Art

A centre for creative thinking. The Art Department is a hive of creative activity. With its wealth of top class resources, every child has the opportunity to find their own individual strength.

Gaining confidence through learning to make independent creative decisions, as well as stretching the imagination through self-expression, is at the heart of what we do.

Here we hope to open the children’s eyes so that they learn to appreciate and value images and artefacts across times and cultures, and to learn to understand the contexts and the way in which they were made.

Development through expert teaching and resources

The curriculum follows the fundamentals of the National Curriculum with QCA content adapted to utilise the beauty of our school site and the interests of the children. It is taught by class teachers in the Pre-Prep and by a specialist team in the Prep department under the guidance of Michele Harman our Head of Art.

For those children who enjoy the physical process of making in 3D, we have a kiln room. Children are able to follow the entire journey from plastic clay to glazed ceramics.

In addition to a variety of paint, pastel and colouring mediums, the children explore textiles and a wide range of printing techniques.

We also believe in laying the foundations in art and design so that each child has a good grasp of the fundamental principles behind the production of art. This is underpinned by the elements of art and through the use of enriched vocabulary.

Pupils are encouraged to research artists and develop personal projects. These guided, self-led projects enable children to discover for themselves and teaches them independent creative thinking skills. Children are guided to apply for and prepare for scholarships, with extra-curricular time allocated for this.

Opportunities to explore and exhibit artwork

Pupils can discover artists and experiment with their style through a broad curriculum that celebrates diversity.

Pupils also have the opportunity to exhibit their work throughout the school, enter national and school based competitions and take part in our biennial art exhibition. They also have the privilege of working with real visiting artists. This fosters an understanding of the creative and cultural industries that enrich their lives.

Statement

We understand the need for people to be able to think differently, to adapt and be creative. Pupils are given opportunities to discover their strengths through the rich and varied creative experiences they get here at Town Close School.

We believe that every child is an artist and that it is our role to build confidence and inspire each and every pupil to create and express themselves using their own unique and special talents.