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Museum Art Gallery

Art & Design

Welcome To The
Art & Design Department

WHAT IS ART & DESIGN?

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Art & Design at our school offers students the opportunity to explore creativity, visual expression and critical thinking through a wide range of artistic media and processes. This includes traditional practices such as drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, sculpture, ceramics as well as digital media. Students learn to interpret and respond to the world around them, develop visual language, and communicate ideas, feelings and personal viewpoints.

ART & DESIGN STAFF

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Mrs Grant – TIC, KS 3,4,5

Mrs Hill – KS3

WHY ART & DESIGN MATTERS

Art & Design builds confidence, visual awareness, teamwork and independence. Students learn how to make creative decisions and connect their ideas to real-world contexts. The study of Art can develop transferable skills that can be taken to any subject, career or job. It will help with: research skills; problem solving; development of independent work; communication skills both visual and oral, innovation, creation and reflection; audience, consumer and/or function consideration.

KEY SKILLS

Art & Design equips students with skills that are valuable in and beyond school:


Creativity & visual literacy — understanding and creating visual messages.
Critical thinking & problem-solving — making purposeful creative choices.
Collaboration & communication — working with peers, explaining ideas and receiving feedback.
Pathways for the future — portfolio development for art-related university courses and careers in creative industries.

ENRICHMENT & EXTRA OPPORTUNITIES

All Students are encouraged to:

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  • Take part in internal and external competitions and exhibitions.

  • Visit galleries and studios to broaden their creative understanding. 

  • Attend workshops and past pupil visits to broaden their understanding of the creative industries.

  • Attend Art Club

  • Engage in cross-curricular projects linked to cultural, historical and environmental themes.

KEY STAGE 3

Overview


All pupils follow a broad and balanced programme using a wide variety of media, techniques and processes that helps them develop practical art skills alongside creative and critical thinking.

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What students learn


Foundations of visual art — line, tone, colour, shape, form, pattern, space and texture.

Techniques across media — drawing, printmaking, textiles, ceramics, mixed media, 3D construction and digital art.
Creative thinking – developing ideas from observation, imagination and research.
Critical language -  using art vocabulary to analyse and evaluate their own and others’ work.
Problem-solving  - critical and reflective thinking.

Personal expression — exploring how art can communicate meaning and emotion.

KEY STAGE 4 – GCSE (Yr11-12)

Overview

 

The CCEA qualification is designed to promote and reward independent learning; personal development and motivation; the ability to make creative connections, find alternative approaches and take risks in creating art and design work; aesthetic awareness and intellectual capabilities.

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Course Focus

 

Creative skills development - practical work and experimentation.
Study of contexts — historical and contemporary art, cultures and creative industries.
Portfolio work — students build personal portfolios showing exploration, experimentation and development in a wide variety of media, techniques and processes.
Externally set projects — responding to CCEA theme with final outcomes in various media.

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Skills gained

 

  • Advanced drawing and visual communication

  • Understanding of creative processes & techniques

  • Research and contextual analysis

  • Confidence and independence in artistic decision-making

Component 1

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Part A - Exploratory Portfolio - (25%)

Part B - Investigating the Creative and Cultural Industries - (35%)

Component 2

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Externally set Assignment - (40%)

KS4 Results

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  • 2025 A* - C 100%

  • 2024  A*-C 100%

  • 2023  A*-C 100%

KEY STAGE 5 (Post-16 / Sixth Form)

Overview

 

This stage provides advanced study opportunities for students who want to deepen their independent creative knowledge and ability, preparing for higher education or careers in the creative industries or in a related field. The CCEA specification is designed to broaden and deepen knowledge, skills and contextual understanding in a more personalised area of art, craft and design disciplines This qualification is designed to promote:​

 

Personal exploration and thematic portfolios – students focus on sustained investigations in media of their choice.
Critical understanding – students research artists, designers and cultural contexts.
Creative independence – self-directed projects allow students to refine their own approach and voice.
Preparation for next steps – building a portfolio for higher education or careers in art, design, media, film, architecture, illustration and more. 

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Skills gained

 

  • Advanced drawing and visual communication

  • Understanding of creative processes & techniques

  • Research and contextual analysis

  • Confidence and independence in artistic decision-making

AS 1 - Experimental Portfolio -

(50% AS / 20% A2)

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AS 2 - Personal Response -

(50% AS / 20% A2)

A2 1 - Personal and Critical Investigation -

(60% A2 / 36% A Level)

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A2 2 - Thematic Outcome -

(40% of A2 / 24% A Level)

KS5 Results

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  • 2025 A* - C 100%

  • 2024  A*-C 100%

  • 2023  A*-C 100%

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