Art & Design Department
The Art & Design Department has one full-time member of staff, Mrs Connie Plazalska (Principal Teacher).
Art and design are part of all aspects of our lives: what we wear; where we live, work and play, the signs and symbols we look at in our daily lives; the films and videos we watch; the adverts and posters that entice us; and how the Internet is used to communicate.
The principal aim of the Art & Design Department is to foster confidence in pupils' own abilities in all aspects of the course - Art and Design is for all, not just a talented few - and to prepare pupils to live in a world which increasingly relies on visual messages.
Looking, selecting, making and creating with materials will enhance pupils' lives, not just when they are at school, but on into adult life. The skills they learn are transferable into a number of life situations. Their imaginations are stimulated; individual expression is encouraged and better understanding of our interaction with society is promoted.
Outline of S1 & 2 Syllabus –
S1 - one period per week
Four main units of work are covered with additional small units added as time allows:
DRAWING – this activity is central to all art and design activities and in S1 shape awareness combined with use of media and techniques is the main focus, with the aim of instilling confidence.
COLOUR – confident use of colour is encouraged through painting exercises, this is combined with media-handling and techniques.
DESIGN – using investigation, mind-mapping, planning sketches, and making skills to produce a poster design introduces the pupils to using a design process.
3D – development skills are further enhanced with planning for a 3D outcome, usually in papier mâché. The making of this outcome is normally undertaken at the beginning of S2.
S2 - 2 periods per week
1 period is used for EXPRESSIVE WORK, 1 period is for DESIGN WORK, including evaluation of their own work and the work of artists and designers:
EXPRESSIVE: Drawing, colour and developmental skills are improved and enhanced and opportunities are given to develop personal artwork to given themes.
DESIGN: On completion of the 3D unit, a design brief is given – usually graphics packaging – and a design process of investigation, development of ideas, producing a solution to the brief and evaluation is followed. Some computer graphics is included.
ART & DESIGN STUDIES: artists working to a similar theme are studied alongside the Expressive unit, and aspects of design are studied pertinent to the Design unit.
An awareness of society is built into the work in the department – in Expressive work, themes like ‘Homeless’, ‘Travel’, ‘Where We Live’ are used, while recycling, sustainable materials and organic issues are a part of Design units.
Each pupil has a sketchbook/jotter in which a record of the course work is kept by the pupil and this continues from S1 into S2.
Homework in S1 and S2 is given in relation to work being undertaken in class, to reinforce, to give opportunities for personal research and to develop personal ideas.
Outline of S3 & 4 Syllabus
In S3 and S4 the time allocation allows one period for Expressive work, one for Design work and one for Art & Design Study work. Flexibility is built into this framework, adapting to circumstances as required.
The students in S3 follow the Intermediate 1 course but there is, at this time, no intention to sit the Intermediate 1 course in S3; instead they work on their skills towards Intermediate 2 at the end of S4.
The work consists of three different units of work:
EXPRESSIVE - producing personal work through exploration of a variety of themes.
Source studies – developing observational drawing and colour skills, investigating the use of different media, discovering appropriate source material to successfully express an idea visually, while working to a choice of themes.
Development studies – using drawing and colour skills to explore an idea in different ways, experimenting with composition for visual impact, and choosing appropriate media to produce the desired effect answering the chosen theme.
Expressive Outcome – producing a coherent visual image which successfully expresses the theme explored.
THEMES are developed through Portrait, Figure Composition, Still Life, Built & Natural Environment.
In S3, using figures, still life and the environment are all explored while in S4 each pupil chooses her own theme and choice of genre.
VISUAL ARTS STUDY
This is always linked directly to the Expressive practical work – a still life unit will involve the study of still life paintings, portraits will be linked to portraiture, landscape to the environment etc.
There is an external written exam which covers evaluation and knowledge and understanding of the work of artists; responses to questions are practised.
In S3 several exercises are undertaken while in S4 each pupil studies artists relevant to her own work.
DESIGN – working to a given design brief – from Product Design, Graphics, Textiles or Jewellery.
Research and Investigation – this consists of source studies to assist with the visual appearance of the design solution and market research which studies other designers’ solutions to a similar brief and investigation of suitable materials.
Consideration of Possibilities – is the development from the research and investigation of a variety of possible solutions to the given brief.
Solution of the design brief – is producing a solution which answers the constraints of the given design brief.
Evaluation – the students produce a written response to their design units which explains the problems met and how they were solved on a given pro forma.
One short and one full Design unit is undertaken in S3, and one full unit in S4.
DESIGN STUDY
This is always linked directly to the Design practical work – a jewellery unit will involve the study of jewellery designers and their work, poster design will be linked to graphics units, products to product design etc.
There is an external written exam which covers evaluation and knowledge and understanding of the work of designers; responses to questions are practised.
In S3 several exercises are undertaken while in S4 each pupil studies designers relevant to her own work.
Sketchbooks are encouraged and many homework exercises can be done in the sketchbook.
Homework always relates to the work in the class and includes research into artists and designers and their work, essay writing as well as drawing and colour studies.
Outline of S5 & 6 Syllabus – course choices
There is a range of activities available to S5 and S6, from Advanced Higher and Higher Art & Design to discrete units at a level suited to the individual pupil.
HIGHER: 5 periods per week
The Higher course follows on from, and builds on the skills gained in the Intermediate 2 course. While the coursework is similar, the difference between Intermediate 2 and Higher is one of quality.
The Higher course follows on from, and builds on the skills gained in the Intermediate 2 course. While the coursework is similar, the difference between Intermediate 2 and Higher is one of quality.
Expressive – Pupils decide on a theme of personal interest from a set of options and work their way through the unit, producing quality outcomes at each stage. The three stages are the same as Intermediate courses: research, development and final outcome.
Design - Pupils decide what they will produce, again from a set of options, and work their way through the design process to production of the item. They can produce fashion items, performance costume, products, body adornment or graphics. The same design process is followed as in Intermediate courses.
Art and Design Studies – These are completed for both the Expressive and Design units and should include detailed study of appropriate artists, designers and their work enabling pupils to answer the questions in the written examination in June.
Sketchbooks are encouraged and many homework exercises can be done in the sketchbook.
Homework always relates to the work in the class and includes research into artists and designers and their work, and essay writing, as well as drawing and colour studies.
This course may also be taken in S5 or S6 at Intermediate 2 level, if required.
S6 Options
ADVANCED HIGHER: 6 periods per week
At Advanced Higher level, pupils can choose from one of the following options: Expressive with Design; Expressive with Art and Design Studies (Expressive); Design with Expressive; or Design with Art and Design Studies (Design). Each option indicates a major unit and a minor unit.
The choice of theme should reflect the personal interests of the candidate and should be able to sustain a substantial body of work, including research, development and final outcomes as well as clear association with other artists and designers. Emphasis is placed on working on your own initiative and independent study.
Sketchbooks are an essential requirement of Advanced Higher Art & Design.
HIGHER OR INTERMEDIATE COURSE: 5 periods per week
In S6, Pupils may choose to do a Higher or an Intermediate course depending on experience and ability.
FREESTANDING UNIT
Pupils may also undertake a freestanding unit in either Expressive or Design.
Expressive – 2 periods per week
A pupil can choose to produce an Expressive unit at Intermediate 2, Higher or Advanced Higher, according to their experience and ability level. An Advanced Higher unit would require a bigger time commitment of 3 - 4 periods per week.
Design - 2 periods per week
A pupil can choose to produce a Design unit at Intermediate 2, Higher or Advanced Higher, according to their experience and ability level. Similarly, an Advanced Higher unit would require more time.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Gallery visits
House art competitions
Lunchtime catch-up classes as required
