Introduction
The Art Department has two work rooms, enhancing displays and galleried landing give a separate uplifting and relaxing feel to the area.
The Department has strong links with outside practitioners and values working with artists in residence. There are many enrichment activities provided for our students, which enhance our arts curriculum and development of the CCHS creative learner profile.
The Art and Design teaching programme is based on this philosophy and its structure being spiral. The degree of and depth of skills is taught according to the needs of the age group. Consequently, as the student journeys on in the school they are able to pick-up and use various skills as their enlightenment dictates. It is important to stress that students need to be exposed to Art from past and present cultures of various types. The recognition of which brings about within the student a real opportunity to see their work in the context and, therefore, to value its meaning. The model is defined as organic growing rather than constricting and narrow. Therefore, real Art results from an act of self-expression involving emotions and intellect.
The Aims of the Art Department
The department seeks to provide students with a way of seeing themselves and their environment in a unique way which is not possible in other subjects.
Throughout the programmes of study in years 7-13 our students learn:
- to use the formal elements of Art in a creative, imaginative and unique way;
- to select and control a range of materials in a systematic and controlled way;
- to develop practical skills in working with media in both two and three dimensions;
- to use a wide range of media and techniques to realise their ideas and express their feelings in a visual form of communication;
- to discuss, evaluate, refine and modify their work with others;
- to keep a sketch-book for investigation, experimentation and documentation;
- to explore, gain inspiration and make judgements about the work of artists/crafts people from all cultures and different periods throughout art history;
- to understand and inform ideas from contextual links in critical studies.
Our aim is to encourage students of all abilities and culture to extend their knowledge and skills to work with enthusiasm and confidence towards achievement and creative personal growth. We aim to support and maximise the skills of the individual.
GCSE
This course builds on the skills, knowledge and understanding acquired by students at key stage 3. It is expected that the candidates will have developed sufficient understanding and skill for the GCSE to be rewarding and enjoyable in its own right. Art fosters and encourages through direct personal expression imagination, sensitivity and conceptual thinking. Through direct experience of practical skills and theoretical studies, the GCSE leads to full understanding of the part played in the arts in the history of man’s development. In doing so, it widens cultural horizons and enriches each student’s personal resources and self-confidence.
A Level
This OCR specification encourages a rounded exposure to different aspects of fine art, which allows students to develop a sound grounding in a number of areas whilst exploring ideas and carrying out their intentions in a variety of artistic disciplines. An awareness of life outside of the school environment is important and this involves time spent working on location and visiting art galleries. Residential Art visits are also encouraged. Candidates produce a portfolio of work from given starting points, topics or themes determined by their centre. Critical and contextual thinking is also a fundamental part of the course and students are expected to research and write about the work of other practitioners. The focus is on including work that shows exploration through a foundation style start to the year which also includes research, acquisition of techniques and skills. Throughout this course we encourage the development of work around personal interests to develop a mature portfolio of evidence to support their further studies.
Throughout this course we encourage the development of work around personal interests to develop a mature portfolio of evidence to support their further studies.
