Parkhill Secondary School

Parkhill Secondary Art Department

Rational/Mission Statement

Art and Design plays an important role in the creative educational experience of pupils at Parkhill Secondary. It is an authentic mode of expression for young people, promoting self- directed learning and developing practical and perceptual skills.

Pupils are encouraged to express their creative  using a wide variety of media and techniques including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography ,digital media and design .

Aims and Objectives

The department provides a learning environment which takes into consideration each pupil’s needs and abilities, while having high expectations of all. The curriculum is designed to offer challenge, progression, relevance and articulation. Our specific aims are in line with ‘A Curriculum for Excellence’. They are:

·         To develop in our pupils a confidence in their creative ability.

·         To promote the achievement of skills in problem-solving, presentation, organisation, self-discipline, critical analysis, communication and technology.

·         To improve pupils’ visual awareness by developing their observational skills and expressive and investigative drawing abilities .

·         To promote process-based learning.

·         To develop in our learners an awareness of their cultural heritage and an understanding of the importance of the visual arts and design in today’s society.

·         To promote and encourage cross-curricular links with other departments in the school.

·         To promote a variety of effective learning and teaching strategies, including group work/team activities to foster tolerance and co-operation with others.

·         To monitor learners’ progress regularly and accurately to ensure that every pupil is directed to achieve their full potential.

·         To promote key creative skills and processes like curiosity ,exploring ideas, creative thinking skills, problem solving and the use of design briefs.

Curriculum – BGE and Senior Phase

In BGE S1, S2 and S3 pupils are allocated 1 period of Art and Design a week . Pupils in all year groups work individually, in pairs and sometimes in groups and are encouraged to support each other through sharing ideas and positive peer assessments .They will develop a practical understanding of a range of materials and techniques and an appreciation of Art and Design vocabulary e.g. the visual elements. They will learn to appreciate a variety of artists and designers in critical activities which support each unit of work.

This year S1 will cover two main units of work:

·         TERM 1 / 2  Expressive Unit - Abstract multi media painting exploring a great range of materials and techniques.

·         TERM 3 / 4  Design Unit – 3D Product design  papier mache casket and focussing on developing ideas using a basic design brief.

     This year S2 will cover two main units of work:

·         TERM  1 / 2  Expressive Unit – Sea life painting focussing on line ,shape ,colour and composition.

·         TERM 3 / 4   Design Unit – Graphics poster design using digital media to create final idea.

This Design unit is part of  IDL project linking with Science and Health and Wellbeing with the theme being Personal Hygiene.

     This year S3 will cover two main units of work:

·         TERM 1 / 2 Design Unit – Digital Media focussing on lettering styles and the development of ideas based on a selected theme.

·         TERM 3 / 4   Expressive – Sculpture of a head focussing on facial expression and the development of the skills and materials needed when working in 3 dimensions.

In the Senior Phase (S4, S5 & S6) pupils are allocated 3 periods a week and will be presented at National 2, 3 or 4.

National 2 level will learn about expressive and creative techniques, materials and art and design vocabulary .The pupil will develop ideas to demonstrate how the processes ,techniques and materials can be used . 

National 3  the pupils will explore expressive and design activities by engaging in and developing the following skills :

·         problem solving  and the development of ideas using a design brief.

·         developing critical skills about artists work and expressing basic facts and personal opinions about them.

·         selecting and using a variety of materials, techniques and /or technology to represent the subject matter.

·         developing compositional ideas  and expressive art work in 2D and/or 3D.

 National 4  the pupils will explore expressive and design activities by engaging in and developing the following skills at a higher level : 

·         problem solving  and the development of various ideas using a design brief.

·         developing critical skills about artists work and expressing facts and personal opinions about them.

·         selecting and using a greater variety of materials, techniques and /or technology to represent the subject matter.

developing various compositional ideas  and expressive art work in 2D and/or 3D.