students choose these subjects because of career decisions, many opt through a desire to further their achievements following successful GCSE courses and through sheer enjoyment of the subject. Other students have chosen one of them as a third or fourth subject for entry to degree courses in other areas. Whatever the reasons, the experience of thinking and working creatively will stand young people in good stead within many walks of life, and is very welcome by many top businesses.

The philosophy which is built up in GCSE is carried on through AS, where students are initially introduced to some more advanced techniques and processes or skills. As they progress towards and into A2 the students, in all three subject areas, are able to drive their own work, and their thinking is often at a profound level. They are the absolute owners of their work, the teacher's role being as a sounding board and to focus 'crits'.

Biographies

Marilyn Kyle MA MEd Director of Art & Design

Marilyn Kyle is the Director of Art & Design, a post which she has held since 1994. She has an M.A. in Fine Art (Print) from Wimbledon School of Art and an M.Ed in The Creative Arts in Education from the University of Exeter. She has a broad experience of Art & Design, starting in Photography and then developing her own work through painting and printmaking. Her most recent exhibition included print and video as part of a 3D installation piece. As an artist she is intrigued by new ways of looking at, recording, understanding and interpreting the world. Additionally, she uses her artwork as a way of thinking. It is this philosophy which guides her teaching and her role in leading the department.

Mark Sherrington BA Teacher of Art & Design. Head of Photography. Head of Underwood House

Mark Sherrington grew up in North Wales and began his Art training At West Surrey College of Art and Design where he decided to study painting. After spending a year drawing from the life model at Wimbledon School of Art he rejected figurative work and concentrated on a more formal, abstract approach to his work. He graduated in 1990 with a First Class honours Degree and spent a year working for the Art and Design book publishers Thames and Hudson, while still exhibiting in Central London. Mark moved into education in 1992, working as an Art Technician in the large Art Department of a technical college. It was here that he trained as a teacher and taught A level Graphic Design, Photography, Sculpture and Fine Art. Later Mark became the Course Leader of the full time GNVQ course in Art and Design and taught on Art Foundation course. Mark joined Caterham in 2000, teaching Art & Design at all levels. In 2003 Mark became the Teacher in Charge of the new Photography A Level course, which he has led since then. Mark continues to exhibit his Paintings and Photographs in the South East.

Neil Evans MA Teacher of Art

Attended the Royal College of Art for his Sculpture MA and Wimbledon School of Art for his BA.

Miss Anna Church MA Head of Textiles.

Anna completed a BA (Hons) degree in Fashion and Textiles at The University of Central England in Birmingham. She then took a year out of her studies to work as a Textile Designer (embroidery and print) for popular high street brands. Anna also worked as a freelance designer for high street and designer level markets. In 1999, Anna completed a Masters in Fashion and Textiles at Nottingham Trent University. In 2000, she completed a PGCE also at Nottingham Trent University. Since then Anna successfully established A-level Textiles at a Sixth Form College in Surrey and became A-level Co-ordinator for Art and Design courses and Second in Department at a Sixth Form College in North East London.

Anna joined Caterham School in 2007 as Head of Textiles and promotes the talents of Textile A-level pupils and GCSE Art pupils through events such as the annual Fashion Show and Dance & Fashion Week. Anna is also committed to co-curricular weekly clubs such as Textiles Club (working on Caterham School commissions) and Pattern Cutting Club (dress making). Anna also trains pupils undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.