Welcome to Art
What is the purpose of Art & Design in the Whole School Curriculum?
In the Art Department at Meden we aim for excellence in the visual arts and hope to produce well informed and confident artists by providing students with a stimulating environment and a board and varied curriculum. We expect all students to do their best as they explore, develop and refine new skills and there is a strong emphasis on all students to take ownership of their learning and achievement. Students are given the opportunity to express themselves creatively through independent learning, practical application and reflection.
The National Curriculum states that the purpose of Art & Design programmes should be to inspire, challenge, equip students with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent, create, think critically, develop a rigorous understanding of art & design and how it shapes our history and contributes to our culture.
What are the aims for Art & Design at Meden School?
- To encourage creative thinkers.
- To allow students to use their imaginations.
- The arts strengthen problem solving and critical thinking skills.
- To cater for the visual learners.
- To give students an opportunity to express themselves.
- To develop empathy in our students and an understanding of different cultures, including British Values.
- To develop literacy skills.
- To develop analytical skills.
- To encourage students to become designers & makers.
- To contribute to students understanding of history and context.
- To encourage students to be experimental and to take creative risks.
- To allow students opportunity to reflect.
- For students to be proficient in a wide range of materials and processes.
- For students to be able to record, develop, refine and present effectively.
- To be able to investigate art and design practice.
- Generate and communicate art and design ideas.
- Develop practical skills through application and review.
- Build on student’s communication skills.
- For students to have FUN!!
How is the subject going to engage and excite our most disengaged learners?
- Some students prefer a hands on approach to learning.
- Art offers students more freedom to explore, make decisions and reach conclusions.
- Arts ‘reach the students other subjects can’t reach’
- Less academic students can become defeatist if they feel they can’t achieve: art can be the place they blossom.
- With studious students, the arts can bring them out of themselves and be a release.
- Art can be very personal. Students enjoy drawing their friends and family or taking something home they have made. Students get the opportunity to put their own interests into the work and therefore take more ownership over it.
- A varied Curriculum which offers students the opportunity to explore a wide range of materials and processes, as well as a wide range of themes.
The Art Department hold an annual exhibition to showcase the student’s achievements at KS4 and we have a strong profile in the school by displaying work outside of the department.
There is a projector in both of the art classrooms and we have a Meden Pinterest account to encourage students to explore the modern world of technology and how it can be used to support the arts. Students have regular lessons in the ICT suites to offer them opportunity to research, collect and record ideas digitally. There is also a kiln within the department offering the opportunity to deliver ceramic lessons. Workshops outside of lessons and trips to local attractions are offered where appropriate to support our curriculum.