Bethany’s overseas pupils, particularly those from China have never made as much of an impact on the standard of work produced in our busy Creative Arts department as they are at present.
Driven by the explosion of popular culture in the People’s Republic, subjects like Art and Design, Textiles, Media and Photography are now considered far more acceptable than in the past and are fast becoming growth industry subject areas and an increasing number of overseas students are opting for them.
Eighteen year old JunXiang Zhang now in his upper Sixth at Bethany achieved an A grade for A/S Art last year, is aiming for the same at A2 and is also currently studying A/S Photography.
His sister Xi Wen who left the school with A* ‘A’ level grades in Art and Design as well as Textiles left school to attend Central St Martins and is now specialising in Textiles Design at the University of Arts in London.
90% of Bethany pupils secured A-C grades in GCSE, AS and A2 Art, Textiles and Photography last summer and ten Upper Sixth students left school to take up places on Arts based courses at venues such as Central St Martins, De Montford, UCA Canterbury and The London College of Communication.