The Secret of Our Art Offers Success
Recently, we were delighted to be able to spend some time with both Kimberley Murray (Head of Art at Dulwich International High School Suzhou) and Vikki Gibson(Art & Design Teacher). We wanted to speak to them to get a better understanding of the spectacular success our Art department has achieved, both historically and more recently, in terms of the number of successful applications our Art students have made to top Arts universities worldwide.
Dulwich International High School Suzhou is a leader in holistic high school Art education in China, and our Art department is like no other, drawing on a broad experience from both industry and education, our collegiate faculty works to nurture our student's creativity and interests by providing a safe learning environment where every student can develop and grow. Our values are hinged around the pursuit of excellence through kindness, respect, and patience.
The Art Department at our school has gone from strength to strength over recent years. Art students from our school consistently achieve stunning exam results and get places at top Arts Universities around the world. This applies to students on both the Fine Art and Graphic Communications pathways.
Fine Art Pathway
Kimberley Murray (Head of Art) graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, specializing in sculpture and gained her PGCE at Northumbria University in the UK.
She was previously a Subject Leader of Art and Design in Cumbria before moving to Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong. There, she taught years 7 to 13 which included IGCSE and the International Baccalaureate. Kimberley taught in China for four years before joining Dulwich International High School Suzhou in 2020.
Kimberley has a fascinating perspective of the source of our Art student’s success. Last year, 53% of our Fine Art students achieved A* grades, compared to a global average of 25%. She explained that students typically arrive at our school in year 10 with strong observational drawing skills already in place. What they often lack is a detailed understanding of the creative process. It is in the teaching of this that Kimberley believes the success of the Art department can be found:
"Our success starts with having a dedicated team. A team that listens to each other and works well together. A team that puts the students first and facilitates their learning by nurturing their ideas and creativity. We focus on expanding our students' ideas in the sphere of their interests, drawing on inspiration from artists, conversation, reflection, and critiques. Students can then make an informed decision about their own work with our guidance. We build positive relationships that give students the confidence to take ownership of their work and show them the value in what they are doing."
Kimberley also had a lot of practical and actionable advice for students interested in pursuing Art at University:
"Do the best that you can at IGCSE, practice the skills and techniques you’ve been taught. Hone your expertise in these skills and aim for excellence. At the same time, research artists that you are interested in and go to art galleries, Try and immerse yourself in the subject."
Kimberley believes that one of the key differences in the art department at Dulwich, compared to other schools, is the amount of space it is given, as well as the excellent facilities and incredible resources on offer to our students.
“Fine Art students are very fortunate to have individual, dedicated spaces in the art department. They each have their own board to pin their workup, table and storage. Resources and materials are of good quality, and we have a dedicated art technician to support preparation in advance.”
Kimberley’s plans for the department involve implementing new pathways through the subject while maintaining the same high standard and excellent results:
“The future of the department is to ensure that our students are getting the best art education and achieve the grades that they deserve. We aim for each student to produce a portfolio that allows them to enter their best-fit university.”
Graphic Communications Pathway
One of the major strengths of the Dulwich International High School Suzhou Art department is the wealth of industry experience that its staff have.
Our Graphics Communication teacher, Vikki Gibson, began her career as a junior graphic designer and by its peak, she was the creative director of a major graphic design company in the UK. After having children, she decided to become a teacher.
She graduated with a MA in Illustration (distinction) from the Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) and a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design from the University of Westminster. She completed a PGCE in Art & Design at Leeds University. Vikki taught Art, Graphic Design and Photography at an outstanding comprehensive in the South of England where she was Head of Art for 12 years. Vikki teaches Art and Graphic Design at our school and is also a Boarding Parent.
It is no exaggeration to say that the graphics communication pathway at Dulwich International High School Suzhou, like fine Art, is a world-class centre of creative excellence. In 2020, 9 of our A level Graphic students achieved A*’s of only 78, which were awarded worldwide. Another way of looking at this is that 1 in 8 A* results in the entire world came from the graphics communication pathway at our school. How are we able to achieve such incredible world-beating success?
Vikki explained that:
"We focus on the visual elements, the design principles and how artists and designers apply these in their work. This emphasis on design theory and contextual references gives students a framework in which to explore their ideas and practice a wide range of skills with different materials and techniques. Graphic design briefs replicate the process in the design industry, which give students a valuable sense of creating effective outcomes, which communicate to specific audiences. This gives students an insight into working within this competitive and highly rewarding industry. "
For students with a genuine passion for graphic design, who want to pursue the subject at University, Vikki had the following insights to offer:
"Students study a very wide range of skills on the Graphic Design course which opens up many career opportunities for further study at university. An A-Level student performs the roles and skills of an entire studio when working on a design, which includes Design Director, Concept Artist, Visualizer, Illustrator, Photographer, Artworker, Content Creator, Editor, as well as Graphic Designer. They also must research their audience and promote their brands, which is excellent for students aiming to study media and marketing courses. Many of our Art and Design students go on to study related subjects such as fashion, architecture, film making, product design and animation. They get an opportunity to explore these areas when creating their independent brief in year 13."
It is always a pleasure speaking to such passionate and creative teachers, who are motivated to help our students achieve such remarkable results. These refreshing interviews reminded us of the quote by the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, who said: "Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."
