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Art & Design

Art, craft and design underpins the very fabric of our society. Art and design education stimulates creativity and imagination, and provides visual, tactile and sensory experiences via a unique way of understanding and responding to the world around us.

Department Vision:
To inspire ambition, confidence and creative curiosity through Art and Design education.
Department Aim:
To stimulate and develop our students’ creative confidence and curiosity, and to increase proficiency in the execution of key art, craft and design skills in order to express reasoned judgements that can inform their own work.
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Our department’s focus is centred around strengthening the depth of knowledge of the formal elements of art and design education and its wider context within society and the creative industries. Students explore ideas and meanings in the work of artists, craftspeople, designers across various cultures, and learn about the diverse roles and functions of art, craft and design in contemporary life and across periods in history. We are proud to support students in developing excellent independent learning skills, while helping them to expand their artistic repertoire, and grow into culturally-aware and well-rounded individuals who cultivate a deep understanding of the role of art and design in the modern world. 

Students across all key stages use colour, form, texture, pattern and different materials and processes to communicate what they see, feel and think. Through art and design activities, they learn to make informed judgements and aesthetic and practical decisions. 

Within this, we foster: 

  • the development of ideas through sustained investigations 
  • contextual and analytical understanding 
  • the ability to reflect critically on your own work and the work of others 
  • exploration of resources, media, materials and techniques. 
  • refinement of processes 
  • high-quality recording skills 
  • the presentation of meaningful responses 

Typically, a quarter of all students opt to study this subject at GCSE and beyond. There are 3 specialist Art and Design rooms, each equipped with a range of high-quality facilities and resources for 2D, 3D and digital work. Access to extra-curricular studio time is available each week after school for KS4 and KS5 students, supported by 4 subject-specialist art teachers with a diverse range of art and design practice in and out of industry. 

Learning Ladders

Click on the Learning Ladder to see a larger version. The Learning Ladder shows the subjects or topics that students will learn about each year. Click on any 'Year' roundel to view an in-depth Learning Journey for the year you have selected. This shows in more detail, what students will learn each term, with links to useful resources etc. (this applies to all roundels)

ART & DESIGN KS3/4

View the Learning Ladder and the Learning Journey for this subject here.

ART & DESIGN KS5

View the Learning Ladder and the Learning Journey for this subject here.

Wider Curriculum

The Wider Curriculum allows students to take a further interest in their subjects and subject related material they study at school. The Wider Curriculum also enables parents and carers to actively engage with the opportunities offered by each department.

WIDER CURRICULUM KS3

Each PDF is hyperlinked, so when you click on them, the links will take you to areas where you may read, view, listen, visit and be creative.

WIDER CURRICULUM KS4

Each PDF is hyperlinked, so when you click on them, the links will take you to areas where you may read, view, listen, visit and be creative.

WIDER CURRICULUM KS5

Each PDF is hyperlinked, so when you click on them, the links will take you to areas where you may read, view, listen, visit and be creative.

Career Options in Art & Design

These are some examples of career paths available if you study this subject:

Marketing, Advertising/Brand Manager, Illustrator, Photographer (Commercial and Journalistic), Animation, Architect, Fine Artist, Art Buyer, Museum Curator, Graphic Designer, Theatre Designer, Fashion Designer, Textile Designer, Interior Designer, Cake Decorator, Make-up Artist, Hairdresser, Creative Director, Digital Production Manager, Art Therapist, Web Designer, Sculptor, Visual Merchandising, Design Engineer, Prop Maker, Spatial Designer, Jeweller, Food Stylist, Concept Designer, Camera Operator, Post-Production Editor

* Please note some of these occupations can overlap with D&T and Media subjects.