Art & Photography

Statement of Intent

Vision
Students studying Visual Arts at Leigh Academy Minster will learn to become resilient, confident and hard-working visual artists and young people.  They learn that process is more important than the outcome and that ideas are more important than how something appears on the surface. They will be empowered to explore the visual arts and be equipped to take their experience and skills to whatever level they wish in this subject. Global mindedness and local context are at the core of the study, encouraging responsibility and giving a diverse understanding of the visual arts.  

Aims
Students will investigate, develop, create and evaluate multiple times on their learning journey and will not only be able to speak confidently using the language of artists, craftspeople and designers, but they will be able to tolerate uncertainty, approach risks with bravery and create work that expresses their inner self and their experience of the world around them.  The art studios offer the opportunity to explore different methods, materials, and ways of working, including painting, drawing, sculpting, ceramics, printmaking, designing, stitching, weaving and more. Each project has a combination of experiences, materials, methods and artists including those from different times, places, cultures, different genders, faiths and beliefs.

Progression and Sequencing
The visual arts course starts at the beginning with developing the understanding of the formal elements. Tone/Line/Colour/pattern/ scale/form/shape texture. We build understanding of these separately and then in combination. We then explore them through the context of established artists.  This helps develop understanding of art on a deeper level and enables the students to develop their artistic language. As we progress through the course the students learn to use a diverse range of artistic media and processes. They build their skill, confidence , resilience and independence, giving them the ambition to take their art forwards to new challenges. 

Inclusion and Challenge
Art is a subject where all can succeed to whatever level that they strive or aspire to.  The course is built to allow access and flexibility for those with more complex needs. The lesson slides are developed to encourage access, with dual coding and the stepped approach, allowing the tasks to be broken down for all. Success criteria are clear every lesson.  Projects can be extended and students work on their own ideas for those who wish to extend themselves. 

Cultural Capital and Enrichment
Art allows different combinations of experiences, materials, methods and artists including those from different times, places, cultures, different genders, faiths and beliefs. This enriches the students’ study and life in general .  Art is inherently Global, cultural  and local., it can fit any situation. The students have a right to see art in situ and in galleries and the intent for the school to make this possible.