Art History is a very popular subject at College; we have recently enjoyed very promising results at A Level (100% A-B Grade) coupled with a high intake to good quality Universities.

Work Experience and Opportunities
We have recently formulated a new work experience link with Simon Chorley Art & Antiques based at Prinknash Abbey, alongside our more established link with Sotheby’s in London. We have also taken on work experience candidates in the department, in the form of Old Cheltonians. In addition, Italian classes began in September 2008, intended to complement students studying the Italian Renaissance, as part of the current AS specification. We have also forged strong links with the company Art History Abroad, in an attempt to provide up to date information for our students’ potential trips to Italy and elsewhere. Naturally we have forged close bonds with neighbouring schools such as Cheltenham Ladies’ College along with the local NADFAS organisation, providing fine opportunities for art historical events.

Lecture Programme and Evening Events
There is now established a great tradition of both in-house and external lectures centred around Art History at College, intended to inspire pupils and provide an insight into careers in Art History abroad, lecturing, auctioneering and much more. Similarly, several cross-curricular evenings have been designed for Sixth Form students, centred around a generic theme or genre each time. Past events have been a Renaissance evening, ‘The Elements’ and the Golden Section. Each time students are provided with a platform to present on a given topic and, in turn, to learn something of the 360 degree nature of this wonderful subject, which encompasses not only Art but also literature, music, science, politics, history and sociology to name but a few.

Competitions and Prizes
College participate in the Annual Articulation Prize Evening hosted at Roche Court in Salisbury. This provides excellent opportunities for developing University style approaches to learning and ties in neatly with our plan to foster independent learning. The finals are held in a Cambridge College and showcase the country’s leading independent schools’ art historians.

We also enter pupils for the scholarship offered by the company Art History Abroad. The scholarship awards the winner the value on an Art History Abroad 2 week summer course (£3275 in 2012). Applicants are asked to write 400 words on a work of art they love and a further 400 words on a work of art they loathe. 

Departmental Magazine
The departmental magazine ‘Chiaroscuro’ is testament to the students’ enjoyment of the subject, given it is entirely their own enterprise. This features a range of articles written by the students, on recent exhibitions, local artworks and critiques of lectures. It is well illustrated and serves as an excellent springboard for the students to put across their own viewpoints.

Visits and Trips
Among recent UK trips to Cardiff, Oxford and London, the January Sixth Form Art History and Artists’ visit to New York will prove to be a massive highlight. This will no doubt be a fantastic cultural tour, taking in the Frick, Whitney, MOMA, FIT and the Guggenheim among other venues. Future trips are planned to Florence and Paris.

Aims of the Subject
By studying this subject, the aim is to encourage students to develop and communicate their understanding of:

• The roles and achievements of practitioners 
• The relationship between art and society 
• Art historical terms, concepts and issues 
• Methods of researching, investigating and analysing 
• Use of evidence and how works are interpreted and evaluated

Key Features of the Subject -

A-level History of Art:

• Encourages first-hand experience and critical awareness of works of fine art, architecture, craft and design
• Promotes a broad history of art experience for AS and a more focused one for A Level 
• Develops critical, research and other skills, providing a sound basis for progression to higher education and employment

Examination Details and Course Topics
CCEA GCE History of Art. Subject Code: 3830

Four Units: AS 1 and AS 2, one and half hour paper each; A2 1 and A2 2, two hours each, one essay response from each Part. One question in each section, giving choice of five questions in each Part.

Knowledge, Understanding and Skills

At AS Level, students should develop:

• The foundations of knowledge and understanding of art historical movements, practitioners and works, within chronological frameworks 
• The ability and confidence to express and communicate knowledge and understanding 
• Awareness of art historical terms, concepts and issues 
• Knowledge and understanding of the significance of techniques and materials in the creation of artefacts
• Understanding of the principal methods of analysis and interpretation 
• The ability to make critical judgements 
• Active and independent learning
  
  

At A2 Level, the course builds on AS, allowing for greater depth of study by providing the opportunities to develop:

• An awareness of different sources of historical evidence 
• Understanding of the relationships between society and art within historical and other frameworks 
• Knowledge and understanding of the significance and role of environment, setting, display and audiences 
• An understanding of art historical approaches, such as technical, formal, iconographic and contextual 
• Increased independence in learning 
• Skills to explore, enquire, evaluate, discuss and compare evidence, and develop and support persuasive argument and counter-argument

Art History and other Subjects

The course is open to anyone with an interest and enthusiasm for the subject. However, it would complement Art, Politics, History, or English A Levels in particular. A background in a modern foreign language would also be an advantage.

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