Art and Design

Art and Design Curriculum Intent

Our Art curriculum is a vibrant cornerstone of our school's overarching intent: "Knowledge empowers. We build knowledgeable, resilient, skillful and compassionate students, fostering character growth and lifelong learning through a challenging and inclusive curriculum. Our students have a positive view of challenge, dare to think in new ways, are creative, and realise that: 'Life is what I make it!'"

In Art, we ignite this spirit by encouraging responsive, active, and experiential learning. We offer a learning experience that is both broad and balanced, providing students with unique opportunities to explore and develop critical and visual understanding in a personal way, ultimately realizing their creative potential. We actively encourage progress through problem-solving and decision-making, fostering the resilience and independent thought that define our students.

Students will gain confidence through the experimentation of diverse ways of working, expertly employing the fundamental elements of art—Line, Tone, Texture, Pattern, Colour, and Form—alongside a rich variety of tools, techniques, and processes. This deep engagement with artistic language equips them with the ability to communicate thoughts, feelings, and ideas effectively in two and three dimensions, a vital aspect of both artistic expression and literacy knowledge. Through visual communication, students develop their capacity to express complex ideas, interpret visual cues, and understand narratives beyond written text.

Observational drawing underpins all our ideas and creative thinking. As students work independently to respond to project starting points, they don't just develop their artistic skills; they cultivate a deeper sense of identity. They learn to observe and interpret the world in which they live with heightened perception. Furthermore, our curriculum develops their ability to value the profound contributions made by artists, craftspeople, and designers, enabling them to respond thoughtfully and critically to ideas, images, and objects from different times, places, cultures, and traditions. This critical engagement with diverse artistic expressions directly enhances their cultural literacy, allowing them to navigate and appreciate the richness of human creativity.

Lessons

Y7: 1 hour per fortnight
Y8 and Y9: 2 hours per fortnight

GCSE Options - Art and Photography

Y10 and Y11: 5 hours per fortnight

Staff

Mrs Penman- Curriculum Leader of Art
Miss Horwood – Art and Design Teacher