Art & Design

Ethos & Values

In the Creative Arts Curriculum Area we endeavour to foster students' sensitivity to and their understanding and enjoyment of Art and Design. We aim to provide students with skills, knowledge and confidence in each area and develop their enjoyment of Art and Design through an active practical involvement in the creative elements of each discipline.

We feel that Art and Design is an essential element in a balanced education, allowing personal expression, personal development, creative and real practical involvement in the subject. Students gain confidence and a real appreciation of each other's talent.

In the Curriculum Area we are aware that Art and Design is one of the few areas where students take part in the personal creation of their own personal items. This adds even more to the aesthetic value of the subject, giving the students a healthy channel for their creative talents.

The Curriculum Area aims:

• To develop the students' aesthetic appreciation of a variety of Art forms and to continue to explore this through developments in Art and Design.
• To provide stimulating visual and practical experiences which provide opportunities for the development of skills.
• To promote interest, enthusiasm and enjoyment of the subject.

Knowledge & Skills

In our curriculum area we develop cultural appreciation, critical and analytical thinking skills, competency with different materials and creativity with materials and ideas. Through this we learn:

• how ideas, feelings and meanings can be conveyed and interpreted in images, artefacts and products
• how knowledge and understanding of the work of others can develop and extend thinking and inform their own work
• a range of art, craft and design processes including two and/or three-dimensions and traditional and new media technologies
• how images, artefacts and products relate to social, historical, vocational and cultural contexts

Resources & Facilities

A range of processes and materials are used in all Key Stages including 2D and 3D work. These include: drawing, painting, mixed media, collage, air-dry clay, wire sculpture, felting and batik.

Courses & Qualifications

At KS3 schemes of work cover the core criteria that we believe are vital and which follow QCA guidelines. The students address four areas of enquiry: competency, creativity, cultural and critical. These are used to build the knowledge and skills required for artist appreciation and practice.

At KS4 we follow the GCSE (AQA) Art and Design; Art, Craft and Design

All schemes of work are constantly amended, responding to new developments in Art and Design. We work to projects which offer students the opportunity to explore and experiment with varied and diverse media in order to produce outcomes. Students also look at the history of art and the artwork/design from other cultures in order to enhance their own studies and artwork. Students are encouraged to make creative choices and develop their own ideas in response to artist and designers work whilst developing their own drawing style and skills.

At KS4 we also offer GCSE (AQA) Photography

This course explores creative photography and looking different disciplines within the photographic world such as

• portraiture
• location photography
• studio photography
• experimental imagery

Students will build up a photographic digital portfolio looking at creative artist's and photographers styles, learning how to develop their own body of work from this inspiration.

Student will also learn about use photographic techniques and processes, appropriate to students' personal intentions, for example:

• lighting
• viewpoint
• aperture
• depth of field
• shutter speed and movement
• digital processes.

Here are some examples of photography work completed by our past students.

We also run enrichment art club working toward the Arts Award - a qualification managed by the Trinity college in London in associations with Arts Council London.

Learning Outside The Classroom

We run Gifted and Talented classes every fortnight for identified students which help to further the students' creative and practical skills in the subject and provide stimulus for other areas of their work.

Art Club for KS3 runs every Tuesday after school.

There are after-academy classes for Coursework development offered to KS4 students. Those who need extra time and one to one support to complete work find this valuable.

Students are encouraged to enter both local and national competitions.

Where Does This Take Me In The Future?

Further Education -

• At Tollbar - A Level, 2 years.
• At Franklin Academy - AS/A2 Level Art.
• At GIFHE - the Foundation Course in Art & Design

After A Level -

Apply to Colleges, Universities for Further Education and Degree courses.

The following lists of employment outlets have been compiled from known jobs and occupations acquired by Art and Design students: