Curriculum

Art

Department Aims: We live in a society with seemingly more insecurity around every corner for our students their families and ourselves. It is an important part of our job to try to provide a foundation for a positive future.

Our subject can make a valuable and possibly unique contribution towards, moral, spiritual and cultural aspects of our student’s education.

When talking with our students we have an obligation to make them understand what is fundamentally right and wrong, to try to make students aware of the values that add up to a civilized society. Our subject very much deals with personal responses and emotions. We have the opportunity to explore issues in a visual way. For example concern for the environment can filter through student’s work in Art, in the department we use much recycled and scrap materials, posing the question , what kind of society throws away such valuable assets? Ms Snead has just completed a leading edge project with visiting artists based on Totem poles made from recycled materials; they are displayed in the Maxcell Garden in Telford.

Thing of beauty do not have to cost a lot of money, we can consider natural objects and try to engender care and a love for the natural world. We have some of the best countryside on our doorstep; we should include this in our activity.

All students have an individual contribution to make, they have their own viewpoints and concerns, in this subject “Every child should matter.” We aim to show and encourage further tolerance and understanding of those with varied social, racial and religious backgrounds that includes all of us.

Department Staff:

There are two full time fully qualified and experienced staff in the department.
Ms Jackie Sneade has worked in other schools and has a wealth of experience from time spent working in industry, she trained as a designer at the Royal College of Art.
Mr Paul Janczykowski (Mr J) established the department back in 1981; he also trained as a designer.
Also part of the team are Kevan and Joy Hopson, both professional artists who have provided valuable sculpture and IT workshops over the last 10 years.

Department Facilities: Art accommodation has changed much over the years at present there are purpose built rooms in the main school building. The department is open plan with two teaching areas and a small project and computer area in the middle. The Art area is quite well resourced and we have quite a good range of materials and techniques available. The interesting and visually stimulating environment of the area is often commented upon.

Structure at KS3:

To start building a foundation in creative work we cover the following aspects of the subject:

  • Colour Work: looking at use and affects of colour, basic practical skills especially in the control and mixing of paint
  • Observation Work: how to understand, how to look at different subjects, to analyze and select
  • Environmental Work: to start to appreciate our surroundings, various approaches including working outdoors
  • The Work of Artists: this is linked to most of the subjects that we cover; the aim is to understand the Artist’s viewpoint and role in society.
  • Use of Imagination: to gain confidence to explore ideas and appreciate the vast resource we all have in our own minds
  • Skills and Materials: materials obviously include pencil, felts crayon, pastels, paint, inks for basic 2D work; other areas covered are print, collage, construction and basic 3D work.

To further inspire and give students confidence in year 8 we put more emphasis on development of individual style, approach and ideas. We still continue to build around the framework we have started in year 7.
Subjects covered are:

  • Camoflage
  • Fastfood

We start to put more emphasis upon problem solving in this year; we take some of the most difficult aspects of the subject and use different approaches, viewpoints and some learn some shortcuts.
We also need to prepare students to make a wise and considered option choice for GCSE in the upper school and most do! To do this we need to develop ideas from the initial sketch, showing the thought process, through using different techniques and materials to the completed work, we also have to think about working to a deadline. Again confidence is the key to success.
Subjects covered are:

  • Portraits
  • Graphic Design
  • Media
  • Environment - My World
  • Creativity Test - What my strengths are

Structure at KS4:

The content of the course varies according to the individuals in each group, but all cover the same foundation topics. Subjects covered include.

YEAR 10

  • Art in the 20th Century eg Pop Art
  • Local Town and Country
  • City Scape and Gallery Visit
  • Autumn and Seasons
  • The Place I Would Like To Be
  • After the Party
  • Project in IT on Animation

In year 11 students have the opportunity to work with a visiting Artist to produce sculptures and work in IT on animation. We also take students on a visit to a gallery, usually Birmingham or Liverpool.

Cousework will account for 60% of final grade, and the Set Test is the other 40%.

Notable Achievements:

Our course is very popular making us by far the largest in the option subjects, students have built a strong tradition of success over the last 20 years and results are consistently some of the best. In 2008 80 students took GCSE. over 65 earned between grade A* - C, giving a pass rate of 85%+. Most pleasing is around 25 candidates earned A and A*, this is a record.

Many go on to complete successful courses at college in creative work, and we have heard of many career achievements including becoming Head of Art at a local secondary school.