“I paint as a way of looking for myself in the world” - Amy Sherald

Our Curriculum

Education through Art and Design inspires creativity, knowledge and appreciation of culture. This in turn enables learners to connect to their world on a deeper level, learning about our shared histories and creating new openings and horizons to different ways of seeing, thinking, doing and being.

Our curriculum aims to prepare our pupils for lifelong learning with flexible intelligences and creative verbal and non-verbal communication skills. We aim to encourage learners to discover themselves and their creative voice through a series of taught skills which enable pupils to realise their creative intentions. The curriculum encourages pupils to think critically and imaginatively and fosters an empathetic, inter-cultural understanding and commitment to equality and diversity.

Getting better at Art

Visual literacy is an essential skill in today’s world and pupils are taught critical analysis skills alongside making in order to produce personal and meaningful work that learners feel proud of. Our department aims to build pupil confidence and self-esteem and we strive at all times to create a safe, positive and accepting space where pupils can be themselves and express themselves through the work that they create.

By teaching a wide range of skills and techniques, as well as theoretical and disciplinary knowledge, we enable pupils to become increasingly independent and autonomous artists as they move through the Key Stages, guiding them and supporting them as they create a portfolio that is both personal and meaningful, and demonstrates a deep contextual and critical understanding, confident use of visual language and sense of self expression.

Beyond School

The study of Art can be continued at GCSE through AQA Art, Craft and Design and AQA A-Level Fine Art. Studying Art in KS5 can lead to a range of Further & Higher Education opportunities such as Architecture, Art History and Fine Art, Photography, Ceramics and 3D Design, Visual & Special Effects, Digital Media, Graphic Design and Textiles degrees as well as apprenticeships.

Careers include, but are not limited to:

Architecture, textile design, art conservation and restoration, fine artist, graphic design, visual effects, fashion, illustration, art therapy, product design, jewellery and fashion design, animation, ceramicist, photojournalism, medical illustrator, typography design, visual marketing and merchandising, teaching, toy design, art history, web design, post-production in film and digital media