The newly established Austin Lecture Series offers a series of engaging, community-focused events throughout the year, typically averaging one or two lectures per term. These events bring together guest speakers, including Old Leightonians (OLs) and experts from various fields, to discuss topics of interest to the school community.
On Tuesday, 3rd December, the inaugural lecture of the series—The Creative Careers—focused on art and culture. This inspiring session provided students with valuable insights into creative industries and career pathways, including architecture, graphic illustration, fine art, and fashion. The event featured three Old Leightonians, two of whom joined from Lisbon, as well as Leighton Park EAL teacher and accomplished artist, Tom Cartmill. Our returning OLs included Tom McLellan, who is currently completing his master’s degree in Architecture; Harry Cartwright, whose work spans the worlds of graphics; and Archie Dickens, a fine artist whose work is centred around fashion.
Designed to be interactive, the lectures allow students to hear firsthand about the speakers’ journeys and perspectives, with opportunities for lively Q&A sessions to deepen understanding and engagement. The Austin Lecture Series aims to inspire students by connecting them with real world experiences and diverse career trajectories.
Head of Art, Mark Wood, who curated the event commented: “The aim is to bridge the gap between art and design based education and the creative industries. This isn’t something people often have at school, but I feel it’s invaluable to better inform students about their next steps into the exciting world of creative disciplines. The Austin Lecture Series provides a platform to discuss creativity at a higher academic level whilst reflecting on the work and choices they make in the studios at LP.”
More sessions are being planned for the remainder of the year, ensuring the Austin Lecture Series continues to provide valuable learning opportunities. We look forward to sustaining this inspiring initiative, empowering our students to thrive within their educational journeys and beyond.
Leighton Park offer both GCSE Art and A Level Art, accommodated by three art and textiles classrooms, a ceramics building, a print room, two media suites and an additional studio for Sixth Form use.
Take the next step by selecting an option below, or if you want to drop us a quick message, you can do so with the form.
Δ