The following paintings are just a few examples of the outstanding International GCSE Art Coursework Project (2011) from ACG Strathallan student Tingjian He (Jim).

Not for nothing, Tingjian received a Top in the World Award for IGCSE in Art & Design in the same year.

L to R: Principal Robin Kirkham, Simon Higgins, Matt Humber, Jordan Jeffcoat, Tarika Sabherwal, Hamish Baxter, Tingjian He, Melissa Kelsey, CIE representative Ann Puntis, Julia Chan and Jo Palmer.

ACG Strathallan's Art and Design faculty showed once again that they are tops, with four of the school's six top awards for the 2011 Cambridge examinations being achieved by art and design students.

Tingjian (Jim) He and Tarika Sabherwal shared joint Top in the World for IGCSE Art and Design, both gaining a perfect score of 100%. Melissa Kelsey also achieved a perfect score of 100% in AS Art and Design (Photography), gaining a Top in New Zealand award, and Julia Chan received Top in New Zealand for A Level Art and Design (Photography).

Art and Design teacher, Jo Palmer, feels privileged to have taught such a talented group of students. "They were all hard working, dedicated and enthusiastic in their approach to their work and strived to achieve their very best at all times." Melissa cites the strength of art and design at ACG Strathallan as "one of the main reasons" she joined the school. She plans to study design at Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design and says "it's been great that I've been able to develop my skills at Strathallan."

ACG Strathallan students lit up the stage of a packed-out 400 seater Maidment Theatre in central Auckland. The production was called 'Times like These' and was a roaring success, spanning music from five decades.

"After all the days of practice, all the team work and all the effort, we created an unforgettable night," said Kristie Voorburg, a talented singer in Year 12 at Strathallan. The production involved 107 students from all five ACG schools from Karaka to Henderson so the logistics of rehearsals were fairly involved, but it all came together seamlessly on the night in a very professional performance.