It was good to be at the launch of the new secondary curriculum launched at Lords by Lord Adonis, Ken Boston, Mick Waters, Andrew Motion, Gareth Mills, some teachers and a few pupils. It was accompanied by an exhibition of art by one of our schools (Chalfonts Community College) which was why I was there. . Perhaps the important point is that we - that is various Bucks colleagues and I - have been working with Robin Widdowson (subject Officer at QCA) on various projects for the last couple of years and QCA felt that Bucks could be trusted to provide examples of high quality and innovative practice at, what for them, was a significant and risky public event. Greg should be congratulated for his work on this event and especially for presenting some of the innovative digital work that is being developed in Bucks.
However, our involvement with the KS3 launch goes a bit further than that as we have been working with QCA for over a year now. The new KS3 Art programme was developed by a relatively small group which included myself and another of our art teachers Marc Berrett of Waddesdon C of E. Last summer I was also asked to develop some teacher responses and case studies based on the programme of study and was able to include Waddesdon C of E, The Grange and Beaconsfield Upper in this process. In March (at the last minute) I was also asked to rewrite the art level descriptions to match the new KS programme of study for 2008. I am particularly pleased because we clearly identified creativity including originality,imagination and creative risk taking as a necessary aspect of art education - so another win for creativity and Bucks. I have posted the matrix that used to create the levels on the A4 (Art Advisers) website - in case you are interested.
I am, by nature, extremely self deprecating but it seems a good time to mention work we have done beyond KS3? Last year I managed a project to develop some assessment case studies for publication by QCA. I worked with three Bucks schools on this project developing case studies about assessment and transition - Ashmead school, Waddesdon C of E and tangentially Whitchurch school. These case studies are now published and available from QCA.
Bucks has also been involved in the GCSE review this year as I was asked by QCA to prepare the first draft of proposals for GCSE art subject criteria. Marc Berrett (Waddesdon C of E) and I were also at the main GCSE consultation where we worked on the art and design subject criteria (online consultation now open). Finally, I was also on the scrutiny panel for the new GCE syllabuses over Easter. So, one way or another this year, we have contributed to the national evolution of art and design in KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, and 6th form and in piloting new media: in some of these cases quite significantly.
I mention all this simply because I am excited (and tired) and pleased to have been able to end this year with a record of success and want to note the contribution Bucks has made and that it has acquired a strong reputation nationally. I think there is also some clear momentum now which will sustain the future development of subject leadership in Bucks. Its important that we do recognise that we have in Bucks some really excellent work and practice and that in some areas we are taking a lead. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank those colleagues who have worked with me sharing expertise, excitement and enthusiasm for the work we do together.
It is also a good note to end on. In September my role will change as I have accepted the post of area adviser in the area office: north. But I will retain some strategic responsibility for art and design although this will become a much smaller part of my work. Next term we will need to explore some of the opportunities that are available to support art and design. We will explore the work of AST's; how art departments wish to use the Waddesdon Arts festival; how Specialist Schools might work together (as some already are) to take responsibility for subject leadership; how we can work with Creative Partnerships which is changing to provide more opportunities for Bucks schools to become involved; how we might work with the Montgomery Trust which has a sculpture park in Chalfonts St Giles (and I bet you did not know that). I will also try to sustain the Bucksgfl art website and probably the blog - and wild horses could not keep me away from some involvement with the MAD Waddesdon Festival which next year will be on the weekend of 28th 29th June 2008.
So still much to do but this will be the last bulletin when I should call myself 'County Art Adviser'. In the last 12 years I have circulated these art bulletins by post, fax, email and now blog (about 96 in all) - usually in an attempt to stay one step ahead of the corporate technology. I hope you have found some of them useful. Have a good summer.
