admissions@clfs.surrey.sch.uk
01372 277933
City of London Freemen's School
Ashtead Park
Surrey
KT21 1ET
The Art department is an environment that is constantly humming with activity. In free periods and at lunchtimes, pupils are welcome at all times to participate in a range of clubs and work on their own projects. A culture of positivity is generated by the highly skilled, multi-disciplined staff.
Pupils are taught a wide variety of media based skills throughout their Art education. The ‘can do’ attitude that we engender is possible because of this wide opportunity with different media and the staff within the department. The ability to paint or draw well does not exclude pupils who are not as able, they usually find an undiscovered talent with photography, ceramics, jewellery, print making, textiles or sculpture.
Pupils very quickly cease to use the words "I can’t do art!"
Curriculum
Four main areas make up any art project from Years 7 – 13:
Observation: this means collecting relevant images, photographs and drawings relating to a given or chosen theme. A good photograph taken by a pupil is as valuable as a good drawing. Images from the internet can be used but are regarded as secondary sources. However, it is of much more value to use observations created by the pupil themselves.
Critical study: each project is underpinned by a critical reference or study. This means researching an artist or style of art that would relate to the project. Pupils are encouraged to make their own opinions on the work they are researching and elements of this research will blend into their own work as the project progresses. Often in senior classes pupils will use multiple studies to underpin and inform a project.
Development: pupils combine elements of their observed work and critical studies to create a series of studies or models towards the creation of a final idea which they will then realise as a Final Piece. Also within this stage pupils will investigate a range of media and techniques especially as they progress into the senior years.
Final piece: the last part of the project that is either hung on the wall or placed in a cabinet. The final piece is arrived at after working through all of the first three elements. In some cases at GCSE and A-Level, pupils will produce multiple final pieces, selecting one as the actual crowning product and making the others pieces development work.
Key Stage 3
All pupils gain a wide skill base with a wide range of media and methods. This allows them to enter GCSE with confidence in both project process and their skills. In the Upper 4 pupils are taken through a project that mirrors an approach similar to GCSE and develops independent learning skills. Work is differentiated and pupils in pairs or small groups develop projects which they direct in media of their choice. Lunchtime clubs allow pupils to use the pottery wheels and more specialist textiles equipment and processes.
Key Stage 4
We currently follow the edexcel syllabus for Art and Design. Pupils start their GCSE years with a summer project that leads them into their first piece of 
coursework. This project although themed, allows each pupil to begin developing their own individual approach to the given topic. Each pupil will be provided with critical studies relevant to them through individual discussion with their teacher. Deadlines are agreed and students are encouraged to work independently at home on the supporting studies. At school, pupils develop their abilities with various media and produce the final pieces for their coursework projects. In addition to our very well resourced department, a cutting edge Imac computer with Creative Suite 4 was kindly funded by our parents association and our students are now using it to create very professional photography and graphics related projects.
Key Stage 5
At Key Stage 5 pupils are encouraged to enhance their adventurousand enquiring approach that they would have developed during GCSE. Successful students will be self motivated, disciplined, unafraid of trying out new methods and ideas.Each pupil will have up to three different Art staff teaching them throughout the week and there is an expectation that pupils will spend some of their study periods workingon their art. Life drawing courses are encouraged and specialist materials are bought in for specific project needs.
If pupils undertake A2 level study they are given their own area in the Upper 6 studio. They are able to leave their work out and pin up work in progress. Pupils who continue on to foundation are helped to produce a portfolio and pupils are usually successful each year with acceptance onto their choice of foundation course.
Cambridge Pre-U Overview
Cambridge Pre-U equips students with the skills
they need to make a success of their
studies at university:
• a solid and coherent grounding in specialist subjects at an
appropriate level
• the ability to undertake independent and
self directed
learning
• the ability to think laterally, critically and creatively.
Cambridge Pre-U Certificate in Art and Design is a stand-alone qualification, certificated separately. It takes two years to complete and the results are based on 100% coursework that is broken down into three components.
In the first year pupils undertake the Portfolio element. This is self directed and pupils explore a chosen theme and develop thier work using a wide range of media and research. Prior to the summer break at the end of Lower 6, pupils will have submitted a proposed essay title to CIE that will have been aproved. During the summer break pupils research and visit galleries/places relevant to thier essay and write a well researched essay that must be between 3000 and 3500 words. This forms the second component part: Evaluative study. During Upper 6 pupils select one of 15 titles set by the board and produce a sustained and thorough project in response. This forms the final part of the course. It is essential that all Pre U-students are highly motivated. The course is an excellent grounding for the rigours of university life.
Art Galleries
2010 A2 Gallery
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2010 Pre-U Gallery
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2010 AS Gallery
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2011 GCSE Gallery
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Extra Curricular Activities
Clubs
The art department offers a wide range of clubs that are designed to cater for a range of interests. Ceramics, textiles and photography clubs are all on offer and in addition, the department is always open at lunchtimes for pupils to work on their various projects.
Trips
Each year our Lower 5 Art group spend the day at Kew Gardens taking part in an art workshop and also producing artwork in their sketchbooks.
Kew Gardens is the perfect venue to start the second half of the GCSE course and all of the pupils involved are able to see the multitude of flora from around the world and work directly from it. In addition to drawing, each pupil uses their digital cameras to record the day and as you can see from the fantastic photography, they have a great eye for composition.
The trip is always very successful and every moment is focussed on generating new ideas and solid book work that contributes towards the pupils’ GCSE work.
This year, in addition to independent work, we were fortunate to work with Kew’s resident artist, Stuart Simlar who tailored his time with the pupils to fit in exactly with the project set at school. The pupils undertook a variety of tasks that included quick sketches, continuous line drawings and investigations into negative space. The quality of the pupils work and their approach prompted Mr Simlar to ask if their work could be included on the Kew website and we have been happy to oblige.
Events
Private View
The School is looking forward to the Private View exhibition on Friday 24th June. With GCSE, AS and A2 Level work on display alongside, for the first time, Pre-U work the Art Centre and Sixth Form Centre will be awash with creativity. The event is open to the general public from 6.00pm to 8.30pm so please feel free to drop in.
Arts Festival
In 2009 for the first time all of the Arts departments at Freemen’s came together for two days in June to hold ‘Arts Festival’. The purpose of which was to bring together the Lower and Upper 4, encouraging them to interact and create work based on a theme that would culminate in a performance at the end of the second day.
The theme was Pepys Diary and the groups focussed on The Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of 1666. The pupils chose either Art, Drama or Music. The working environment that was created by the pupils was very positive and everyone was on task.
We were fortunate to have the Artist Sam Jeffereys working with the Art based pupils for both days. He had a great expressive influence on all of the work that was produced and at the end of the first day an enthused Lizzie Johnson in Upper 4 
commented “It’s been brilliant, I want to do this every day”. Two large canvases were completed in half the expected time and it was decided that a contemporary London scene that was on fire would have much more visual impact. In addition to the canvases, other art groups produced sculptures relating to the Artist Naum Gabo and the Great Plague. A large chaotically decorated Plague Doctor was created and loomed over a grotesquely coloured victim. Another group produced a doorway covered in red crosses and portrayed a trapped man inside who was unable to leave. A flotilla of ships was produced to illustrate the fleet that sailed on the Netherlands and parts of Pepys’ office were also constructed.
The Music department divided into three groups. They either learnt a series of songs illustrating the horrors of the events, created soundscapes digitally from scratch, or provided instrumental accompaniment for the whole performance at the end of day two.
The two drama groups provided a visual spectacular through a combination of contemporary and conventional methods, reproducing the atmosphere and apocalyptic events that took place.
The culmination of the whole festival was a performance that incorporated every pupil’s efforts over the two previous days. To watch the Lower and Upper 4 in action over the two days, steering and developing the event as it progressed was very rewarding.
Art Exhibition
The Private View of the Art Exhibition is held in June of work from Upper 5, Lower 6 and Upper 6 Art students. GCSE, AS, A2 and Pre-U work is on display, and members of the school community and the public are invited to view the work on display.
Latest News
Public gets to see Private View
On Friday 24th June 2011 the
Art department held its biggest annual exhibition to date which again
demonstrated the wide range of talent within the senior years. Three rooms were
converted into exhibition spaces and the whole exhibition took two weeks to
erect. This year the schools very first Pre U students put up their own
exhibitions in the Sixth Form Centre and did a fantastic job of curating their
own space. All the external moderating staff agreed that the work on show was
excitingly diverse showing a surprising range of media and all of the candidates
showed great critical understanding.
New Artist in Residence
In January 2011, Christine Gray has started as the School's new Artist in Residence.
Christine has recently earned a distinction grade MA from
Art is in the House at Junior School
Junior House Art took place during the week of 15th November 2010 and there were a fantastic 246 entries. There were some really outstanding and very creative pieces on show. The winning House was Gresham with Hale in second place and Whittington in third place. Well done to all of you who entered the competition.
The overall individual winners were: 1st -
Daniela Zaks (pictured); 2nd - Lucy Yellow; 3rd - Liberty Gamble.
Mrs Catherine Williams, Junior Head of Gresham, said: "Gresham's victory in House Art once again shows what a creative and imaginative House we are. Congratulations to everybody who entered, especially the 17 prize winners."
A Trip to the Tate? How Modern!
On 7th September 2010 all of the Lower 5 Art students visited the Tate modern in order to broaden their appreciation of the subject and help develop their first GCSE project based on the theme ‘Contrasts’. All GCSE themes are designed so that they can be interpreted in a number of different ways and every student has already begun to move in their own direction. All students enjoyed the trip and managed to record information in their sketch books which they have since built upon in school. As usual everyone behaved impeccably and all of the staff involved commented on the success of the visit. Thanks go to Mrs Humphreys who organised the trip and made it run so smoothly.
Art Exhibition extends into Prize Day
The Private Viewing of the Art exhibition 2010 took place on Thursday 24th June. The celebration of GCSE, AS, A2 and Pre-U examination and coursework was well attended on the evening, and for the first time, the exhibition was open for a further week for members of the public who were unable to come to the private view. The exhibition was still open on the school's prize day and Joe Goldman, of Upper 4, made a video of the exhibition.
Play it again Sam!
Sam Jeffereys has returned to Freemen's to help with the construction of the set for Smike that will take place on 22nd, 23rd and 24th June 2010. A Level students helped Sam to create the backdrop that was inspired by German expressionist artists. You may remember Sam exhibiting at the school alongside Rob Sollis in March, and it is great to have him back working with the pupils for the benefit of three departments.
Freemen's is still Blooming Marvellous!
On Thursday 6th May 2010, the Leatherhead Advertiser again printed photographs taken by a Freemen's pupil. Alice Witt of Lower 4 took the pictures of primulas and pansies whilst in the school grounds. The newspaper was obviously so impressed, they were unable to pick one to print so decided to print both, which continued the spring theme of Picture of the Week.
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Blooming Talents
On Thursday 15th April 2010, the Leatherhead Advertiser printed three photographs taken by students at the school as their pictures of the week. Normally only one image is chosen but such was the quality of the pictures taken by James Salisbury, Harriet Walsh and Fred Davies, all three were published. There was a definite spring feel to the pictures as James photographed daffodils within the school grounds, whilst Harriet and Fred's pictures were taken on the trip to Kew Gardens last year.
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By James Salisbury |
By Harriet Walsh |
By Fred Davies |
Gifted and Talented? Yes!
On Saturday 6th March 2010, professional artists exhibited for the first time at City of London Freemen’s School. The school's Livery Room became the perfect setting to show the excellent work produced by Sam Jefferys and Rob Sollis (pictured with Mr Tim Rees, Head of Art at the school). Both artists have worked with pupils in the school and have bought a great degree of inspiration to many of them, influencing their work and giving them confidence. The show was open to the public and many people came in to view the work on display. Several pieces were sold throughout the day and a proportion of the profits went to the charity Shelterbox.
Mr Tim Rees, Head of Art at the school commented: "The exhibition was the first of its kind at Freemen’s and everyone involved enjoyed the show. We are looking forward to producing another exhibition in a few months and showing off the talents of our Photography students and Geoff Coates, a local professional photographer."
Academic Results
In 2011:
Pre-U: Five pupils were entered for Art and Design. One attained grade D1, one attained grade D3, one attained grade M1 and two attained grade M2.
Two pupils were entered for Art and Design: Lens Based. One attained grade D1, one attained M2.
A Level: Three pupils were entered and all attained grade B.
GCSE Level: 37 pupils were entered for Art and Design: Fine Art. 22 attained grade A*, ten attained grade A, four attained a grade B, and one attained a grade C.
One pupil was entered for Art and Design: Photography and attained a grade A.
In 2010:
A Level: Seven pupils were entered. Four attained a grade A*, two attained grade A and one attained grade C.
AS Level: Six pupils were entered. Three attained grade A, two attained grade B, and one attained a grade D.
GCSE Level: 32 pupils were entered. 18 attained grade A*, 11 attained grade A, two attained a grade B, and one attained a grade C.
91% of GCSE candidates gained an A* or an A.
Staff within the Department
Mr Tim Rees joined the school as Head of Department in September 2008. His background is rooted in ceramics and the studio pottery heritage of Britain. Strongly influenced by the ethic of ‘well made and affordable’ he strives to create ceramics to be used everyday. Prior to Freemens, Mr Rees spent three years as teacher of Art and Design at Caterham School. In addition to his teaching he has strong links with various makers and writes on occasion for Ceramic Review.
Mrs Becky Houseman joined the department in 2000. Previously she had taught in a vibrant and successful State School department for nine years. Before training as a teacher Mrs Houseman worked as a freelance costume designer and illustrator in the Advertising Industry. Mrs Houseman acted as Head of Department for 18 months before the appointment of Mr Rees and during this time she enjoyed developing an energetic, vibrant and flourishing department that encouraged a wide range of creative responses. She is now particularly interested in exploring the possibilities of print, mixed media and textiles within the subject.
Ms Ginny Humphreys, a Theatre Design postgraduate, lived in France for ten years before returning to the UK to join the teaching profession with 18 years experience as a freelance designer and teacher in a variety of professional and educational environments throughout the UK and France. Ms Humphreys has professional experience in theatre, dance, TV and film including work with the Royal Opera House, National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Unicorn Theatre for children and BBC TV. She works part-time at Freemen’s and continuing personal projects include producing hand tufted rugs and various costume design commissions. Ms Humphreys is also an external moderator for Art and Design GCSE for EDEXCEL.
