Art at CCCS
Art is a valued and carefully planned part of our curriculum at Christ Church Cathedral School, designed to help children grow as creative thinkers, confident makers and thoughtful observers of the world around them. While pupils certainly learn practical skills such as drawing, painting and working with a range of materials, art at prep school is about much more than producing a finished piece. It encourages curiosity, imagination, resilience and pride in one’s own ideas. Media we experiment with include drawing, painting, printing, collage, textile design, 3D sculpture e.g., pottery, ICT, and photography.
For the younger years, art lessons are playful and exploratory. Children enjoy experimenting with paint, clay, collage and print, discovering how materials behave and learning through hands-on experience. There is a strong emphasis on enjoyment and confidence, with no single outcome. Through stories, nature and simple artist examples, children begin to understand that art is a way of expressing ideas and telling stories.
As pupils move through to Form 3 and 4, lessons gradually become more structured. Children are introduced to key skills such as drawing from observation, basic colour theory and using tools with greater control. They learn to look more closely, take their time and talk about what they notice in both their own work and the work of others. Reflection and discussion become an important part of the creative process. They have an hour of Art in the Art room each week, as well as all the art they do with their form teachers in their classrooms.
From Form 5 upwards, pupils are encouraged to work more independently and in greater depth. They plan projects, refine techniques and develop ideas over time. Sketchbooks become places for experimentation and reflection, and children explore a wider range of artists, styles and cultural influences. In Forms 5, 6, 7 and 8 classes are split into two groups. Time is divided between Art and Design Technology (DT). Those in the Art group rotate to DT after half a term and vice versa. They have two lessons of Art a week for half a term every term.
We explore art history and the work of local, national, and international artists to enhance pupils’ learning. We take trips to local galleries including The Ashmolean and The Museum of Modern Art Oxford. The children participate in annual professional artist led workshops, for the last two years this has been mosaic, creating two whole school pieces which are now hung in our school. Children take part in art competitions, recently 75 of them took part in Young Art Oxford – we are awaiting to hear which pieces we will see in the Ashmolean in May.
Our annual Art and DT exhibition is on 8 May, do put the date in your diary. Each child from Nursery up to Form 8 exhibits pieces of artwork, the Young Art Oxford pieces will be on display and our House sculpture competition pieces – good luck to children and parents over the Easter holidays – we are excited to see your creations.
In addition to timetabled Art lessons, there are an array of art and craft enrichment clubs run by different teachers. The benefits of creativity extend far beyond the classroom. Art supports fine motor skills, visual awareness and emotional expression, while also building confidence, perseverance and open-mindedness. These are qualities that support learning across the curriculum and prepare children well for the next stage of their education.
Whether or not a child goes on to pursue art in the future, the creativity, focus and curiosity they develop will, we hope, stay with them for life.
Mrs Emma Elias
Art & Design Teacher
