Art and Design Department
At Chenderit School we believe that the visual arts offer the opportunity for students to complete a synthesis of experience through the elements of perception, thought and feeling. This illumination of experience is basic to the education process enriching both other areas of the curriculum and students' social skills. We feel that through understanding, creating, making and evaluation, the student acquires more highly-developed discrimination and judgement. We seek to broaden the students' background knowledge and appreciation of art in a variety of genres and styles from different cultures and times, believing that this broadens their appreciation and understanding of other cultures, artisically, socially and historically. This informs and enables the development of their own creative practice. These opportunities do not just apply to students at school, but to the whole realm of life-long learning and to the broad spectrum of groups within Chenderit's community, that is, our partner schools, parents, staff, community groups, local artists, local business and industry. We are keen to ensure that these opportunities are available to all and can become reality.
Facilities
We have a purpose built gallery at the front of the school. The Art and Design Department is housed in a well-resourced suite comprising five studio teaching spaces, a central resource room, a networked internet area of art and design computers and large photographic dark room.
The facilities provide students of all ages with a challenging and enjoyable range of opportunities. These include two-dimensional work in paint, mixed media, ICT and graphic media. Printmaking experiences include mono, block and silk screen processes while three-dimensional ideas are explored in a range of materials and include modelling and construction, often using ceramic techniques.
Students have a wide range of critical study resources available to develop knowledge and understanding. These include books, slides, videos and CD ROM resources on art, craft and design movements, artists, styles, periods and exhibitions. The department has resources highlighting the art, craft and design of world cultures as well as the Western European tradition.
The Departmental Team
- John Childs - Arts College Director (Art and Textiles)
- Tom Christy (Art and 3D and Media Studies)
- Joanna Thornton (Art and Textiles)
- Richard Salt (Art and 3D)
- Kat Blockley (Art, Photography and 3D)
- Sue Clayton (Technician)
The staff work as a team, sharing ideas, views, knowledge and experience for the benefit of our pupils/students. We strive to create a stimulating environment as a point of motivation in our teaching.
Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3 students take Art for one hour per week in mixed-ability groups of 22-25. The sketchpad is an essential part of the department's approach acting as both a record of the student's progress and as a diagnostic tool with regard to a student's standard at the end of Key Stage 3. The understanding and use of the specialist vocabulary of Art is an integral part of our teaching.
Teachers use the Key Stage 3 course outline as a framework from which they plan schemes of work and the learning objectives for each lesson. The individual teacher, in consultation with the Head of Department, also determines the fine detail of his/her own teaching rather than using a prescriptive manual. In this way, new approaches, ideas and contexts may be explored.
Key Stage 4 GCSE
At GCSE, as part of a broad and balanced curriculum, all students study a creative subject, with large numbers following endorsements in Fine Art, Textiles (printed) or 3D (OCR). Observation drawing and visual investigation are an essential feature of the course whatever the student's final specialism. Critical study is an integrated element and students use a visual vocabulary to make judgements and when analysing the work or others.
Sixth Form
Students follow the Edexcel AS/A2 Art and Design syllabus with endorsements in Fine Art and Textiles (printed). Two large groups exist in both Years 12 and 13 and our pass rate has been 100% for several years with over 50% achieving an A or B grade. Drawing and visual investigation are of vital importance. Visits to local, national and international galleries are a feature of the course.
Many students proceed to Foundation Courses and BA (Hons) Degree courses nationally. An additional aspect of our teaching is the AS/A2 Media Studies course which is shared with English. One group exists in each of Years 12 and 13.
