Art and Design

Statement of Intent

Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.  So…Why take Art?

It’s far from the ‘soft – option’ we were sold on when we were younger! It’s hard work. It takes time, dedication and passion. But the rewards are extensive…

• Art encourages self-expression and creativity and can build confidence as well as a sense of individual identity. Challenges and hurdles that we all had to address and overcome as teenagers but virtues that help us become what and who we are as adults
• Creativity can also help with wellbeing and improving health and happiness – a recent Arts Council England research project drew from the experience and voices of thousands of young people. A frequent comment from many of these children was that art lessons acted as an outlet for releasing the pressures of studying as well as those of everyday life
• Studying arts subjects also help to develop critical thinking and the ability to interpret the ever-changing world around us
• Studying art teaches determination and resilience – qualities useful to any career. It teaches us that it is okay to fail, to not get things totally right the first time and to have the courage to start again

Draw what you see … not what you think you see…

The Sandon School Art and Design Department is built upon a deep belief in the traditional skills of drawing and painting produced initially from first hand experiences.  All classroom projects are based on observational studies and this is maintained throughout Years 10 and 11.  Students will engage with the fine art specialism. This title is defined as that aspect of art, craft and design where work is developed primarily for aesthetic, intellectual or purely conceptual purposes rather than for purposes that have a necessarily practical function.

Students will be encouraged to experiment, collaborate, make informed creative decisions and innovate. Our primary purpose is to firstly instil and then develop a confident approach that will support students’ creative journeys, not only in the classroom but a journey that will accompany them throughout their lives. We will help them acquire and develop technical skills through working with a broad range of media, materials, techniques, processes and technologies with purpose and intent.  Our students are taught techniques that will help them develop their core skills before providing exciting opportunities to explore more experimental and imaginative responses and outcomes, both two and three dimensionally, as part of both the coursework and externally set assignment units. Students will be made aware of the different roles and individual work practices evident in the production of art, craft and design in the extensive vocational opportunities available within the creative and cultural industries. Thus students will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of essential skills required for further and higher education, as well as potential employment.

All creative work will be supported by contextual and cultural research. Students will look at the work of artists both past and present and will be taught how to analyse their own work and the work of others.  Work produced both in the classroom and independently at home will be carefully monitored, guided and regularly assessed with students receiving a combination of both written and verbal feedback. The Art and Design Department aims to foster, guide and support critical and creative thinking, artistic expression, effective communication, cultural awareness and community engagement. We look to inspire and encourage students to want to learn, achieve and become the best they can.  More importantly we want our students to be happy and enthusiastic in their Art lessons and feel comfortable, supported and at ease in the Art Department.