Curriculum Areas - Art

Introduction

The Art Department aims to offer the opportunity to explore a variety of art forms and processes in depth with a structure which supports and encourages the individual. Schemes of work at KS4 are thematic.

• The department aims to enable pupils to develop the ability to think and act creatively, learning and developing skills and knowledge appropriate to each assessment area.
• Pupils are encouraged to explore their own and society's feelings and values whilst encouraging an awareness of cultural changes and differences. Pupils are exposed to creative and practical forms which offer no ethnic, religious or gender bias.
• Pupils are encouraged to develop the practical and perceptual skills they need in all areas of the Expressive Arts. The department encourages students to record observations and ideas and to analyse and evaluate these sources demonstrating an understanding of context. Work is modified and refined as it progresses, through the use of media processes and resources. Reference to work from other times and cultures is made and pupils present personal responses, realising their intentions using visual language skills and techniques. Students make a connection between their own work and that of others.
• The department aims to offer an extensive range of extra-curricular activities for the greater fulfilment of the individual. The department currently runs two trips per academic year to museums and galleries.
• The department aims to encourage the use of outside professionals to support the development of the curriculum. The department has strong links with Anglia Polytechnic University as part of their teacher training programme and we regularly welcome sixth form and postgraduate students seeking work experience.
• The department has specific aims and objectives in addition to those of the curriculum area.
• The department aims to encourage pupils to have a balanced view of the nature of the Arts and their relationship; in the hope that when they leave school it will be with some skills and an interest in all forms of the arts which will serve them into and during adulthood.

The Art Club is held on various days - 3.15pm to 4.30pm - please see Mr Doyle or Mrs Stenner for further details.

Examples of pupils' work: