Abingdon School

Art and Design Scholarships for Entry in September 2010

One or two Art and Design Scholarships (Boxall awards), up to the value of one quarter of the tuition fee (on a means-tested basis), will be offered for entry in September 2010. In addition exhibitions (Louis Davis awards), worth £300 a year, are also normally offered. The awards, which are open to internal as well as external candidates, will be conditional on the candidates satisfying the School’s normal academic entry requirements in a separate examination. Candidates must be under 14 on 1 September 2010.

All art, craft, design and technology teaching comes under the purview of the School’s Art and Design and Design Technology Departments. Thus, as well as painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture and other areas normally associated with the teaching of art and design, we also cover the teaching of resistant materials (wood, metal, plastics) and computer-aided design. An Art and Design Scholarship is intended to give recognition to practical ability or potential within this wide field, whether artistically based or more design directed.

Art and Design Scholars are expected to make the most of the facilities of the School’s Art and Design Departments to pursue their particular interests and develop their skills both within and outside the taught curriculum. They will be required to follow a suitable course to GCSE level in the Middle School, and typically they will proceed to an A-level in the subject and while no specific undertaking is required with regard to this, it is understood that work within the School’s Art and Design Departments will occupy a significant part of their time throughout their career in the School. Continued tenure of the award will be conditional upon the fulfilment of this requirement, as well as upon the maintenance of satisfactory general progress.

The examination will aim to assess potential as well as present level of ability and will have regard to the particular interests of the candidate within the broad field of art, craft and design. We are looking for those who have a genuine interest and engagement in art and design. The assessment is based on three aspects:

• First, a portfolio submitted in February in the year of entry. This should include personal work produced by the candidate in their own time as well as work produced in school, school-based art clubs or holiday courses. Evidence of a wide variety of approaches is encouraged. It is hoped that much of the work submitted will be exploratory, experimental and drawing-based – a good deal of which might be suitable for submission in a sketchbook. We are looking for the ability to produce not only sustained work from first-hand observation, but also imaginative, thoughtful and creative responses in a variety of media.
• Second, a test piece produced in the studios at Abingdon over half a day on a Saturday in early March. The test will require candidates to produce a piece of mixed-media work on paper based on the observation of a chosen subject – very often a themed still life. The task will be introduced and explained. Candidates will be encouraged to tackle the task to show their skills in drawing and sensitivity to the basic elements of art and design (line, tone, colour, pattern, texture etc) through a considered composition and the creative use of media.
• Third, through an interview held during the half-day test period. This will give the candidates an opportunity to talk about their work, developing interests and any artists or designers that they admire.

Parents who would like their sons to compete for this award should complete the application form obtainable from the Admissions Secretary and return it to the Head of Art, Abingdon School by 1 February 2010. A portfolio of recent work by the candidate must be submitted under separate cover to arrive at the School between Monday 22 and Saturday 27 February 2010. Portfolios may be left at the school reception during school hours or delivered to the art department office, but a telephone message to the department on 01235 849054 or an email to james.nairne@abingdon.org.uk to tell us when you are coming would be helpful.

Three-dimensional work such as pottery, sculpture and design projects should NOT be submitted with the portfolio but instead the work should be presented through good quality photographs showing a clear and accurate indication of the work’s quality. One piece of three-dimensional work only may be brought to the interview half day. It would be helpful if all work in the portfolio could be marked with the candidate’s name and school.

For external candidates a letter of reference, normally written by the boy’s current art teacher, should be mailed to James Nairne, Head of Art, Abingdon School, Abingdon OX14 1DE to arrive by Saturday 27 February 2010.

Candidates will be invited to attend for interview and test at the School on either the morning or the afternoon of Saturday 13 March 2010. They will spend their time working in the School’s art studios or workshops and will be expected to talk about their work and interests as explained above.

The Head of Art, Mr Nairne, welcomes informal contact with potential candidates. Further information may be obtained by telephoning 01235 849054. or by emailing: james.nairne@abingdon.org.uk.