Years 7-9

Girls in Year 7 to 9 follow a carousel of three different areas of study: textiles, two- dimensional art and ceramics. Each area of study is taught for approximately one term. While specialist skills appropriate to each area of study are being learned, girls also learn to draw with greater accuracy and to look at the wider world of Art with a more critical and enquiring attitude to augment their own ideas and improve their own practice as artists. A trip to the Tate Modern gallery is arranged for Year 7 girls each January.

Years 10-11

In Years 10 and 11, girls follow the AQA GCSE unendorsed syllabus over two years. The main essentials of this course are well covered: recording visual information using a variety of media (generally in sketch books); commenting critically on the work of other artists; developing personal ideas in sketch books; and realising a final piece of work after a period of intense practical research. Course enrichment is provided in the form of weekly life drawing classes and visits to major Art galleries and museums.

Post-16 studies

Sixth form students follow the OCR AS and A level Art examination syllabus. Each of these levels takes one year of study and comprises (as of September 2008) a coursework portfolio including a study of a relevant topic in Art, plus a controlled assignment or test.  Substantial preparation is expected before the final timed test is taken in the Summer term. The coursework portfolio is also submitted in the Summer term and should demonstrate not only skill but also imagination, originality and a knowledge of the wider world of Art practice, both past and present. Portfolio advice is given to those intending to apply for a place on a course at an Art college or Architecture faculty.

AQA

History of Art can be studied for 1 year to AS Level.

Beyond the classroom

As well as the lively studio work that goes on in the Art department on a daily basis, trips are arranged to major Art galleries and museums and to less well-known destinations including (in 2007) the Zabludowicz collection of contemporary art and the Henry Moore Foundation at Perry Green in Hertfordshire. Every two years, a Sixth Form trip is organised to Amsterdam, usually in the October half term. In the intermediate years, an Art Week is held to encourage interest in Art, during which creative activities take place, speakers are invited into school and competitions are held. Links have been established with "The Big Draw" campaign, the "Young at Art" competition and with local art galleries, the Highgate gallery where occasional exhibitions of students' work are held and the Catto Gallery in Hampstead, which has generously established a "Catto Gallery prize for Art" at Channing School.

After-school clubs include ceramics and photography (Middle School), life classes and senior photo club (Upper School and Sixth Form). End-of-year exhibitions are held in the Art studios and school halls. These are public exhibitions, which attract a good deal of local interest.

Trips

Year 8 trip to the British Museum

On 18 March, 78 Channing girls accompanied by Ms Derbyshire, Mr Gittins, Mrs McCarthy, Ms Hynes and two parents visited the British Museum. We have been studying masks, so the reason we visited the museum was to find out more about their cultures. We asked five questions when studying a mask; Who made it? What was it used for? What was it made from? When was it made? When was it made?

On arrival, we were lucky enough to have a talk by Sarah Longair, a member of staff from the British Museum. She taught us how to interrogate a piece of work and how from looking at a simple mask you could gather a lot of information about its background and how it was used. For example, if the mask had holes in the eyes and was light weight you could tell it was probably used for acting or to dance in a celebration. After this, we split into groups of five and went off to discover more about the themes of masks and masquerades. We also learnt that masks can be used for disguise, transformation, to scare people, celebration and masquerades.

As well as being fascinated by the work of art itself, the building was also magnificent. The high ceilings, the light and space and huge colonnades inspired us.

We saw many interesting masks from all over the world and really enjoyed the day. On behalf of Year 8 we would like to say thank you to Ms Derbyshire who organised the trip.

By Alex Trench and Isabel Finn, Year 8

On a damp and overcast Friday we boarded our coaches for the first of our exhibitions; “Indian Highways” at the Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park. There we were met with a wild assortment of contemporary Indian Art including brilliantly coloured paintings; video installations; a sculpture that you could crawl through and a  true-to-life reconstruction of a dusty Indian sub-post office.

We forgot about the weather and hurried to explore this fascinating collection of contemporary art. We then walked across Hyde Park to have our sandwiches sitting on the steps in front of the Albert Memorial. After the colourful confusion of “Indian Highway” there was something calm and majestic about Prince Albert’s statue perched within his ornate Gothic shelter, forever worrying about the state of British design.

Moving on to Trafalgar Square we next visited the National Portrait Gallery to see the work exhibited on all three floors. Everyone made drawings of the portraits from the Tudor and Modern portrait sections, admiring the sheer skill and draughtsmanship of the artists we were studying. We then stopped by to look at the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize entries on the ground floor. These were brilliant; almost as good as the entries for the Channing Portrait Photography competition that was held last term.

After an exciting and productive day at the galleries we made our way back to our coach for our ride back to Channing.