In Art and Design we consider the formal elements to be the foundation of artistic endeavour and students are supported to explore critically how artists, craftspeople and designers have arrived at solutions and communicated meaning using the formal elements.

Our Art curriculum builds upon the starting point of the formal elements and these underpin of all our curriculum content in order to help learners produce and engage with the visual Arts. Linked to this are imaginative processes, aesthetic awareness, communication skills and problem-solving qualities - delivered through tasks carefully designed to also develop a range of enhanced fine motor skills.

Curriculum Aims

Our curriculum is centred around the National Curriculum and the exam specifications we follow.  Its content reflects the multidisciplinary strengths and expertise within our teaching team, which allows us to deliver specialist Graphics, Photography, Fine Art, Textiles and Ceramics based units of work.

Our curriculum has students engage with the work of creative practitioners from a diverse range of cultures, times and societies – from major historical art movements to contemporary international and local artists – including ex-students. We employ a wide range of sources to cultivate respect and tolerance of a range of beliefs, opinions and cultures, both past and present. We foster a drive to know more and hearten our students to become inquisitive about the wider world in which they live, we want then to see Art and Design in the context of a potential employer and signpost them to the creative industries throughout their schemes of work. It is key that our learners understand how Art and Design contributes to the culture and wealth of our nation.

Our curriculum places value on the concept of the creative journey, supporting students in evidencing the key learning objectives through a process of sustained enquiry, recording insights and observations, developing ideas and realising intentions. Through this process they gain extensive, relevant knowledge and useful transferable skills.

Curriculum Design

The aim of curriculum design is to place value on the concept of the creative journey, supporting students in evidencing the key learning objectives through a process of sustained enquiry, recording insights and observations, developing ideas and realising intentions.

The Art curriculum has been designed taking into account research by the specialist teaching union NSEAD, most notably articles relating to cultural capital, race and inclusion.

Our curriculum is sequenced to deliver increasing levels of challenge and to build a diverse, personalised and lively portfolio in Key Stage 4 that will support next steps in subject specialist learning.

Please click the link to view our Art and Design Curriculum Year Overview

Future Pathways and Next Steps 

Through the study of Art and Design we aim to unlock each students' potential and inspire them to achieve excellence by being the best they can be. This can lead to a wide range of future opportunities, some of which include:  

University Degrees: Art and Design Foundation Diplomas (Art Foundation), Graphic Design, Architecture

Apprenticeships: Textiles, Floristry 

Careers: Architect, Film Director, Fine Artist, Make-up Artist, Video Game Designer, Web Designer

Students can find out more about the subject and careers above by logging into their Unifrog account at https://www.unifrog.org/sign-in and using the Subject Library and Careers Library tools.