Art

Curriculum Intent

Students produce creative work inspired by great artists, art movements and their own experiences. They become proficient in a range of core skills and use these to explore their own ideas and experiences in visual ways supported by critical thinking. Baselining use of media and techniques, students' progress is accelerated through practice and supported by contextualisation. We aim to inspire a love of art and visual culture and give students the confidence to enjoy and participate confidently in any aspect of the art and design. 

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10 & 11

Art Whole School Curriculum Contribution 

All students have an inner-belief and ambition to fulfil their dreams and live a happy and successful life. 

This curriculum develops the confidence to explore ideas and imagery in a visual arts context through engagement with a wide range of art and design themes and practices. By encouraging and celebrating individuality and considering diverse themes with historical and cultural contexts, this curriculum aims to broaden students’ minds and give them the tools to analyse the visual world effectively and contribute to its ongoing development through their active participation. 


All students leave our academy with first-rate qualifications: 

This curriculum works towards in depth investigations that enables us to personalise pathways leading to unique and exceptional work. This personal approach supports high levels of attainment at GCSE level and progression to further high-level qualifications post 16. By instilling and developing core skills across a diverse range of media, we provide students with a foundation from which they can confidently build specialist skills and techniques they can apply to further study and degree level qualifications. 


All students develop exceptional character: 

This curriculum instils students with a growth mind-set through our approach to delivery. We cover broad themes, through developing a willingness to consider and explore new ideas, try new techniques, and develop individual bodies of work that reflect their character, interests and experiences. Students are encouraged to try new processes and learn through practice and determination to improve the skills necessary to successfully communicate their ideas in visual language. A strong work ethic is developed through additional expert workshops and students are taught to consider the visual world as an intrinsic part of their being.  


All students leave our academy with high levels of cultural and global awareness:

This curriculum embraces and encourages diversity by studying art and design from a wide range of times and cultures. We aim to enlighten our students to the rich and varied arts communities in their locality and on a global scale. We do this through discussions and study of local and UK based artists, global arts movements and broader critical thinking which is weaved into projects at all levels. Participation in local and national competitions promote opportunities and encourage awareness of arts culture and career progression.  The rich global history of visual and creative practices is at the heart of analytical research that informs student’s work and is used to build knowledge and understanding of the lives and work of others. Experiences of individuals and groups, both personal and in community settings are used as starting points for exploring ideas and broader themes. The visual arts are a constant debate between artists and their surroundings where all viewpoints are valid and students feel they have a voice and can contribute to wider debate. 


All students leave with an array of positive memories that last for a lifetime:

The curriculum provides students with an opportunity to build relationships forged by shared investigations of our individual and collective responses to our experiences and the world around us. The highest expectations and a mutual respect are essential parts of the open willingness to share built through our passion for visual expression. The freedom to explore ideas in an environment of trust and shared passion for the arts encourages experiences that create positive and lasting memories. Participation in wider events such as Ferens Open Exhibition promote the success and high achievement of our students.