CISC Christmas Card Competition Results 2018

The contraction of the curriculum to the detriment of the Art and Design is clearly not an issue in CISC schools as the 2018 Christmas Card completion attests. Thank you to all schools that entered and all Art teachers who encouraged their pupils to enter. I have to say it was one of the most pleasurable experiences of my tenure thus far. The charm and joy of some of the youngest competitors’ submissions was a delight – a child in a pink frock floating up to a rainbow which was hugged by a tree – as well as the heartfelt and timely message of care for our planet with an angel fishing plastic out of the sea. These were endearing and powerful images.

The winners are as follows:

Senior Category
Winner: Jovial Man, New Hall School
Runner-up: Xavier Henderson, Ratcliffe College
Highly Commended: Chloe Chan, New Hall School

Junior Category
Winner: Therese O’Connor, St Mary’s Hall, Stonyhurst
Runner-up: Charlotte Tait, St Catherine’s
Highly Commended: Amie Butcher, St Mary’s Cambridge

However, I have to say that I was not prepared for the standard of the Senior entries which were breathtaking. The range of media and styles made it very difficult to compare one to another: from black and white skylines to impressionistic landscapes, each conveying a sense of the uniqueness of our planet. We clearly have some very talented pupils and some gifted teachers who are able to nurture that talent in such a dedicated and formative manner.

Having said that this was one of the most pleasurable experiences for me thus far, it was also one of the most difficult so I asked a former colleague, Caroline Corker, to judge the competition for me. Caroline is a leading art educationalist who has advised on and supported curricular developments in art education at a national level in both primary and secondary key stages. She is an Advanced Skills Art Teacher and a leading member of the NSEAD.

In selecting the winners, Caroline considered that they all managed to realise the theme of the competition in a seasonal composition which produced a strong graphic for a Christmas card.

The winners cards will, of course, be arriving in the post to you as the CISC Christmas cards of 2018. Thank you again to all who entered and I look forward to an even more difficult task next year!