Royal Grammar School - maturity, conviction and contemporary fossils

This is the second show today and both are marked by excellent life drawing. Perhaps it is not a coincidence that both schools (Sir William Ramsay and Royal Grammar School) use the Royal Academy 'Life' class. This has been going for many years and never fails to produce superb results. It adds imeasurably to portfolios and self confidence. I don't know if many schools club together to share this resource, but it would certainly be worth it. I understand it is still relatively cheap and the class can accommodate up to 30 students.

This exhibition showed work from all year groups and it was fascinating to see the rigorous consistent thinking and values that have built this course and which ensure that first hand experience, rigorous self reflective enquiry and serious study of serious artists are hard wired into the experience for Yr 7 onwards . Rob (HoD) has been there for many years (I think we shared our first inspection - he as inspected and me as inspector) and there is a deep integrity to the work throughout the school which is a real strength. There is also a very clear commitment to sculpture throughout the programme. This gives rise to Yr 13 istallations and mixed media pieces in which ideas are easily and naturally shaped and presented in 3 dimensions with mature understanding and an ability to resolve technical issues with intelligence and imagination.

The GCSE work shows an emerging individuality and I loved the piece which explored contemporary fossils and a delightful small piece making a space from a book (see video). These are multilayered as well as multimedia pieces.

However, the Yr 13 work is superb. Again experience is tracked back to KS 4 where the process of deep, personal enquiry is first established. This is rooted in direct experience, reinforced through the annual field course where students are imersed in beaches and fields, rocks and trees. It seems that often this expereince leads to a recognition of art as a means to record real first hand experience, feeling and responses. There is a piece which explores ideas of sculpture as small disgarded fragments, each of which has marked key moments and turning points. This is a piece of genuine conviction and is, as a consequence, genuinely moving - it was good to see it and I won't forget it. There are many other extra-ordinary pieces all marked by deep, extended personal enquiry and a fascination with materials. I think this is what makes them really sucessful there is a successful balance, or fusion really, between the idea and the material. It could not be other than it is. Often the journey is intriguing and extensive, for instance, from first hand experience of landscape to a technical piece in which boxes in boxes on gimballs (3 way hinges) respond to air movment (or fans in this case). By way of Fibonacci.

As I said to Rob, the work reminded me of why I wanted to be a teacher, and what I valued when I was a teacher. I recall residential trips always fuelled that year's work and relationships - getting up at 4am to get to the beach - just in time to see the sun rise, brilliant.

This is the last of this year's shows. I really enjoyed all of them. It was good to meet so many colleagues and friends and to share and celebrate their work and success.