Department Aims, Resources, Teaching Staff, Courses
The art department aims to:
4 art rooms
2 sixth form art studios
Art shop
Art office with computer
2 storage areas
Camera, video recorder, 4 digital cameras, dark room
Photographic silkscreen facilities
Slides, videos, postcards, books
Photocopier
Ceramic storage and kiln area, pottery wheels
2 computers in each art room installed with art programmes
Internet connection in each art room
Projector/slide viewer
Television and video recorder in each art room
Batik facilities
Etching press
Sewing machines
A range of 2 and 3 dimensional media for drawing and painting, printing, 3D work, graphic design, photography and textiles.
Students are encouraged to practise their research skills, using the facilities in the school Resources Centre.
The use of resources outside school
The department maintains a link with the library at the University of Huddersfield. An induction visit is organised for sixth form students each year. Students are encouraged to use this facility when undertaking research on projects.
Student visits to galleries, museums and exhibitions are arranged annually. The department is keen to introduce students to practising artists, designers and craftspeople. In July 2002, the internationally renowned painter, Tom Wood, lectured all year groups.
Sixth form, AVCE students have successfully completed work experience placements in art, craft or design placements as part of their course.
Anne Jessop - Acting Head of Department
Brian Halton - Art Teacher
Jayne Machin - Art Teacher
Julia Wright - Art Teacher
Caroline Bell - Technician, part- time
Students on all art and design courses are required to make good use of sketchbooks. All courses involve students in work that culminates in assessment at one of the following stages :
National Curriculum level – year 9
GCSE- year11
AS-year12
A2-year13
AVCE (a vocational course, which when successfully completed as a full award, is worth 2 A level passes).
There are common elements to all the courses. These are as follows:
Collecting information, on a theme, from primary and secondary sources.
Researching the work of artists, craftspeople, designers or cultures and, where possible, making links between this research and the student’s own work.
Using a range of art media, techniques and processes.
Conceiving and developing ideas by using research and media experimentation to produce compositional and idea alternatives.
Producing a piece, or pieces, of work that shows skill in handling the chosen medium, or media. Students should show an understanding of the formal elements of art and design: line, tone, colour, pattern, shape, form, texture, scale etc.
Oral responses to the work of artists, designers, cultures, their own work and that of their peers.
Annotations and evaluations of art and design work, using forms appropriate to the students’ skills and abilities.
At all levels, students are encouraged to pursue personal areas of interest and exploit their particular skills and preferences.