Art @ Southborough: Offering inspiration, ideas and opportunities in the creative world

You’d be forgiven for thinking that there wouldn’t be quite so much focus on the creative arts at an all boys’ school, right? All that testosterone, peer pressure and love of all things scientific and sporty must surely impact a young man’s subject interest, steering them in the direction of all things STEM…?

Well think again! At Southborough, we pride ourselves in offering a wide, varied and rich curriculum to bring out the interests and skills of ALL our students, whether it’s Maths, History, Cooking, P.E , Music , Science, Drama  -  or Art!

As a result, we have a thriving Art department that gives our boys direct access to a plethora of artistic teaching and learning that inspires and brings to the fore their artistic creativity.

Next week, our Year 11- 13 Art students will begin working on their GCSE and A Level Art mock exams. These will, of course, take place within our spacious, light and airy art studio classrooms. But of course, we understand that it takes a lot more than great teaching and a few lovely art studios to maximise teaching and learning; it’s equally important to seek inspiration from as many external sources as possible.

“When it comes to exam course work, we offer a much more bespoke approach to project work than many other schools, primarily getting to know and understand what makes our students ‘tick’ right from the very start. We expose them to as many external sources of creative inspiration as possible – regular visits to Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the V & A, Natural History museum, Leake Street and many other places of creative interest -, allowing our students to assimilate as many ideas and approaches to art as possible.” Comments Head of Art & Design Faculty Mr Morgan.

As a result, students can focus on coursework projects that specifically interests and inspires them, whether it’s Japanese Art, Street Art, Architecture, Portraits & Identity, Landscape…and more besides! In return, this approach helps build a learning environment bubbling over with a colourful mix of creative ideas and stimulation.

But it doesn’t stop there!  The Art department ensures that students of all ages and abilities get the chance to take part in various projects outside of the classroom. Students have, for example, recently been working on a ‘Fixing the Broken Planet’ project with the Natural History museum, resulting in student artwork being used in their galleries, pamphlets and learning resources. Other students are currently working on ideas for a wall mural for the Royal Star and Garter Residential Home in Surbiton. Other projects currently in progress include designing and building stage sets for the school’s forthcoming ‘Wizard of Nodnol’ and taking part in a series of ‘K Club’ workshops that, in conjunction with a school in Korea, allows students to explore iconic Korean imagery, patterns, landmarks and designs.

Art clubs – including a Lunchtime Photography Club and Warhammer club, provide alternative opportunities to explore and enjoy.

So what else is coming up? After it’s hugely successful launch last year, the Art department will repeat its student and staff photography competition ‘Click 360’ later this year  - results to be revealed at the annual Arts Festival – and a collaboration with ‘Community Brain’ will give our boys the opportunity to take a retrospective look back in time and create background drops for an exhibition celebrating the history and local significance of the once famous and opulent 1930s ‘Ace of Spades’ roadhouse located nearby. And other trips will take place later on in the year…

And what of our Art students? Southborough has a history of students going on to prestigious colleges following their A Levels, including The Royal Drawing School and The Royal College of Art and The Ruskin School of Art at Oxford University. We also have many students who are continuing their practice in other professional contexts such as architecture, graphic design, animation and more.

In a nutshell, the Art department is a place where Southborough students can express their artistic creativity with aplomp – with not a hint of subject stereotyping or pigeon-holing in sight!