The Art and Design department has five teachers and two technical assistants. The department is headed by Mr D Sizer, who is a very experienced teacher and head of department. Miss V Thompson is our Ceramic and stained glass specialist. Mrs C Brownless offers expertise in teaching textiles and Mrs R Tsiouka and Miss C Wilkinson are experienced and enthusiastic teachers with a wide range of interests and knowledge in Art and Design.
Art and Design has five main teaching rooms, two of which are for the exclusive use of Key Stage 5 students. All classrooms are equipped with computers with internet/intranet access and digital data projectors. The use of photography is an important component in our courses and students are able to use the department’s digital cameras and computer programmes as part of their work.
The Art department has a well equipped Ceramics classroom which includes a kiln and other ceramics equipment. One of our A level studios is a designated Textiles area which contains a number of computerised sewing machines. In addition we have Fine Art studio equipped with a printing press, computers and a data projector for students use.
All our classes, of up to 24 students, work in a quiet, purposeful way in well equipped, light and spacious classrooms. Art work produced by the students at all levels is displayed throughout the department as well as on the main corridors in the Academy
Servicing the art classrooms is a technicians working area, where materials are prepared, work is mounted and resources are stored. In addition the art department has store rooms and cupboards where a wide range of materials and equipment is kept.
Art is an important course at Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9) and pupils are taught on average two 45 minute lessons per week throughout each year. In each term students learn about a different aspect of Art of Design including the use of various materials and techniques as well as related research into the History of Art. Students are also expected to complete one piece of homework for Art each week and this could include drawing, artistic research and preparing resources.
The Department currently offers the GCSE in Art and Design at Key Stage 4 with Fine Art, printmaking and Ceramic Sculpture as the areas covered in the syllabus. In addition we run a very popular Textiles Technology course, also at GCSE.
At Key Stage 5, we offer an A level GCE in Fine Art including ceramic sculpture and printmaking. In addition we teach a very successful A level GCE in Textile Design.