Art

The contribution of Art and Design to the school curriculum.

Art and design stimulates creativity and imagination. It provides visual, tactile and sensory experiences and a unique way of responding to the world. Pupils use colour, form texture, pattern and different, materials and processes to communicate what they see, feel and think. Through art and design activities, they learn to make informed valued judgements and aesthetic practical decisions, becoming actively involved in shaping environments. They explore ideas and meanings in the work of artists, craftspeople and designers. They learn about the diverse roles and functions of art, craft and design in contemporary life, and in different times and cultures. Understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the visual arts have the power to enrich our personal and public lives.

Key Stage 3

Year 7

Year 7 is a techniques based year, with students being introduced to the visual elements of line, tone, texture, colour, pattern, contrast etc, during the year. A range of techniques are taught through experimentation in a wide range of 2D and 3D media, such as drawing, painting, print making, textiles, ceramics, photography and ICT work. The emphasis is on the students’ acquisition of skills and visual language.

Year 8 and 9

In these years, students consolidate the skills learned in Year 7, through projects addressing six universal themes, ‘flora and fauna, abstract, events, human figure, fantasy, mythical and environment’. The aim is to address all of these major themes in art, craft and design, and provide a broad experience in art in order to fulfil the National Curriculum requirements, and as preparation for art and design at Key Stage 4.

Extra-Curricular

The art department is open at lunchtime and after school to all GCSE students.

Y7, 8 and 9 art club takes place in T10 on a Wednesday from 3 – 4

There are trips arranged to visit colleges, universities, and other exhibitions as well as art residential trips for GCSE students. The art department actively promotes working with professional artists and will take the opportunity to do this whenever the opportunity arises.

Facilities

All art lessons and extra-curricular activities take place in one of the three spacious art studios. There are good facilities within these studios enabling pupils from all year groups to experiment with a wide rage of materials and media.