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St Clement's High School

Art / Photography

Art Curriculum:

Purpose of our study

Art embodies some of the highest forms of human creativity. Our curriculum is designed around high-quality art that engages, inspires and challenges our pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art. As our pupil’s progress, they should be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of art. They should also know how art both reflects and shapes the visual world around us, and contributes to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation.

Aims

Our aim is to provide a supportive atmosphere, promoting and enhancing pupils' experiences and enthusiasm for the arts. Pupils should explore both imagery and media freely whilst developing a variety of skills and techniques enabling them to develop independent visual ideas. We strive to give pupils the ability to reflect upon the wealth and diversity of the visual world around them and the understanding that art has no boundaries.

Our curriculum for art aims to ensure that all pupils:

  • become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art techniques
  • evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art
  • know about relevant artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and cultural development of their art forms
  • produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences

Subject content

Pupils are taught to develop their creativity and ideas, and increase proficiency in their execution. They develop a critical understanding of artists, expressing reasoned judgements that can inform their own work.

Pupils are taught:

  • to use a range of techniques to record their observations in sketchbooks and other media as a basis for exploring their ideas
  • to use a range of techniques and media, including drawing, printing, painting and sculpture
  • to increase their understanding and proficiency in the handling of different materials
  • to analyse and evaluate their own work, and that of others, in order to strengthen the visual impact or applications of their work
  • about the importance of art, including periods, styles and key movements up to contemporary practices of the present day.