Art & Design

"Art has the role in education of helping children become like themselves instead of more like everyone else."

Sydney Gurewitz Clemens

Department Philosophy:

In St. Patrick’s Grammar School we aim to deliver the Art & Design Curriculum to the highest possible standard. We offer a wide range of learning experiences and disciplines thereby cultivating an enthusiasm and enjoyment of the subject within our students , inspiring them to achieve their full potential.

Aims & Objectives:

· To allow all pupils, regardless of their ability, to achieve their full creative potential.· To make art exciting, interesting, relevant and enjoyable for all pupils.· To offer a wide range of activities that students can creatively respond to by using a range of techniques, processes, tools and materials. This will help all students to stretch themselves creatively and to find an area in which they can express themselves with confidence and originality. · To promote a stimulating environment in which creativity, originality and expressiveness are valued.· To encourage students to value the contribution made to their world by artists, crafts people and designers from their own, and other cultures.· To develop student's aesthetic awareness and enable them to make informed evaluative responses to their work and that of others.· To display work in classrooms and communal areas for the enjoyment and appreciation of all.· To develop and encourage student’s familiarity of Art and Design concepts, principles, methods and vocabulary.· To teach students to adopt safe practices when working.· To make use of new technologies where relevant.· To encourage all student’s appreciation of art materials and equipment and instill fundamental respect for the subject, environment, equipment and materials available.· To ensure the students will learn and utilise transferable skills relevant to other subjects and everyday life.· To encourage higher thinking skills.· To promote an ethos of independent learning and enquiry.· To communicate and work with art practitioners where appropriate and to provide opportunities to visit art galleries, museums or other sites of artistic interest.· To make students aware of employment opportunities within the creative industries. These objectives will be achieved through the positive delivery of the subject. Constructive feedback and encouragement will be given both verbally and as written comments in sketchbooks. Pupils will be made aware of any shortcomings that need to be addressed in order to meet targets and deliver work that reflects their individual creative potential.

Extra-Curricular Activities:

Art Club

Our after school Art Club runs on a weekly basis and is open to all Art & Design exam students. This offers students the opportunity to avail of additional one-to-one support and guidance with coursework and allows them to use the facilities within the department to complete outcomes.

Career pathways in Art & Design:

Possible career paths / higher education prospects:

The creative and cultural industries are a fast growing area of the economy and are key to economic success. Northern Ireland and the UK have an established reputation in these industries.

This qualification provides students with opportunities to develop key skills needed for the world of work and further and higher education. It creates a pathway to a future career in a creative field.

Possible careers include advertising, architecture, art, curation, craft, jewellery, fashion design, car design, film, costume design, special effects, make-up, photography, graphic design, set design, furniture design, interior design, music, animation, performing arts, publishing, software design, toys and games design, TV, radio and video games design. A wide range of STEM careers such as engineering now also require creative, artistic and design skills.

The study of AS and A level Art and Design nurtures a range of qualities which are highly sought after by employers. These include creativity, problem-solving, resourcefulness, resilience, imagination, empathy and innovation. Higher order thinking skills such as researching, analysing and reflecting are embedded throughout this qualification.

Staff and facilities:

Staff:

Head of Department – Mrs C. McConville

Teacher of Art & Design – Mrs L. McClean

Facilities:

2 Art & Design classrooms

1 Art Annex for AS and A level students use.

Kiln Room fully equipped with ceramics tools and materials

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