Introduction

- As appropriate, the aims and objectives of the Art Department relate directly to those of the School and to the requirements of the National Curriculum. To be consistent with the conception employed in the National Curriculum documentation, Art should be interpreted here as Art, Craft and Design.

Aims

- The aims of the department are to:

- Simulate and maintain student curiosity, interest and enjoyment in Art.

- Enable students to be familiar with a body of artistic knowledge, skills, principles and vocabulary, e.g. students should become competent and confident in producing images and works of art, responding to works produced by others, and to features of the natural and man made environment, with reasoned arguments.

- Enable students to perceive Art as a major cultural feature, part of a wider body of knowledge and skills e.g. to be able to work both independently and co-operatively.

- To employ teaching methods and resources that allow all students (irrespective of their gender, ethic origin, academic ability etc) to have access to Art and to experience success and enjoyment in their work.

- To develop an awareness in students of the implications of Art (past and present) for the individual and the local, national and international communities and to understand the significance of Art and to value it as important, pleasurable and fundamental realm of human experience.

- To enable students to develop a range of desirable personal qualities such as safety awareness, politeness, perseverance, initiative and independence.

Objectives

- These objectives relate directly to the aims of the Art Department at Warminster School and are intended to show how the aims are actually put into practice.

- Staff should provide a variety of experiences/activities during a course of study and during a lesson if possible.

- The National Curriculum Key Stage Three and relevant GCSE, AS and A2 and IB requirements for Art should be used as a basic core for the scheme of work. Staff should provide a glossary of words with each topic in order to aid correct spelling, understanding of the meanings of and the use of words.

- Staff should encourage students to recall and apply their knowledge and skills in familiar and unfamiliar situations.

- The Staff will allow opportunities at various times for group discussion. At these times we can listen to each others views and hopefully reflect upon them.

- Students should be able to appreciate the diverse range of sources from which artists, craftspeople, designers from different localities, generations and cultures derive their inspiration and ideas.

- Appreciate the qualities of various artistic materials so as to make appropriate selections when producing images and artefacts.

- Manipulate those materials by the controlled use of suitable tools, equipment, techniques and processes, in order to produce intended effects.

- Experiment with and use knowledge of visual elements to design and make works of art in a variety of media, genres and styles. Their observations should be recorded. The works of Art should display a variety of ideas and content.

- Record and express their ideas and feelings as they perceive and respond to aspects of Art ? referring to sensory qualities, compositional elements, stylistic features, subject matter and expressive content.

- Recognise a variety of major works and artists, craftspeople, designers in the History of Art and to understand their significance.

- Understand some of the different criteria by which works of art can be criticised and judged and to employ those criteria when critically responding to and making reasons judgements about a variety of works from western and non-western cultures.

- Staff should refer to work in Humanities, Maths, Music, Languages etc when appropriate.

- Students should be able to follow both verbal and written instructions accurately.

- Lessons should be conducted in a secure, supportive and disciplines manner. The students and the staff should interact in a manner that demonstrates mutual respect.

? Students should experience a variety of experiences and activities during a course of study and during a lesson if possible. There should be opportunities for individual and or group activities.

- Staff should encourage student to pursue a piece of work over a period of time, e.g. project work, where research is carried out ? possibly using a library.

- Staff should use a reward system, e.g. Merits and a record of achievement. This should encourage students to work to their full potential and to experience a sense of achievement.

- Students are to be encouraged to share their experiences and culture with others in order to enhance the quality of learning.

- Staff should attempt not to spend inequitable amounts of time with any one student, group of students or gender etc. However, staff often spends considerable amounts of their own time helping individual students.

- Students will study a variety of major works and artists including craftspeople and designers in the History of Art and their significance.

- Students should have regular prep that has direct relationship with the course work and a clear purpose.

- Safety is always a major concern, particularly when working with ceramics, textiles, printmaking and photography.