AIMS: The aim of the Art & Design Department is to:
Give learners opportunities to be creative and to experience
inspiration and
enjoyment.
Enable learners to explore a wide range of two and three dimensional
media and technologies through practical activities, and create and
communicate ideas.
Study the works of Artists,Designers and Photographers to enhance
their enjoyment and deepen knowledge and understanding.
Give learners the opportunity to contribute to public exhibitions,
through display of their artwork.
Courses
The Course provides opportunities for learners to be inspired and
challenged by exploring how they can visually represent their personal
thoughts and ideas.
Learners will develop their appreciation of art and design work and
create original expressive and design ideas. The skills that learners
gain by successfuly completing the Courses will be valuable for
learning, life and work.
S1-3
This course provides interest, enjoyment, variety and an opportunity for personal choice, through a range of 2 and 3 dimensional practical activities. Learners get to explore and experiment with a variety of media and techniques/technologies. Personal choice is offered through different themes and genres.
NATIONAL 4 & 5 - HIGHER
These courses follow the same basic structure consisting of two mandatory Units and the Course assessment. Work is assessed internally and externally depending on the level being taken.
EXPRESSIVE WITH CRITICAL ACTIVITY
This Unit helps learners to develop their personal thoughts and ideas in visual form. They will experiment with and develop a range of media handling skills, using equipment and materials expressively in 2D and/or 3D media handling skills. Learners will also be encouraged to explore how technologies can be creatively used when developing their ideas. They will develop an understanding and appreciation of artists' working practices. They will also develop knowledge of the social and cultural influences on art work.
DESIGN WITH CRITICAL ACTIVITY
This Unit helps learners to plan, research and develop creative design proposals. This will help develop their creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking skills as they consider design opportunities, issues and constraints. They will experiement with and develop a range of 2D and/or 3D media handling skills, using equipment and materials to develop their design proposals. Learners will also be encouraged to explore the possibilities of using technologies creatively when resarching and developing their ideas. They will develop an understanding and appreciation of designers' working practices. They will also develop knowledge of the social and cultural influences on design work.
HIGHER PHOTOGRAPHY
The course encourages learners to be inspired and challenged by visually representing their personal thoughts and ideas through the medium of photography. Using an integrated approach to learning, learners will plan, develop and produce imaginative photographs. They will also develop their appreciation of photographic work and practice. The skills that learners acquire by successfully completing the course will be valuable for learning, life and work.
ADVANCED HIGHER
The following courses are available:
Expressive Enquiry with Expressive Studies
Design Enquiry with Design Studies
S6 - PORTFOLIO
Admission to some further education courses such as Art and Design College and Architecture require a portfolio of a very high standard. This year allows the student to follow personal interests and to creatively develop and create original expressive and design work.