The Skinners Company School for Girls

This is a voluntary-aided comprehensive school for girls aged 11 to 18 and has 900+ on roll. The original school building (at what is now the Upper School) in Stamford Hill was opened in 1890. A second building was acquired in 1972 for use as the Lower School when the School became the first voluntary-aided comprehensive in Inner London, providing high quality education in one of the most deprived parts of the city.

The school is non-denominational and has a rich culture of ethnic backgrounds and languages. Over the last years there has been a steady improvement in standards of achievement, and at the same time there have been innovative developments to the curriculum. Sixth form teaching is provided in conjunction with neighbouring voluntary-aided Schools on a consortium basis.

It is now a Business and Enterprise College under the Specialist School initiative. The split-site nature of the school has many disadvantages and it has long been the aim of The Skinners’ Company to place the School on a single site. Discussions are now taking place with a view to achieving this by 2010.

Art at Skinners.

We aim to provide a structured, cumulative, forward-looking curriculum for all our students, drawing on the specialisms of the staff within the department.

Art and Design makes a vital contribution to students’ education in:
• Developing the ability for creative thought and action.
• The education of feeling and sensibility.
• The exploration of values.
• The understanding of cultural change and differences.
• Developing physical and perceptual skills.
• Developing spiritual, moral and aesthetic awareness.

In our teaching we aim to promote an atmosphere of purposeful study which will enable each student to develop to their fullest potential.

The Skinner’s art department has a long tradition of quality and expertise, we wish to build on this and to continue to provide a department known for its excellence and innovation.

We believe that students should have as much contact with arts professionals. We work extensively artists and designers in developing our student’s sensitivity to the world around them whilst broadening their vision of the arts. Are highly successful vocational course aims to train the students of today to be artists of tomorrow

The Thames Festival Workshop.

Our theme was inspired by the Chelsea Physic Garden which is hidden behind the high walls next to the River Thames. This secret garden is London's oldest surviving botanic garden and grows rare and life-saving plants. With this in mind we wanted to design and create a montage of associating plants and body parts in a metaphorical and funky style!

Student's comments.

"I am happy that my work will be displayed in front of millions." Lesley.
"I liked working with the artists because they were fun to work with and they taught me how to draw certain parts of the flower." Kiran.
"There is always chance to improve which is challenging." Rai-Anna.
"It's fun to see the finished drawings on the computer together and choosing what looks good together." Marta.
"I liked working in a group to decide what the board was going to look like." Belinda.
"I learned in this workshop that drawing details (of plants) is difficult but with time I could improve." Fathima.
"I enjoyed drawing plants in detail and felt proud of the result." Kubra.
"I liked using colours to develop my drawings and taking pictures of every ones work to scan into the computer." Nursenem.
"Working as a group was enjoyable because lots of peoples ideas were shared." Gizem.
"I've learned so many things about the River Thames and about the Chelsea Physic Garden. It was such a good experience and I developed my skills." Sephora.
"I liked working in a group so we could share ideas and make different decisions." Siddiqa.
"Before I didn't know how to use adjustments and colour changes in Photoshop, but thanks to do the workshop now I do." Kushnuma.
"I liked working with the artists, they were very inspirational and they influenced me to do a lot of different arts in the future." Aaliyah.

To start just select 'add' under the relevant header in edit mode and then choose one of the options (file, gallery, image, folder) - it's easy!

Our River

The "Resourceful River" theme examines the effects on each river of global warming, flooding, dams and irrigation. The river as a border, a line of defense and a trading route is also covered here.

The River Thames is the longest river entirely in England. The river contains over 80 islands, and having both seawater and freshwater stretches supports a variety of wildlife. The river has supported human activity from its source to its mouth for thousands of years providing habitation, water power, food and drink. In more recent time the river has become a major leisure area supporting tourism and pleasure outings as well as the sports of rowing, sailing, skiffing, kayaking, and punting. The river has had a special appeal to writers, artists, musicians and film-makers and is well represented in the arts. It is still the subject of various debates about its course, nomenclature and history.

Artwork and workshop gallery.

Blogging.

Aaliyah: I enjoyed drawing different types of plants, even though at times I found it hard. I still managed to accomplish the whole project. I liked working with Pete and Showna (the artists), they were very inspirational and they influenced me to do alot of different arts in the future.

Kushnuma: I enjoyed helping to scan all the drawings and doing observational drawings and colour drawings of the plants and herbs. Before I didn't know how to use adjustments and colour changes in Photoshop, but thanks to do the workshop now I do.

Sephora: I enjoyed doing different drawings of plants and using gel pens and colour pens. I've learned so many things about the River Thames and about the Chelsea Physic Garden. It was such a good experience and I developed my skills.

Gizem: Working as a group was enjoyable because lots of peoples ideas were shared. I liked the drawing but preferred taking pictures of the group to upload to our webpage.

Nursenem: I learned how to draw plants in a detailed way. I liked using colours to develop my drawings and taking pictures of everyones work to scan into the computer.

Kubra: I enjoyed drawing plants in detail and felt proud of the result. I liked working with my friends as a group so we could share our ideas.

Fathima: I enjoyed drawing pictures, the shapes and using colours. I learned in this workshop that drawing details (of plants) is difficult but with time I could improve. It was fun to work as a group.

Marta: I liked drawing from old-fashioned pictures of plants. I found drawing in colour difficult, but I managed to draw and colour a rose which I think looks nice. It's fun to see the finished drawings on the computer together and choosing what looks good together.

Rai-Anna: I liked working with new materials- the gel pens and the colour pens, and found the drawing fun. What was most difficult is that even when you think you have finished, there is always chance to improve which is challenging. Overall, I enjoyed the workshop. Working with artists made me realise that a piece of work can always be made better.

Kiran: What I enjoyed the most was the colouring, and drawing different flowers. What I least enjoyed was drawing the detailed flowers because I found it hard. I liked working with the artists because they were fun to work with and they taught me how to draw certain parts of the flower.

Siddiqa: I really enjoyed drawing because I liked the variety of images to draw from and using glitter pens. The artists taught us how to use different methods and they were fun to work with. I liked working in a group so we could share ideas and make different decisions.

Belinda: I liked drawing the plants as we had loads of time to study them and I liked working in a group to decide what the board was going to look like. It was fun and it taught me lots of techniques like using the glitter pens in detail. I also learned how to draw flowers and plants.

Lesley: I liked drawing a wide variety of plants and learnt how to focus at the objects I was drawing, not just do my own thing. I learned how to scan and enjoyed working together with the others. I am happy that my work will be displayed infront of millions.

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