Art and Design
Art is a language, a visual language.
We value the importance of our students being able to communicate visually, developing their critical thinking skills and presenting their work with passion.
Through enthusiastic teaching, creative curriculum development, opportunities for students to work with artists and local colleges through our extensive programme of enrichment for all key stage 3, we aim to provide students with a rich and varied curriculum with strong links to our cultural environment.
Art enhances fine motor skills, develops hand-eye coordination alongside important life skills, such as creativity, communication, self-expression, collaboration, discipline and resilience.
Our subject is accessible to all. We want our students to be world ready individuals, with the knowledge, skills and understanding required to pursuit our favourite subject further at post-16 level, to lead successful careers in the creative industries and become confident, happy and healthy young people.
Art is delivered in well-equipped, positive, safe environments, where controversial and topical debates are encouraged, personal opinions and ideas are not ridiculed and where students deliver presentations and supportive critiques. We plan for opportunities for self-expression, confidence building and celebrate talent and individual identity.
About the Department
The Art department consists of 2 specialists in Ceramics and Textiles / Fine art. We are located in the Performance faculty of the Academy. We are committed to ensuring that students leave the Academy with a range of enriched and skilled art and design based skills and techniques to continue their experience at a further level.
Progression from studying Art
From studying Art and Design GCSE, you can go on to study Art and Design A-Level or a BTEC Level 3. This can lead to studying all sorts of subjects at University or onto exciting art based apprenticeships. For example:
- Architect;
- Product and interior design;
- Illustration;
- Game design;
Check out the range of apprenticeships here for which you need good art skills or take a look at some more information about Art based degrees here.
Some universities require you to have a foundation degree in Art and design. So, it’s worth looking at colleges and universities that have a good reputation for these. For example, in our local area, Staffordshire University runs an art foundation course.
Studying Art and Design can lead you to study a wide variety of subjects at University. Such as:
- Print Making;
- Knitwear design;
- Jewellery and Silversmithing;
- Typography.
Have a look at the UCAS website to see how many different combinations you can do.