The art course lends itself to a wide range of Spiritual, Moral, Cultural and Social studies. Students will analyse, engage with and question their own and others work, identify how beliefs, values and meanings are expressed and shared. Students are encouraged to express themselves through their art, which is supported by strong research into the wider world around them. This is reinforced by trips and outings to museums, galleries and field studies that are strongly linked to projects. The department undertakes a number of extra-curricular activities that enhance the students’ experience of the fine arts and its context in the world.
Spiritual Development in Art
The Art and design course is dependent on the students’ ability to enquire and communicate their ideas, meanings and feelings. Students will investigate visual, tactile and other sensory qualities of their own and others work. We encourage independent thinking that will enable students to develop their ideas and intentions and express these in an appropriate manner.
Year 9/10/11
We concentrate on building confidence through developing skill sets in each project.
Year 9/10/11
All schemes of work are designed to show progression to enhance self-worth.
All outcomes are encouraged to show individuality that is purposeful and meaningful.
Students are encouraged to explore their own ideas and meaning in order to promote self-identity
Independent reflections on own work through self-evaluations.
Year 10
Giving pupils the chance to reflect on nature, their environment and surroundings through a natural form project.
Year 12/13
Students are taught to experiment and trust in their own judgements throughout art and design by being given the option of resources and equipment and the freedom to use different media together to improve their creative responses and express personal opinion.
Encouraging individuality through student choice in most tasks, especially GCSE and Sixth form courses
Moral Development in Art
Throughout the course students are encouraged to look at work that will often pose a moral question. The student’s outcomes are supported with a rationale or a meaning that will often convey a message.
Year 9
The graffiti debate in year 9 – students explore whether it is art or vandalism
Year 9 Students study ‘Guernica’ by Picasso, looking at the atrocities of war.
Year 10/11
Students explore aesthetics- and are given the opportunity to give an opinion as to what looks good and what does not.
All students are taught to understand and read an art work in order to relate to a concept or idea that conveys a meaning.
Students are required to give an opinion on others work with justification for their view.
Year 12/13
The ‘Environments’ project in Yr12 looks closely at the world in which we live and our influence upon it.
Opportunities for sixth form to select their own issues to research and represent through their art work such as domestic abuse and war.
Social Development in Art
Students work is celebrated throughout the school and displayed in many areas. Pupils work independently and collaboratively to develop public and community artworks that express relationships between the students and local community.
Student discussion of a range of artists and art work, encouraging and developing communication skills
Extensive displays of student art work in the art department and around the school
TRICS day Team activities in which students undertake a collaborative project such as the Scrap Heap Challenge.
Regular group and pair work in photography and art, supporting one another in a variety of projects in order to enhance team working skills. Eg. Collaborative art panels, large scale work and community projects.
All year groups give regular peer feedback and assessment.
Group presentations and critiques in year 11 and sixth form, encouraging communication and peer feedback
Students are taught to give and receive positive criticism in order to inform ideas and decisions about their work.
Art students regularly work with external practitioners to create commissioned art pieces such as the English stairway and the Tim Tolkien metal work project.
We regularly undertake Community art projects such as re-conditioning the local bus shelters
‘Photograph of the Week’ updated each week to celebrate the work of year 12 photography students and shared with whole school.
Art work tweeted on a regular basis to share students achievements with the Arrow Vale and wider communities.
Arrow Vale Arts website launched to celebrate art work with the wider community.
Art aims to hold a regular exhibition of student work in which students are encouraged to discuss the work with the wider Arrow Vale community.
Cultural Development in Art
Throughout the units of work explored Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of artist’s ideas and concepts identifying how meanings are conveyed. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of cultures, beliefs and religions. Through their investigations they will research and explore the religious and non-religious beliefs adopted by a variety of cultures from around the world.
Year 9
Totem poles. In which students look at crafts from American Indian, African and Inuit cultures.
Year 9 and 10
Urban art projects. In which students look at a range popular culture including music, dance and art.
Annual trip to Witley Court to study the architecture.
Year 12/13
World cultures project in year 13. Students undertake a sculptural project which is influenced by the students’ choice of world culture.
Students are required to research a wide range of artists and link their findings to their own work.
Trips to London and local galleries and Universities are used to help influence and link to personal projects.
Students are encouraged to experiment with a variety of traditional and non-traditional art materials and processes.
