Art Department

Curriculum

Key Stage 3

Art and Design offers opportunities for pupils to:

  • develop their creativity and imagination through visual, tactile and sensory experiences
  • develop practical, technical and critical skills and use visual and tactile language to communicate their ideas, feelings and meanings
  • learn to make value judgements and aesthetic and practical decisions, becoming actively involved in shaping environments
  • explore ideas and meanings in the work of artists, craftspeople and designers and learn about the diverse roles and functions of art, craft and design in the contemporary world and in different times and cultures

In Key Stage 3, the art and design curriculum is designed to acquaint pupils with the breadth of techniques and skills necessary to build a solid foundation for GCSE.  In Year 7, pupils are taught how to handle different media with an emphasis on colour and form.  In Years 8 and 9, these skills are reinforced through themed 2-D and 3-D projects.  References to artists are made at all times.

The art department is now growing and we have three well equipped art rooms. GCSE art is a popular choice for pupils. We follow all the assessment objectives of the Edexcel GCSE syllabus in an individual way. We encourage pupils to be as creative and independent as possible. Pupils are encourage to explore ideas and materials. They review, refine and develop their work as they progress. Pupils learn about the work of other artists and use ides to improve their work further. Our first group of A level students will commence in September 2011.

Facilities

The department currently occupies a large, well-equipped art room and has a library of art books within the school’s Learning resource Centre.

In 2009, the final building phase of the campus will be complete and the department will move into a suite of three large fully-equipped art rooms, with a kiln for ceramic work.

An example of our classrooms.

Enrichment

The department offers two different art activities, as part of the school’s Enrichment Programme:
  • Art Club, open to all pupils who are keen to develop their art and crafts skills
  • An advanced art skills group for gifted and talented pupils