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Art & Design

We want every pupil at The Gateway School to experience the world of art and develop powerful knowledge and social capital by exposing them to a range of art and artefacts from around the globe and across various timelines.

It is established that through engaging in Art lessons, pupils benefit and develop in a whole range of academic and personal development areas. At The Gateway School, pupils are able to enjoy a broad range of activities and topics using a range of technical equipment.

Watercolour paint palette

The Art department is a vibrant, energetic, yet calming environment, valuing and celebrating all pupil successes through displays and awards, whilst welcoming and developing pupils’ project ideas to enable all to achieve and enjoy the subject.

Qualification route - BTEC in Art & Design (Level 1)

Art and our six core values

Resilience

Through the practice of art, it is inevitable that pupils will make errors in their work, or produce a piece of work that does not match their expectations. A key skill within art is to recognise imperfections and develop these ‘mistakes’.

Pupils face challenges when they encounter a skill which they find difficult. However, through continued practice and encouragement, pupils are able to develop resilience to respond to these challenges and overcome the connected emotions.

Balance

The Art and Design curriculum is balanced to ensure pupils participate in tasks which enrich their interests whilst developing an understanding of the History of Art alongside global issues, while being designed to develop pupils' confidence, independence and ability in a range of artistic skills. 

Communication

Through carrying out activities within Art and Design, pupils are able to develop a range of skills designed to communicate feelings and emotions.

This allows pupils to recognise their own communication skills and develop them through practice and alternative methods for future use. They are also able to recognise emotions around world issues and consider their own emotional response and effective communication during times of difficulty.

Reflection

Pupils regularly reflect on their work and effectiveness on the task.  Pupils have the opportunity to develop their projects after reflection tasks to ensure their work has maximum impact. This enables pupils to develop good habits to improve their approaches to tasks and alternative situations outside the classroom.

Independence

Pupils are helped to work as independent learners through Art and Design.  Often, pupils seek support and guidance, and through regular practice and repetition they develop into pupils who are able to carry out tasks with minimal adult support.  This in turn develops their own confidence which is reflected beyond the classroom.

Going beyond your borders

Pupils often find areas of Art and Design where they feel less confident and may actively avoid using mediums and methods which make them feel uncomfortable.

Through carrying out directed tasks within Art and Design, pupils are able to have opportunities to expand their comfort areas. This helps to reduce stress and fear in uncertain environments and encourages pupils to try new things in a calmer, more confident environment.

KS3 Art & Design Curriculum Road Map

KS3 Art & Design Curriculum Road Map

Art & Textile Design Curriculum Road Map

Art & Textile Design Curriculum Road Map